I have a some questions about an H&R revolver.

[bernie]

My mom's aunt gave me a H&R 733 that is hers to clean up for her. Nice pistol, not bad for her needs. It is double action only. It says on the barrel "32 Smith & Wesson". Would that be S&W long or short. I ran some shorts through it, and after 3 or 4 cylinders full, it will begin giving light primer strikes that will not detonate the primer. However, if it is clean as a pin, there seems to be no problem. Any ideas on that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rcmodel]

It is chambered in .32 S&W Long.

Misfires could be caused by old ammo.
Or mechanical problems with end-shake induced excess headspace.
Or a weak hammer spring.
Or dirt & unburned powder under the extractor star cushioning the FP blow.

Some of them also were made with a plastic main spring guide rod, and they sometimes fail.

Numric has new main springs for about two fifty.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=7912

rc

 

[weregunner]

The firing pin channel can also be a problem. So that might need to be cleaned out as well as the other problems the guys have already stated.

 

[GCBurner]

The 732 and 733 are handy little revolvers, and there's not a lot to go wrong with them. Deterioration of the plastic guide for the mainspring seems to be the main complaint that comes up, but there are all-steel replacements available, and it's simple enough to do yourself.
http://cgi.ebay.com/H-R-Mainspring-Guide-Assembly-Steel-/400105485336

Other than that, just keep it clean and oiled, and it should be good for another 40 years.

 

[32 Magnum]

Reading your problem exactly as you posted - it sounds like an ammo problem rather than something mechanical. If it fires 3 or 4 full cylinders full with no problems - then begins to give light strikes after that - then I'd suspect that you're getting cylinder bore fouling from shooting the shorter .32 S&W cartridges. The shorter OAL allows some build up in the "empty" part of the bore which eventually keeps the rounds from fully seating - the hammer then expends some of its kinetic energy pushing the cartridge home.
The Model 732/733 was in production from 1959 until 1986 and was a very popular item for H&R. From '59 up to '73 it was equipped with a spring buffered, frame mounted firing pin and from '73 to end of production it was equipped with the transfer bar safety/ignition system. If the gun shoots OK when clean - then begins to misfire after a couple rounds through each bore - get some .32 S&W Long cartridges and try them. If the problem persists - re post.