Light Strikes on W-W Primers

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Amanda4461

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
23
Location
Beaumont, Texas 77707
Hello Folks,
I have a newly purchased HHI Magnaport-tuned SuperBlackHawk from 1982, that is giving me a light strike about twice in every 50 rounds. Sometimes I can send the dud round to the hammer a second time and get it to light off, but not often. The trigger on this one is nice and light, so I suspect a light Mainspring or one with coils cut off? If you agree, please advise a good spring to use, hopefully one that will not crank up the trigger pull too much :D
If it is something else, what might it be?
Thanks!
Amanda
 

Enigma

Hunter
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
2,511
Location
Houston metro area, TX
Factory ammo or handloads?

It should be a simple matter to remove the grip panels and look at the mainspring to see if it's been butchered. A factory replacement spring is cheap.
 

Amanda4461

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
23
Location
Beaumont, Texas 77707
Enigma,
Handloads or Factory, doesn't make any difference to the gun. It fires Federal-primed loads 100%, but I think they are softer primers anyway. My M29 sets them all off no problem. I don't mind using a Factory spring if needed, but if you folks know of a spring rate that normally works ok, yet is lighter than Factory, I would prefer to go that route. Rather like tuning a 1911 to run on a lighter-than-Factory spring, more than anything.
Thanks....Amanda
 

Rev60

Bearcat
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
48
Location
NH
I once had a GP-100 doing this upon return from a well-known but local gunsmith. It was probably a little worse with the WW primers and a lot worse with CCIs (which supposedly are about the hardest). Well, right away my handloads were blamed. I tried Federal and the problem largely went away but was not satisfied with either a one-trick-pony or a gun intended for serious work that would be some close to the edge. Before the smith would look at it he insisted I shoot an array of factory ammo. This is something I just do not do and the expense gave me a good bit of heartburn. Results? Same. He finally agreed to look at it. What did he do? He simply changed the mainspring in two minutes flat and handed it back to me. Problem solved after some frustration and a bunch of factory ammo burned up. Moral of the story? Don't waste much time on light strikes before bumping the spring tension.
 

Enigma

Hunter
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
2,511
Location
Houston metro area, TX
Wolf makes replacement mainsprings in both reduced power and extra power ratings. A lot of us refuse to use reduced power springs in order to elimninate the very problem that the OP is experiencing; we want our guns to go 'Bang!' every time we pull the trigger. Some go as far as to install extra power mainsprings - I believe that Flatgate is among them. FWIW, an Old Army mainspring has a heavier rating than a standard Blackhawk mainspring does, and is interchangeable.
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,142
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
Get a set of different main springs from Wolff. Then, start with the lightest one, try it a bit, and if too light, go to the next heavier one until you get reliable ignition. Cheapest & easiest fix.
 

dlhredfoxx

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jan 24, 2012
Messages
462
Location
Republic of Texas
19 lb has worked 100% in ALL of my BH's, SBH's and Vaqueros... in any factory loads. At 18 lbs I see 1% to 2% failures to fire... In my experience the 19 lb. is the MINIMUM threshold for reliability... but that's just me.
 

flatgate

Hawkeye
Joined
Jun 18, 2001
Messages
6,784
Location
Star Valley, WY
As stated early in this thread, I am indeed a fan of strong mainsprings. The .357 Maximum calibre Blackhawk and Ruger's Percussion fired Old Army were fitted with stronger than other Ruger S.A.'s mainsprings. I've used those in a LOT of my shooters over the years and my guns have "creep free and relatively light" triggers. I don't like a real "touchy" trigger but one a bit lighter than "stock" is my choice.

JMHO,

flatgate
 
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
7,095
Location
Richmond Texas USA
Well Since I do a weeeeeee bit of CAS every gun I have has 15# springs in them. Except the ROAs they have 18# springs all are Wolfe. They all go bang every time. Stock spring is 19# and ROA is 22# I do believe
Loaded 1000s of rounds with Winchester primers which is all I use and yes they are the hardest.
Make sure the hammer isn't draging on the frame.
FWIW Cutting the spring is not the way to do it. Ya decrease the dia. of the wire coil. That is if ya want it to work everytime.
I have seen some fine tuned Vaqueros that felt about like a 10 12# spring.
 
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