A question about 73 Win.

[Major 2]

I'm a Henry shooter, it's my main match has been for years ( early on in SASS I had Marlin, had 66 too))
So I have little shooting time on the 73's.

About a month or so ago I bought a LNIB 73 short rifle in 44spcl.
Today I got the first chance to sight it in... I set up at 10 yards and loaded the only rounds I have
ULTRAMAX 44 Spcl. 200 grain RNFP
First ten shot a 2 1/2 group POA with #6 round a light tap, I ejected it finished the 9 and pickup the unfired dimpled round and loaded it and it fired
it was the one flier out of the group at about 3" out the 9 round Group ( most likely my aim point )

I loaded 10 more, this time # 3 light tapped and this group was tighter at 2 1/4" group ...I reloaded the errant (again dimpled)
round and it fired...I could not see any difference in the dimples.
and only 2 in twenty failed the first strike both fired the second time )


So normally I shoot Black Hills in my Henry's never had a light tap.....but I could not find Black Hills 44 Scpl for today's test.

anybody want to offer their thoughts
A. could it be an Ultramax issue ( never shot the stuff in anything but pistol before )
B. could the safety button be my problem ( as on those two light tap's I was not squeezing the lever tight enough )
  no safety button on Henry's




.

[Cole Bluesteele]

Major

It is not the lever safety. It is either on or off and has no effect on hammer strike.  If the unfired rounds' primers are dimpled like the ones that fired, I'm putting money on the primers.  Remember that the recoil from the firing of the round can actually cause the dimple on a fired round to be deeper than a strike on a bad primer.  Still it seems like primer problem to me.

Ted

[Major 2]

That is my guess too....  Anybody had this happen with factory ULTRAMAX   

I just not that familiar with the lever safety of the 73...

We were at an indoor range....We rented the lane strickly to see where this new one and my pards new conversions were shooting.

So my next test to find some Factory Black Hills or maybe Ten X and try that.

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[Pancho Peacemaker]

Roger,

I had a new '73 that was producing lite strikes and failed to ignite abou 1 in 8 primers.

I turned the main spring adjustment screw (#53 in the diagram below) about a 1/4 turn clockwise and problem was solved.

[Major 2]

DOH ! can it be that simple ? 
is it the one visable under the lever as seen from the under outside ?

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Yep.  Do it at the range so you can see if the amount of adjustment is making a better dimple.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Pancho
Sounds like someone adjusted that prior to Major 2 had the rifle or it may came from the factory that way ? either way that will be a EASY fix .

[Major 2]

Will do Greg thanks..

Rowdy... I bought it LNIB, I'm unsure it was ever loaded, let alone fired .... not a mark on it.
However, after I loaded the 20 rounds a very small shinny spot showed right at the very front of the loading gate.
So it might be factory adjusted 

[Cliff Fendley]

Make sure all the primers are seated all the way on that ultramax ammo. If you see one that is slightly high make note and see if it causes a problem. I've seen high primers do that on some of the mass reloaded ammo and will seem like a light hammer strike and will usually fire the second round since the first hit bottomed the primer out. I've really only seen that happen on revolvers with lighted main springs but I guess it might be able to happen on the rifle.

Since the gun is so new I would try other ammo first.

[Major 2]

Thanks Cliff

I looked a the remaining 30 ( these are untouched, still in the box) all seem uniform with high primers seen with the naked eye.
I do plan to get some Black Hills if I can find some....

The Main spring screw adjustment idea a simple try too.....I could see how Sergio or Gregorio installed it by eye rather than PSI meter.

[Tascosa Joe]

Roger:
I changing ammo and turning the screw in a 1/4 turn does not work, try removing the firing pin from the bolt and cleaning the inside of the bolt.  May be some residue left over from the manufacturing process, sloshing around in there.

T-Joe

[Major 2]

BINGO     Greg 
1/4 turn did the trick not a hick-up since....Thanks

[Pancho Peacemaker]

BINGO     Greg 
1/4 turn did the trick not a hick-up since....Thanks

Great news!

My bill is in the mail.