Blazer ammo in Taurus .38 special hammerless

[firstamendmentguy]

I really like this Taurus "CIA" model handgun, even my wife likes it, very practical for home defense or concealed carry, hammer's not gonna get caught on anything. Nice weight and look too.

Anyhow, I keep it loaded with Federal hydrashocks for home protection but I've used Blazers for target practice. But consistently, with Blazers bought in numerous different places, about 1 in 5 doesn't fire on the first strike though there is a mark from the firing pin on the cartridge and the bullet almost always fire on the second strike.

I of course ran a lot of hydrashocks through with no problem to make sure my self-defense ammo wasn't gonna misfire and none of the Federal hydrashocks had any misfires.

Silver lining to cloud is that it is good practice for dealing with a misfire but still concentrating on the target, a feasible scenario. Good learning exercise for the wife.

I'm wondering if anybody else has experienced this with Blazer bullets in this Taurus .38 special "hammerless" "CIA" model.

I hate to think my gun sucks so I'm hoping other revolver shooters, particularly with this model, have had any problems with Blazer .38 special ammo.

 

[GRIZ22]

Are these the brass or aluminum case Blazers? I have experienced light hits on the aluminum case (berdan primer) Blazers but not the brass case. This was with not only my Taurus 85 but J frame S&Ws as well. I chalk this up to hard primers on the aluminum case Blazers and the lack of mass in a J frame size gun hammer compared to a larger revolver. My guns have stock springs. If you've changed to a lighter mainspring this could have complicated the problem.

I've never had any problem with brass case Blazers.

 

[firstamendmentguy]

Blazers in .38 special Taurus

No wonder they're the cheapest ...

The ones I'm having problems with have an aluminum casing. I haven't changed any springs, gun is in same condition as when I bought it new. I think it must be that the hard primers aren't suited for my firing pin (which I can't see because the "hammer" in encased). Thanks for the response.

Would anybody happen to have information on a round with a soft primer for .38 special?

 

[Huddog]

I agree that the problem is hard primers. I have not shot much Blazer in the last few years but I don't remember my Smith's having troublewith it. Most of the practise stuff I buy now is from Atlanta Arms or Georgia Arms and I've never had a problem with ignition, or anything else for that matter. I don't own a Taurus.

 

[DevilDog0402]

I have the 85 UltraLite (looks like a 642) and have gone through 2 boxes of Blazer Aluminum cased ammo w/ no problems so far.

 

[Claymore1500]

I bought "Blazer" aluminum cased .38spl. one time to try it in my ruger blackhawk, After seeing the ragged case mouthes and totally burned thru cases, I decided that they were not worth the savings.

 

[recole]

Blazer ammo

I agree. The aluminum case ammo is cheap for a reason. I, too, have opened several boxes, seen the condition of "fresh" ammo and given it away. I had occasional misfires with mine when I did use it. I don't anymore.

Ron

 

[LKB3rd]

I haven't shot any in .38 special, but I have shot a ton of Blazer brass cased .45ACP. Never any problems at all. It's pretty cheap if they have it where you are.

 

[MCgunner]

Blazer aluminum has thin rims (possible head space problems), hard primers, and just doesn't work in some guns. I reload, so I don't buy the stuff anyway. Would rather buy brass case ammo for the brass. I've bought a few boxes in .45 ACP, but never fired a .38 special aluminum blazer. .45 head spaces on the case mouth and a thin rim only encourages good extraction. If you don't handload, I guess it's a practice option unless your gun really doesn't like the stuff.

 

[highorder]

I have also experienced (and measured) thin rims on Blaser aluminum cases. Food for thought.