Diamondback with random light primer strikes.

[smithbm]

I was shooting my Colt Diamondback last weekend. It would give a light strike on the primer about once every 10-20 rounds. Each round would detonate when I ran it through a second time or when I ran it through one of my other revolvers. The rounds were all reloads but I was shooting them in the other revolvers without any problems, so I don't think the ammo is at fault. I don't know about the newer models, but this is one of the older models with the firing pin attached to the hammer. The trigger pull is still as smooth silk in both DA and SA. When I lower the hammer with the trigger pulled I can see the firing pin protrude through the firing pin hole each time. Does anyone have any ideas why I'm getting random light strikes? Is this a common problem that I just haven't heard about?

 

[Steve H]

Dirt stopping the hammer to fall all the way??????

 

[smithbm]

I thought that too, but I didn't notice any excessive buildup when I cleaned it after the shoot.

 

[Jim Watson]

"Trigger Job"?

 

[smithbm]

"Trigger Job"?

As far as I know this gun is factory original. I've been shooting it for the past 20 years and my dad owned it for quite a few years prior to that. I shot it a couple of months ago with no problems and it's been stored since then. I have to admit that I really haven't had a chance to examine it closely much past cleaning it. I guess I'm looking for a list of "usual suspects" to target upon close examination. I've never had this kind of problem with a revolver with this style of hammer and firing pin.

 

[glassman]

light strikes

I had the same problem with my python. Also my strikes were off center. I switched ammo to american eagle and it fired every time but I still sent it back to colt for a look see a few weeks ago. I'm still waiting for it to come back. Could your problem be related to hard primers? Mine would fire every time when in single action but missed one in ten when in double.

 

[dfariswheel]

With revolvers this is a sign of one of two things:

1: Ammo related.
Not all guns "like" all ammo. The fact that the ammo shoots OK in other guns doesn't mean a lot.
Mis-fires like this are common with reloads, often from either dirty primer pockets, hard primers, or primers not fully seated.

2: A weak mainspring or a mainspring someone has bent to get a lighter trigger pull.

A common sign of this is when the gun shoots fine in single action, but misfires in double action due to the shorter hammer fall in DA.

My suggestion:
Try factory ammo.
Check the mainspring for downward bends, or replace the spring.

Best guess as to what the probable cause is: (Sorry) probable reloaded ammo at fault.

 

[smithbm]

Thanks for the help. Next time I shoot it I'll have to examine the misfires a little closer to check out the primer. All of my shots were DA (even the ones that were run through a second time). This is the first time I shot this group of reloads (which are a little old to begin with) so it makes since that they would be the culprit. I just didn't understand why the other revolvers weren't affected.