Yes I have a 44 redhawk that freezes up as soon as a round is fired double action.It has a very smoothe action and the cylinder spins freeley untill a round is fired, then the next round has 45 pound trigger pull and I have to turn it with my hands while cocking the hammer. I have some gunsmith experience and really want to figure this out without having to send it back. All sugestions welcome
my redhawks jamming
- Thread starter timothy75
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1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Jammin' Hawk
Hi Tim, and welcome aboard.
Do a quick check. Fire the one round and remove the empty...Return the cylinder to battery and see if it's locked up. If it doesn't, you may have one of two things at work. Tight headspace...with insufficient clearance between
the recoil shield and the case rim. When the round fires, the brass backs up
slightly and butts against the recoil shield...and causes it to drag.
Also possible that the chambers are tapered slightly, and will do the same thing, even with good headspace because the case backs up hard..hits the shield...and forms itself to the tapered chamber. The result is a lot like a drill chuck/tapered spindle. It wedges itself in place and can't move in either direction.
A small possibility that unburned powder gets under the ejector star,
and creates the same effect as the insufficient headspace condition...but it's not highly likely that it would occur with just one round.
Could also be a combination of any or all of the above, along with a slightly bent ejector rod. Easy to check for too. Just spin the cylinder and watch closely for wobble anywhere along the axis.
Either way, it's a job for Ruger or a revolver smith. If you can find the headspace specs for the Redhawk, you can use a feeler gauge to see if it's too tight.
Paging Jim Keenan! We need some headspace specs on this man's revolver!
Hi Tim, and welcome aboard.
Do a quick check. Fire the one round and remove the empty...Return the cylinder to battery and see if it's locked up. If it doesn't, you may have one of two things at work. Tight headspace...with insufficient clearance between
the recoil shield and the case rim. When the round fires, the brass backs up
slightly and butts against the recoil shield...and causes it to drag.
Also possible that the chambers are tapered slightly, and will do the same thing, even with good headspace because the case backs up hard..hits the shield...and forms itself to the tapered chamber. The result is a lot like a drill chuck/tapered spindle. It wedges itself in place and can't move in either direction.
A small possibility that unburned powder gets under the ejector star,
and creates the same effect as the insufficient headspace condition...but it's not highly likely that it would occur with just one round.
Could also be a combination of any or all of the above, along with a slightly bent ejector rod. Easy to check for too. Just spin the cylinder and watch closely for wobble anywhere along the axis.
Either way, it's a job for Ruger or a revolver smith. If you can find the headspace specs for the Redhawk, you can use a feeler gauge to see if it's too tight.
Paging Jim Keenan! We need some headspace specs on this man's revolver!
jaybar
Member
DA only?
Does it do the same with single action firing? Are you using fully loaded rounds or empties with primers only, no powder?
Does it do the same with single action firing? Are you using fully loaded rounds or empties with primers only, no powder?
41 Redhawk
Member
Could also be a primer backing out or getting cratered. Are these very light loads?
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Primer
Well, Leave it to me to overlook the simplest thing whilst lookin' for the complex...
Check the primers for setback...
Thanks Terry!
Well, Leave it to me to overlook the simplest thing whilst lookin' for the complex...
Check the primers for setback...
Thanks Terry!
Sunray
Member
Sounds like primers backing out to me too. What ammo?
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
More Simple Stuff
Primers backing out...Which could also be caused by excessive haeadspace.
Does the cylinder have a lot of end shake?
Primers backing out...Which could also be caused by excessive haeadspace.
Does the cylinder have a lot of end shake?
Redehawk update
I dont think its the primers backing out I can see light between them when I check. I've tried several factory loads including 44special with no success. Heres something interesting though like I said the cylinder becomes stiff after a round is fired but after I rotate it aound once it becomes smooth again and spins beutifully untill the next round is fired and we start over. Also after I fire a round its hard to open, but then its easy to close. Oh and I can load it with six fired shells that I have roatated through the sequence of fireing a cylinder and they dryfire fine once they all go around once. thanks in advance
I dont think its the primers backing out I can see light between them when I check. I've tried several factory loads including 44special with no success. Heres something interesting though like I said the cylinder becomes stiff after a round is fired but after I rotate it aound once it becomes smooth again and spins beutifully untill the next round is fired and we start over. Also after I fire a round its hard to open, but then its easy to close. Oh and I can load it with six fired shells that I have roatated through the sequence of fireing a cylinder and they dryfire fine once they all go around once. thanks in advance
I had the same problem, after pulling my hair out, checking everything, tearing it apart again and again, I called Ruger. They had me send it in and all's been well since. No idea what they did, but they did it fast and covered shipping in both directions.
N.M. Edmands
Member
Too tight a cylinder to barrel gap? Heat of firing closes it up, cooling loosens it again. .002/.003 too tight is all it would take. Possible?
Last edited:
B.FRANKlin
member
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
- Messages
- 20
What about a binding/broken firing pin return or transfer bar? Rare but can happen. I've seen a Taurus' cylinder pin eject plunger back out and bind everything up, too.
Love my Rugers!
Love my Rugers!
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Hmmmm
FRANKlin might be onto somethin'...Not likely that one round would generate enough heat to close up the barrel-cylinder gap to bind it up that tight, though it might be because of metal shaving off the side of the bullet and
wedging between the forcing cone and cylinder.
Check the timing. Cock the hammer slowly, and gently turn the cylinder to see that it's locked into battery when the hammer reaches full-cock. Check it in the DA mode too. Takes a little practice to trigger-cock the hammer and check for full battery...but you'll get the hang of it in a few minutes. Check the timing on all six chambers. Sometimes you can have one or two that are slow.
I'm still thinkin' case setback and maybe tight headspace too. Check the recoil shield for hard drag marks. Possibility of worn or undersized cylinder pin
letting the cylinder skew sideways on firing. Check the cylinder for excessive wobble on the pin. Still might want to have a look under the ejector for unburnt powder grains.
Sometimes these things are tough to nail without the gun on the bench.
FRANKlin might be onto somethin'...Not likely that one round would generate enough heat to close up the barrel-cylinder gap to bind it up that tight, though it might be because of metal shaving off the side of the bullet and
wedging between the forcing cone and cylinder.
Check the timing. Cock the hammer slowly, and gently turn the cylinder to see that it's locked into battery when the hammer reaches full-cock. Check it in the DA mode too. Takes a little practice to trigger-cock the hammer and check for full battery...but you'll get the hang of it in a few minutes. Check the timing on all six chambers. Sometimes you can have one or two that are slow.
I'm still thinkin' case setback and maybe tight headspace too. Check the recoil shield for hard drag marks. Possibility of worn or undersized cylinder pin
letting the cylinder skew sideways on firing. Check the cylinder for excessive wobble on the pin. Still might want to have a look under the ejector for unburnt powder grains.
Sometimes these things are tough to nail without the gun on the bench.
Last edited:
N.M. Edmands
Member
Re-read original post, single shot-oops-my bad :banghead:
:banghead:- Status
