Cimarron Colt Richards conversion misfire - gun or the ammo?

[ColonelTravis]

Got a new Cimarron 1860 Richards Transition Model, Type II conversion, 45 Colt. Cleaned it, took it to the range for the first time yesterday. In a box of 50, I had 3 misfires. No bang whatsoever. The primer strike mark seemed OK, I didn't see anything unusual there. This was my first replica revolver with cartridges. Actually, first revolver I've owned, period.

Ammo was from Defender Ammunition out of NC, I have never shot anything of theirs in my carry gun or other firearms. I have read people who've noticed that, after covid, some ammo companies have lost a little QC trying to get ammo out the door fast enough now. Winchester had a recall not too long ago for 9mm, too.

I don't know. Could this be an issue with the gun?

 

[Dave T]

First you might check the strain screw that tensions the hammer (found under the stocks). The factory might not have screwed it in all the way which would lighten the hammer strike.

Next, is the Defender Ammunition newly manufactured (factory) or is it "re-manufactured" which is another name for reloads. If they are in fact reloads I would suspect it might be the ammo. Quick test would be to find some real factory ammunition. Yea I know it will cost a fortune but that might be cheaper than shipping it somewhere. If it works with fresh factory ammo you have your answer.

Either way I hope you figure out the problem. And now that you have this historical reproduction you really should look into loading and shooting black powder through it. Once you try that you may get hooked.

Dave

 

[jak67429]

Are the primer strikes centered on the primer? off-center strikes take more energy to setoff the priming compound.

 

[ColonelTravis]

Thanks. Yes, the primer strike was centered and the depth appeared to be normal. I just checked the website, it is in fact, remanufactured. I missed that when I ordered. I do have some Hornaday 45 Colt I have not fired yet. I'll take the whole thing apart and inspect it in detail today.

Just got a Colt Walker, too. Can't wait to shoot that thing. Hard to find all the supplies right now, I just got primers yesterday. Only thing I'm waiting on are the lead balls, which are probably stuck on a boat in China, I ordered them a while back.

 

[CraigC]

If the primer strikes look good, it'd have to be the ammo.

 

[LaneP]

My bet is on ammo, particularly if strike looks normal.

 

[ColonelTravis]

thanks again

 

[thirty-eight]

I do have some Hornaday 45 Colt I have not fired yet. I'll take the whole thing apart and inspect it in detail today.

Perhaps try the Hornady ammo before disassembling the revolver. Might also try the three duds in another .45 Colt?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

First you might check the strain screw that tensions the hammer (found under the stocks). The factory might not have screwed it in all the way which would lighten the hammer strike.

Howdy

There is no strain screw on a Colt Single Action revolver, original or replica.

This is an original Colt Richards Conversion. The large screw on the rear of the brass trigger guard is the hammer screw, which fastens the hammer spring to the trigger guard. Shooters sometimes slip a shim between the trigger guard and the spring to lessen the strength of the hammer spring, but there is no strain screw.






Smith and Wesson double action revolvers have strain screws. The screw at the bottom of the hammer spring in this photo is the strain screw. Notice how it is bending the hammer spring. Shooters sometimes back out the strain screw slightly to lessen the double action trigger pull, but then they are flirting with misfires.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

I shoot a lot of Uberti conversion guns, and weak springs are usually the culprit.
Defender ammo probably uses either WW, CCI or Federal primers, just like the 'big guys' do, and the brass case being shot once or twice has very little to do at all with primer function - it has a lot to do with proper dimensions of the finished cartridge however.

 

[RON in PA]

Did you try to fire the cartridges a second time? My experience with reloaded ammo is that a small percentage will not fire the first time and need to be shot a second time to ignite. Of course if the primers were bad to begin with they will never fire.