Register
Log In
Home
January 8, 2012
Offline
So first here is the requisite picture!
Now that is outmof the way.
I got this 15 in a trade. It passed the used revolver tests all tight. I was VERY excited to take it to the range today but it let me down!
Using several type of ammo; umc 130gr fmj, magtech lead roundnoses, and georgia arms wadcutters it would not reliably ignite any of them! Would only set off 20%. So after 24 trigger pulls and 5 sucessful rounds i gave up and pulled out my backup ruger mkii
Anyd ideas onnwhat to check. I had firing pin hits on every round but they did look a bit shallow. Ammo ran fine in a s&w model 10 and 686.
Please help i really want to like thhis gun but am a little disheartened right now
Supporter
Range Officer
Moderators
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
Offline
First off welcome to 
, sorry to hear about your difficulties. Start with the grip screw, remove it and reinstall it, but not very tight, if its too tight it will cause what you are observing. A thorough cleaning is also in oreder especially if you just got this gun. If that doesn't do the trick, perhaps its time for a spring kit installation. There is a great thread about tuning up a small frame called the "average Joe" method, its a good read. Other experienced members will off thier guidance as well. Good luck and let us know what you find out.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
To diagnose the grip screw possibility (which is a distinct possibility with the Pachmayr Presentation grip pictured) try loosening the grip screw one full revolution at a time, then try shooting it both single and double action. The grip screw does not have to cranked down as tight as humanly possible, you will probably resolve this problem very easily with just backing the grip screw out slightly
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
Offline
Welcome to the DWF, sounds like Scorpio covered what to start looking for. Definitely back off your grip screw, if it is in too far it may not let the hammer spring travel completely. Screw should not thread in more than about 6 full turns. And like Scorpio said the 'average Joe' tuneup is great info. EWK arms, advertised in the right of this screen, offers full spring kits for small frame Dans if you end up needing anything.
Stick with us here, you will get your revolver working fine and you will love shooting it, Dan Wessons are very easy to work on, great shooters, and very rarely can you find a problem that can't be cured.
-Lonwolf93
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
January 8, 2012
Offline
Dang i wish i had internet att the range! Its a 45 minute drive and i only get out there 1-2 times a month. The grip was screwed on pretty tight, but i have no way to test if that solved the issue until the next trip! Any other ideas in case that doesnt work? I took a look at the guts and it doesnt look too bad in there pretty and clean. Is the spring kit worthwhile at this point?
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
Offline
My money is on the grip screw as the culprit. Personally, when I am working on a problem I like to change one thing at a time. Therefore I would not change springs until I could try the gun with the grip screw looser. Just my 2 cents. If you don't want to disassemble and clean everything, you still might want to remove the firing pin and clean it and check it's return spring isn't broken or something.
-Lonwolf93
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
September 26, 2010
Offline
Use the pencil test, open the cylinder drop a pencil down the barrel and dry fire it with the gun pointed strait up. The pencil should clear at least half way up the barrel. compare it to single action, it will give you a good idea of the firing pin power. Also I would replace all springs with the EWK kit. A heavy hand spring can also effect firing pin power.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
anomic said:
Dang i wish i had internet att the range! Its a 45 minute drive and i only get out there 1-2 times a month. The grip was screwed on pretty tight, but i have no way to test if that solved the issue until the next trip! Any other ideas in case that doesnt work? I took a look at the guts and it doesnt look too bad in there pretty and clean. Is the spring kit worthwhile at this point?
I always think the internal cleanup, even without full dis-assembly, is a great idea. I also always think that spring replacement is a great idea, but that will require dis-assembly.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
Offline
sounds like the guys answered the likely problems. But while you are waiting you may want to investigate the firing pin and it's channel to insure it's not gunked up. Not likely but won't hurt. Good luck.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
December 26, 2010
Offline
to the forum and thanks for the pic. 
Congrats on the new acquisition. 
If loosening the grip screw doesn't help, check the springs. My 740 did the same thing when I first got it. Turns out the prior owner thought hacking some coils off the spring would help. It didn't. New springs put it right. It's a little intimidating the first time or two in there. I keep a printed copy of the Average Joe tuneup and the large frame dis-assembly/re-assembly threads in the shop. Take your time. I'm sure you will get it right.
June 25, 2011
Offline
There is something else that is requisite, can anyone else not see it?
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
February 11, 2010
Offline
nowicanhitabarn said:
There is something else that is requisite, can anyone else not see it?
Do tell...you mean the trigger set screw is missing ? ?
-Blacktop
January 8, 2012
Offline
Oulled sideplate and cleaned it wasnt that dirty. Reassembled and only tightened the grip screw hardly at all. The "pencil test" throws it up about 2" but i didnt do a before so i dunno if thats an improvement
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
A couple of people suggested the firing pin channel, another good thing to check, and easily done.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
Starting with an unloaded revolver (sorry, I had to say it), drift out the Firing Pin Retaining Pin. This pin is cross mounted in the frame directly forward of where the hammer falls in the frame, below the rear sight. Cock the hammer back a little bit and the firing pin and the firing pin spring should come out. You should be able to clean the firing pin, spring, and channel thoroughly. Check the hole that the firing pin extends thru to strike the primer to make sure it is perfectly round with no burrs. I had one 15-2 where the hole had "peened" and it needed to be opened up slightly to be perfectly round again. It's much more likely that you might find a little crud in that channel that will not allow the firing pin to strike fully.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
1 Guest(s)
