The verdict...ammo
Old Fuff and other helpers,
Well, it must have been the ammo. I went with my brother in law to the range tonight and I shot about 150 of his .357 reloads and the Blackhawk was perfect. Not one misfire. He reloaded some nice nickel cases and they worked great. I was going to buy some good ammo at the range but his worked so well I just used it.
Those American Ammo primers must have really been crap. That said, I put another 100 of the American .40s through my S&W M&P tonight and they have never misfired. I assume in the semi-auto the shell case is butted up tightly against the breach and the firing pin can really pop it. Whereas in the Blackhawk there is some clearance behind the shell and the firing pin has to reach farther and doesn't hit the primer as hard.
That said, I think the Blackhawk should fire those cheap shells, so I'm going to order the springs, as you guys recommended. Cocking and trigger are buttery smooth, but seems like there's enough spring to throw the hammer nicely. But as you say the springs are cheap and I'll learn a lot trying them.
Sorry to have put you guys through this just for crappy ammo. I really do appreciate all the help. And I'm still interested in discussing the H&R 999 Sportsman which I think really does have a spring problem. I assume I should start a new thread for that one.
Thanks, Tim
Old Fuff and other helpers,
Well, it must have been the ammo. I went with my brother in law to the range tonight and I shot about 150 of his .357 reloads and the Blackhawk was perfect. Not one misfire. He reloaded some nice nickel cases and they worked great. I was going to buy some good ammo at the range but his worked so well I just used it.
Those American Ammo primers must have really been crap. That said, I put another 100 of the American .40s through my S&W M&P tonight and they have never misfired. I assume in the semi-auto the shell case is butted up tightly against the breach and the firing pin can really pop it. Whereas in the Blackhawk there is some clearance behind the shell and the firing pin has to reach farther and doesn't hit the primer as hard.
That said, I think the Blackhawk should fire those cheap shells, so I'm going to order the springs, as you guys recommended. Cocking and trigger are buttery smooth, but seems like there's enough spring to throw the hammer nicely. But as you say the springs are cheap and I'll learn a lot trying them.
Sorry to have put you guys through this just for crappy ammo. I really do appreciate all the help. And I'm still interested in discussing the H&R 999 Sportsman which I think really does have a spring problem. I assume I should start a new thread for that one.
Thanks, Tim
