Taurus revolver failed to fire

[peacebutready]

Howdy,

I have a Taurus 85UL (Taurus' version of the S&W airweight). It only has a total of a few hundred rounds through it. Before a trigger job, it once failed to fire when the trigger was pulled in DA mode. After the trigger job which I requested a lighter trigger pull (2 springs were changed), it failed to go off twice with Magtech ammo. I did notice an indentation in the primer after looking once when it failed to go off. Maybe it needs an aftermarket firing pin.

I don't know how hard Magtech's primers are but were my misfire's probably due to pulling the trigger in DA mode too slowly? This model has an internal lock which I never touched. Could the misfire's be a combination of pulling the trigger too slowly and any safety features the revolver has?

Happy Shooting!

 

[theCan]

It's impossible to pull the trigger too slowly. The hammer comes back a set distance before disengaging from the sear.

It is possible that your firing pin is not quite spaced properly on your S&W or it could be the ammo. A third possibility is the springs which drive the hammer forward are weak. My money is on #2 though.

That said, our Marlin 39A hits the primer plenty hard enough and exhibits a significant number of FTF in all brands of ammo, including the vaunted CCI.

 

[788Ham]

I'd have to go along with the theory of too light of springs, has nothing to do with the hammer itself. If the smith who did your action job is still around, take it back, heavier springs will take care of it. Like mentioned above, DA slowly pulled has nothing to do with not firing. I have an Ruger SP 101, had a terrible DA trigger, took it to a smith, had trigger and hammer polished. Now, all I shoot is DA, shooting it slowly and trying to be consistent with my aim and shot placement, thats what shooting a revolver is about. Good luck.

 

[hogshead]

He said Taurus version of a S@W.

 

[oldfool]

too light springs are notorious for that (mainspring that is)
anytime it worked "yesterday", but does not "today", the 1st question to be asked is what changed in the interim
what OP did not say was, how many misfires in how many round counts before and after
one/two out of 5, or out of 50, or out of 500 ???

only a few hundred rounds total, understood, and not good in any case, especially the before,
although one bad round is a possibility, centerfire misfires 'ought' be rare as hen's teeth if the firing pin and mainspring is right, any factory centerfire ammo

rimfire comparisons hardly count when talking centerfire misfires
rare not to get at least some few misfires with bulk rimfire ammo, any gun

 

[Elmer]

"After the trigger job which I requested a lighter trigger pull (2 springs were changed), it failed to go off twice with Magtech ammo"

I think I'd start looking there....

 

[XD 45acp]

The other thing,... some "Smiths" will cut coils and claim spring replacement... watch for that. I had it happen to me, as it was claimed to be new Wofle springs, and I pulled them and sent them back to Wolfe, and they called me and said that the springs I sent in was factory springs that had been cut and was not their product. Always ask for your old parts. I too agree, need stronger springs.

 

[premier1]

It sounds like you had a light tap.As most are saying probably because of the work that was done.I also own that same Taurus 85.I love the gun and there is never a week that I don't use it with my job that requires me to be armed.A couple of things first I would never bother getting a trigger job done on it,second if you ever noticed some primers seem to be harder if you will then others.Have you tried different ammo?

 

[peacebutready]

Total rounds

too light springs are notorious for that (mainspring that is)
anytime it worked "yesterday", but does not "today", the 1st question to be asked is what changed in the interim
what OP did not say was, how many misfires in how many round counts before and after
one/two out of 5, or out of 50, or out of 500 ???

Before the trigger job, it happened once in about 150 rounds. I don't recall the ammo-probably WWB. Since the trigger job, it happened twice with Magtech ammo.

 

[peacebutready]

Bad 'smith experience as well here

The other thing,... some "Smiths" will cut coils and claim spring replacement... watch for that. I had it happen to me, as it was claimed to be new Wofle springs, and I pulled them and sent them back to Wolfe, and they called me and said that the springs I sent in was factory springs that had been cut and was not their product. Always ask for your old parts. I too agree, need stronger springs.

I got and still have the factory springs from the 'smith. Your spring experience doesn't surprise me. The 'smith that did my work also worked on another model and messed up the finish royally. They refinished the slide and the sheen is different from the receiver. And they didn't tell me if something was wrong with it, which I asked them to check (Para GI Expert). They detail stripped it, cleaned, and lubed it. The slide movement was great when I got it back, though it didn't stop jams-even with good aftermarket mags.

 

[peacebutready]

It sounds like you had a light tap.As most are saying probably because of the work that was done.I also own that same Taurus 85.I love the gun and there is never a week that I don't use it with my job that requires me to be armed.A couple of things first I would never bother getting a trigger job done on it,second if you ever noticed some primers seem to be harder if you will then others.Have you tried different ammo?

I too am happy with mine except for this one problem.

The pre-trigger job ammo was different (possibly WWB) where I had one failure. Post trigger job I fired about a 20 Bitter-root (spelling?) +P rounds without failure but 20 is a small amount.

 

[peacebutready]

Update

I forgot to mention the firing pin doesn't seem to jut out far enough when dry-fired, then examined before examining. I don't know enough to say for sure, though.

