My Colt Revolver doesn't go boom every time.

[uvarmint]

I have a Colt SF-VI, which I think is basically a Detective Special in stainless. In any case I bought it at a gun show and just took it to the range yesterday.

It is a DAO with factory bobbed hammer. If I shoot it slow seems to work OK. If I try to shoot fast or double tap in won't shoot. When i look at the cartridges there is a very light strike off center of the primer of the ones that don't shoot.

If I shoot slow one at a time, there is a normal strike in the middle of the primer, and it goes off.

What is the problem?

 

[Ruodo]

Not sure if this will help but check out this thread.

 

[dfariswheel]

Off-center primer strikes is a symptom of a revolver in which the cylinder locking bolt is failing to properly engage.

Since this is a used gun, God only knows what someone has done.
The SF-VI framed guns were specifically designed to prevent failures to properly lock, so it's likely either the gun was defective right from the factory, or someone has tampered with it.

These later small frame Colt's are repaired by installing new parts.
The parts are case hardened with a very thin coating and the parts CANNOT be refitted or repaired like the older Colt's could.
In this case, due to the design and the parts situation, I'd strongly recommend sending it in to Colt for a proper check-out and repair.
They have all the necessary parts and tools and might even repair it for FREE.

 

[Jim K]

Dfariswheel is right. It sounds like the gun is "throwing by", meaning that the cylinder bolt is not stopping the cylinder at the right place. That could mean a weak bolt spring, but a defective bolt is also a possibility. Since few gunsmiths are familiar with that action, a visit to Colt would seem to be in order. Give them a call and they might pick up the shipping costs both ways.

Jim

 

[uvarmint]

Thanks Guys,
That does sound like the best idea. Would I use whatever phone number that is in the manual and paperwork that came w the gun? Or do you guys have the current phone number?

The more I think about it, the luckier I feel it didn't go off when it was so far off center.

I'll let you know how it all works out.

 

[svtruth]

Try

1-800-241-2485
I had the same prob with a ss king cobra. Hits in center of primer, but only about 1/2 went off. In another gun they worked fine.
Good luck.