UltraMax Reloads Failed to Fire

[kbm6893]

Took my 65-3 to the range and fired off about 150 rounds of UltraMax .38 ammo (the blue box from Dicks). First of all, this stuff is FILTHY. Thick greasy smoke followed every shot. Gun was slick with an oily black film. Anyway, Maybe 4 or 5 rounds did not fire the first trigger pull. New experience for me, getting a click rather than a bang. Nice to see the gun didn't dip with the anticipated shot. They fired the next time i pulled the trigger on them. I didn't have any good ammo with me. You think it was ammo related, or maybe a gun problem? I'm leaning towards ammo related since they were cheap reloads.

 

[s&wchad]

Make sure your strain screw is fully tightened (bottom front of the gripframe).

 

[jack the toad]

You prolly already know this but "reading" a cartridge after firing or attempting to fire can tell you a lot what's going on. ie; excessive headspace (shiney and/or separated cases), hardened brass (split cases- reloads), light or off-center primer strikes, improperly seated primers, etc, etc.
More than likely it's faulty ammo but did the FTF cartridges have good primer strikes?

Edited to add:
I've had very good performance from ultramax ammo and my comment suggesting the ammo is faulty was based on the gun working properly and having not been altered.

 

[meh92]

My first suspicion was also the strain screw. I would also make sure the head of the firing pin is not damaged and there is no filth in the firing pin channel hindering the full movement of the firing pin. Finally, have you replaced the mainspring with a reduced-power version? That could definitely cause misfires with hard primers.

Of course, it could be the ammo.

 

[kbm6893]

Screw is tight and was before i started shooting. Cases had primer dents after they didn't fire. Second strike fired them. The 6 Sellier and Ballot .357 I had went fine, but then again, so did the other 147 UltraMax rounds.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

From what you're telling us I would think the rounds that didn't fire the first time had improperly seated primers. It's rare from a commercial reloader but it can happen...