Cheers and thanks.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You said, "I too am happy with mine except for this one problem." I'm sorry but any time a handgun fails to fire it's not a small thing! I highly doubt it's the Magtech ammo that's the problem. Any revolver in good operating condition should fire any commercial ammo. (especially since both the revolver and ammo are made in Brazil)

IMO you don't fix a misfire with a trigger job that lightens up the firing pin strike. There is something wrong with your revolver and you should not carry is for SD until it's repaired...

 

[theCan]

There is something wrong with your revolver and you should not carry is for SD until it's repaired...

I disagree. A gun that might go bang is better than no gun at all. Even if you get a misfire, you can just pull through, you've got 4 other chambers. If all else fails, you can use it as a brick. Any one volunteering to get pistol whipped? I didn't think so.

Just get the issue resolved and get on with your life.

 

[Nomad]

No doubt the lighter springs have made the situation worse but I can tell you from experience Magtech primers have very hard cups. I have a couple of handguns set up for competition one is a 1911 with a light main spring. A few years back when primers were in short supply I bought some Magtech primers and had to change the main spring back to stock until I was finished with the Magtech primers.

 

[el Godfather]

Taurus does cater to certain segment, which definitely DOES NOT include me.


I have given up on Taurus after 4 bad pieces.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Given the general low quality of the ammo in question I'd say that one ammunition related misfire was turned into a gun problem with the addition of lighter springs.

I've had a couple competition revolvers that were ammunition/primer sensitive. That's fine for a range gun. But in my opinion lighter springs have no place on a defensive revolver.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I disagree. A gun that might go bang is better than no gun at all. Even if you get a misfire, you can just pull through, you've got 4 other chambers. If all else fails, you can use it as a brick. Any one volunteering to get pistol whipped? I didn't think so.

Just get the issue resolved and get on with your life.

I didn't tell him not to carry a gun, just not that gun. I totally disagree a misfire is acceptable. You can lose your life in that fraction of a second the first round misfires and you have the chance to fire the second round. Way too dangerous to carry an unreliable handgun. I highly doubt anyone will agree it's a good idea to carry any handgun for SD that isn't reliable.

 

[X-Rap]

The Wolfe spring kits come with parts that will typically render the gun unreliable. I have found that it is best to step up one spring weight from the point that you experience failures and then try with multiple brands of ammo or restrict yourself to that which functions properly.

 

[peacebutready]

You said, "I too am happy with mine except for this one problem."

IMO you don't fix a misfire with a trigger job that lightens up the firing pin strike. There is something wrong with your revolver and you should not carry is for SD until it's repaired...

I will definitely have it looked at/repaired. I'm hoping it is something other than too light springs because I like the trigger.

 

[peacebutready]

No doubt the lighter springs have made the situation worse but I can tell you from experience Magtech primers have very hard cups. I have a couple of handguns set up for competition one is a 1911 with a light main spring. A few years back when primers were in short supply I bought some Magtech primers and had to change the main spring back to stock until I was finished with the Magtech primers.

Thanks. Your post gave me the idea to try other ammo.

 

[theCan]

I didn't tell him not to carry a gun, just not that gun. I totally disagree a misfire is acceptable. You can lose your life in that fraction of a second the first round misfires and you have the chance to fire the second round. Way too dangerous to carry an unreliable handgun. I highly doubt anyone will agree it's a good idea to carry any handgun for SD that isn't reliable.

You need to re-read what I posted. You're replying to something I never wrote. And chill. You're acting like he's going into a war zone.

 

[blarby]

Before a trigger job

I'm with elmer on this one.

Was this a home brew trigger job, or something that a gunsmith did ?

Also :

I didn't tell him not to carry a gun, just not that gun. I totally disagree a misfire is acceptable. You can lose your life in that fraction of a second the first round misfires and you have the chance to fire the second round. Way too dangerous to carry an unreliable handgun. I highly doubt anyone will agree it's a good idea to carry any handgun for SD that isn't reliable.

I disagree. A gun that might go bang is better than no gun at all. Even if you get a misfire, you can just pull through, you've got 4 other chambers. If all else fails, you can use it as a brick. Any one volunteering to get pistol whipped? I didn't think so.

You need to re-read what I posted. You're replying to something I never wrote. And chill. You're acting like he's going into a war zone.

I read and re-read it.

I think Arch is spot on with his assessment.

Carrying a weapon that you hope will fire is extremely dangerous. Not only is it a false sense of security and all that entails, if you need to use it- and it doesn't work- you may have made a bad situation worse....with all that entails.

Also, many areas of the southwest are warzones right now.

 

[GP100man]

Disassemble & clean FP well of rust/broken rebound spring & or debris/carbon.

Put factory springs back in !

 

[theCan]

I read and re-read it.

I think Arch is spot on with his assessment.

Carrying a weapon that you hope will fire is extremely dangerous. Not only is it a false sense of security and all that entails, if you need to use it- and it doesn't work- you may have made a bad situation worse....with all that entails.

Also, many areas of the southwest are warzones right now.

So he should carry a stick instead then? Jesus. We don't even know if he has a back up firearm. I'm assuming he doesn't. Better to have a gun that would most likely work than no gun at all. Anyone who says other wise can gift their pieces to me at the first sign of trouble. PM me for my preferred FFL.