22 rim fire light primer strikes

[dagger dog]

Could use some help and suggestions, its a early 50's H&R Sportsman, 9 shot top break, with the firing pin on the hammer.

A little history, I lightly chamfered the chambers thinking there may be a problem with the case not fully seating in the cylinder and extractor star.

I see no lateral cylinder run out and the light strikes are random with different brands of ammo and not confined to a certain chamber and very minimal end shake. The gun is in great shape for the age

Was thinking about a stronger hammer mainspring, it has an all steel strut and head, not the plastic head as found in later models. I've read somewhere about shimming under the spring to give it more power.

Once I removed the spring and strut assembly, with the spring compressed there is very minimal space for a shim, before the coils touch, maybe about
0.025".

I guess I'll try the shim 'cause it's an easy job.

Again any help greatly appreciated !

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

How much play is there, where the top strap latch of the revolver locks to the frame?

 

[YZ]

I think you are on the right track. The problem is typical for an older revolver with a tired spring (even if not shot all that much) About shimming it, no idea, I'd just replace it if possible.

 

[dagger dog]

How much play is there, where the top strap latch of the revolver locks to the frame?

It's darn near a bank vault lock up ! The gun is in great shape just a little holster wear but it's all superficial.

I've had it completely apart, and it ain't like any Smith or Colt, kinda resembles an old Iver, in some ways. Guess I will try to find a source for a main spring.

 

[Jim K]

One thing that can cause misfires in those guns is a worn or misshapen mainspring strut head. If that is not quite right, the hammer can try to rebound before it gets in a full strike.

Jim

 

[dagger dog]

Thanks for the tip Jim, I don't have another to compare with the old strut ,but the head looks pristine to me, I haven't looked at the area of the hammer where the head of the strut bears. The bearing surface of the strut head is nice and smooth.

I used a small file to "test" the hardening and it's pretty hard as the file just scoots off with out cutting.

The 999 or Sporstman has a one piece strut head , some models used a headless strut, and others used a steel one with a plastic head.

 

[dagger dog]

Update, bought a Wolff spring pack, and have cut a longer and slightly larger in diameter hammer main spring, but due to launching the mainspring strut seat into the next dimension, I'm waiting the arrival of a couple replacements. They should be here Mon.

Will report the results to anyone interested, once it's back together.

Hoping to use the Sportsman and my Model 12A Remington for the squirrel season opener the 15th.

 

[midland man]

I love squirrel hunting and I hope summer gets outta here soon as fall is my time to chase them little guys