Failure to fire & extended firing pin for Taurus .45 ACP

[IsleShoot]

I'm having trouble with lightstrikes and failure to fire with my Taurus .45ACP.

I'm using home loads with CCI primers which I understand are rock hard and I intend on trying out Federal & Remington etc... as a control. I also intend on putting some factory through it to see what happens but my local RFD doesn't stock any, 'no call for it' apparently!!!

A quick search on here and a yanky doodle Taurus forum has thrown up some interesting comments about things to check and so far nothing is jumping out at me other than two suggested fixes to try.

The first and most straight forward appears to be swapping the factory firing pin out for an extended one but so far I have yet to find any place that does Taurus after market bits? I have heard a rumour that Merseyside Armoury can get them in?

The second suggestion is to shorted the firing pin return spring by clipping one to one and half turns off the coil, this will give the hammer a bit more movement in double action (where the problem occurs). I'd also give the firing pin a bit of a polish just for good measure.

So, if anyone knows where I can get some spare Taurus bits or has any knwoledge of this type of issue I'd be most grateful.

[bradaz11]

one of the guys had the same issue on a 44 version, it required many visits to an RFD to be cured, it seems to have mostly been down to the sears it seems

[WelshShooter]

In all seriousness, I wouldn't make any modifications until you've tried different primers. As you've already mentioned, CCI are harder compared with Federal so try the nice soft ones first.

[Daryll]

+1 to that... Someone down the range last weekend had a similar problem with their .44, and I pointed out that it was probably when they used double action, as the hammer doesn't go back as far before being released, so doesn't hit as hard.

I always use Remington primers and don't have a problem with my .357..

[IsleShoot]

In all seriousness, I wouldn't make any modifications until you've tried different primers. As you've already mentioned, CCI are harder compared with Federal so try the nice soft ones first.

Oh god! Thats what my Westlake Armscor looks like...

I'll defo try the primers as an easy control check but I'd definately like to know if anybody knows where spare parts can be got for these Brazilian bin end bang sticks.

Was there ever a time when you could buy a gun in the UK and it would work straight out the box?

[ordnance]

I would try and get my hands on some factory ammo and try it before doing anything else.

[Sim G]

What moon clips are you using?

[IsleShoot]

The moon clips I have don't have any markings? I bought them with some 2nd hand brass.

When I had the cylinder milled out to accept them the machinist used them as a template.

I've noticed there is a flat side and a shouldered side to them and I load my rounds with the flatside down (against the cylinder).

Initially before the gun was moonclipped I was having trouble with the rounds sitting all the way down into each chamber and this was causing the cylinder to jamb as the rounds fouled against the frame. I initally used a taper crimp which helped but when I had the work done to fit the moonclips I had the machinist check the depth of each chamber from the inside ridge (which I assume stops the ACP round falling out) to the top of the cylinder, they were all over the place. He then took them down all to an even level and he used S&W data as he couldn't find anything on Taurus.

I've trimmed all my brass and I've got the overall length of each round the same, each chamber is the same depth and yet I still can't get six rounds to go bang? And its not alway the same chamber(s) that FtF either?

I think the advice is good, different primers & factory bullets first and then go from there.

[Daryll]

Does it go bang every time if you use single action..??

[IsleShoot]

Yep, every time, I think the shorter stroke on double action prevents the firing pin being hit hard enough so it does strike the primer hard enough or deep enough.

Heres the offender!