Misfire

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DonD

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I've been shooting Model 500s for as long as they've been on the market and have had several during that time, now have 2 as keepers.

Went to the range today and toward the end of the session, I pulled the trigger and got nothing. Waited a bit and opened the cylinder.

Primer had a tiny dimple in the center but no ignition. Shot fine prior to and after that round. Wonder if I might have relaxed pressure on the trigger as the hammer started to fall?

Called S&W, the woman said she thought nothing was wrong, if it happened again, call. Thought it might be the firing pin spring.

Any thoughts? Don
 
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Yes, they were reloads but in 13 yrs of reloading for this gun, I've never had an issue. Can look for anything fouling the firing pin area.

I thoroughly clean the gun after every shoot.

I'll check the strain screw, just seems odd that all was well before and after. Don
 
DonD said:
Can look for anything fouling the firing pin area.
Click to expand...
To check use a toothpick or something and plunge to feel the pin duty. The pin on my 500 felt good at first, but suddenly after 5 or 6 times of pushing the pin in it would stick, then it would feel normal, then stick again, and so forth. Had to take apart then clean it to fix
 
Also tighten the strain screw all the way in. My 460 did this on a recent camping trip. Embarrasing to say the least especially when 10 guys who love tupperware are standing around having never seen an Xframe before.
My problem was - Hard primers+ Slightly backed out strain screw
 
Just got finished disassembling the 500 farther than I have in the past. I'm far better at car maintenance than gunsmithing.

In any event, I took the sideplate off, it was a bit sticky, residue from firing I presume, cleaned that thoroughly. Strain screw was tight.

Cleaned and lubricated interior parts, pulled the firing pin retaining pin, cleaned it, lubed it and reinstalled it.

Everything feels slick and smooth, suspect it was an abberation, time will tell. Don
 
Been handloaing for years and didn't really realize how critical primer depth was till I loaded some 380 auto for a gun that had a light pin strike. Disappointed in the gun but determined to figure out what was going wrong, I whipped up another batch of ammo making sure to seat that primer with more pressure & to my surprise no more missfires. Also switched to Remington primers which I have found to be more sensitive.
 
78transam said:
Been handloaing for years and didn't really realize how critical primer depth was till I loaded some 380 auto for a gun that had a light pin strike. Disappointed in the gun but determined to figure out what was going wrong, I whipped up another batch of ammo making sure to seat that primer with more pressure & to my surprise no more missfires. Also switched to Remington primers which I have found to be more sensitive.
Click to expand...

I check all primers by placing the case on a smooth, level surface, reseat the very few that are marginal.

I'd strongly suspect that the Model 500s, igniting a large rifle primer, have a much harder hammer impact than any semi auto 380. Don
 
I guess I am the odd shooter. In 50 plus years with S&W revolvers, I have never had a strain screw back out. I have had recalcitrant primers and a host of other problems. One in particular reminds me of what you are experiencing. A bit of trash got under the extractor and for several cylinders the same chamber would require a second punch. It took me three or five cylinders until I did a better than cursive examination of the revolver to solve the problem.

Sometimes odd things happen. I am not familiar with the X frame, never even seen one except in photographs. I might be off base but a good scrubbing should not hurt anything.

Kevin
 
Could be a large pistol primer in a large rifle primer case. Or it could be a dirty primer pocket that didn't allow the new primer to seat all the way. Or maybe the loader short stroked the primer seating. Those conditions would leave a situation where the blow of the firing pin would be cushioned by the movement of the primer in the primer pocket. You didn't say if you tried to hit it again. Usually the second time is the charm. Of course it wouldn't hurt to pull out the firing pin and make sure it is clean but that's not my first suspect here. My 500 misfires once in a while. I usually don't get too excited. It's a good opportunity to see how much of a flinch you've developed!
 
cmj8591 said:
Could be a large pistol primer in a large rifle primer case. Or it could be a dirty primer pocket that didn't allow the new primer to seat all the way. Or maybe the loader short stroked the primer seating. Those conditions would leave a situation where the blow of the firing pin would be cushioned by the movement of the primer in the primer pocket. You didn't say if you tried to hit it again. Usually the second time is the charm. Of course it wouldn't hurt to pull out the firing pin and make sure it is clean but that's not my first suspect here. My 500 misfires once in a while. I usually don't get too excited. It's a good opportunity to see how much of a flinch you've developed!
Click to expand...
Primer pockets were certainly clean and certainly used large rifle primers as loading documents state. I seat primers with a Lee hand tool so no short stroke issues there.

While I don't think I have an issue with a flinch, I'd be doubtful of anyone who shoots heavily loaded 500 Mag rounds with any frequency saying they've never flinched. I certainly occasionally toss a shot.

Appreciate the helpful suggestions by other forum members. Don
 
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