Author Topic: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?  (Read 1614 times)

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Offline arrestman

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H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« on: December 14, 2009, 04:33:01 AM »
I've had this rifle for two hunting seasons now and it has started misfiring about 1 in 3 rounds fired. I've tried several different large rifle primers and three different types of brass. The winchester brass has the least amount of failures with the starline brass being the worst. Anyone else have this problem? The firing pin seems to go through the receiver far enough but am wondering if the strike force is enough? The firing pin return spring seems a little heavy. Any thoughts on this subject?

Offline Bayou Stalker

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2009, 04:38:18 AM »
Who did the trigger job?  You didn't mention you had one, but I suspect it is the source of your problem.  Too light and most shooters (including me) will not get/keep the transfer bar in the correct position.
Kendall

Offline Swampman

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2009, 04:40:59 AM »
Does it misfire with factory ammo?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2009, 04:48:52 AM »
Welcome!  ;) Mine did it too, the rim cut was too deep causing excess headspace, but in your case the causes mentioned so far could be the problem also. Firing pin projection should be .040"-.050" with the trigger held all the way to the rear when you lower the hammer. The headstamp on a chambered round should be flush with the chamber face, if it's recessed very much, you'll get FTFs. Weak hammer springs have been know to come on new rifles, let us know what you find out, all of these issue can be fixed or worked around, see the Handi basics sticky on trigger pull and other tips.

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline peternap

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2009, 05:45:52 AM »
The first thing I'd look at is your primers. Both the fired ones and the duds. Is there a difference. If the duds are lighter, I doubt it's headspace but as Tim said, that's easy enough to check. If the head is flush, put a piece of masking tape on the head and close the receiver, If it closes do another. If it still closes, you need to do some shimming.

Offline arrestman

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2009, 02:24:03 PM »
Thanks for your replies, No I have never had the trigger worked on. There is a slight headspace problem but I didn't think it would cause this many misfires. No I have never used factory ammo. I've noticed there is different depths to the primer pockets. I believe this adds to problem. The firing pin comes through at least .040. I leaning towards the main spring being weak. Thanks again.

Offline 26-t

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2009, 02:26:58 PM »
I have boxed my newly acquired 45-70 handi to ship back to H&R for repair. It is a old (NE) prefix 1990 model that was un-fired ???, It would not fire on the first strike, maybe not the 2nd strike, the chamber is bored to deep. It measured .0865 deep at the rim and my BC measured .069. 26-t

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2009, 02:31:03 PM »
I epoxied a shim on the front of the extractor post on my SS 45-70 Ultra Hunter to solve the deep rim cut problem, you would also need to thin the post a little, just enough that with the shim it can hold the cartridge against the standing breech when fired, it works extremely well. Hammer springs can be ordered from Midway, Numrich or Brownell's.


Tim

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Offline 26-t

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Re: H&R ULTRA IN 45/70 MISFIRES?
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2009, 02:52:04 PM »
I am out to the shop to make a shim. Thanks   TIM!!! 26-t