Need a Heavier Hammer spring for my New Vaquero

Started by Doc Holloman, May 06, 2022, 11:55:04 AM

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Doc Holloman

You're thinking "You want a HEAVIER hammer spring?"   Yes, because my .357 New Vaquero is getting soft primer strikes one or two rounds out of every  five.  Not necessarily on the same cylinders.  This happens on both CCI and Winchester primers.  Yes, I know, I could use Federals, but these days I need to use what I can get and I have about 1000 rounds already loaded with Winchesters.

The Gun is clean, recently slicked up and has a Super Blackhawk hammer (so I don[t really want to send it back to Ruger and have them put a factory hammer back in.

Wolff does not make heavier than factory springs for the New Vaquero.  Does anyone?

TIA
JHE

Abilene

Hi Doc, I think on those coil spring guns that you can shim the main spring with a washer for more power.

Baltimore Ed

Somebody got a little too aggressive with their wire cutters maybe. Happens to everyone sooner or later.
"Give'em hell, Pike"
There is no horse so dead that you cannot continue to beat it.

45 Dragoon

 Yep. Cutting coils is a no no!! 
Abilene's suggestion is a good one.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @goonsgunworks

Coffinmaker


:) Doc  ;)

Two other things you may wish to verify.  Head Space.  Optimum head space for most any revolver is .004.  The other culprit is End Shake.  End Shake should be held to .001. Ruger is not known for tight tolerance.  If the end shake is contributing to open head space, your going to need to shim the cylinder bushing (that little thing stick out the front of the cylinder).

Then start shimming the Main Spring and checking the Firing Pin Extension.

Play Safe Out There

Niederlander

Not totally on topic, but you might change to a Brownells round hammer strut.  I've got them in both my Ruger SA's, and I couldn't believe how much smoother they were than even a smoothed up factory strut.  I've never had any problem with light primer strikes, either.
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Doc Holloman

Well, with the numerous possibilities that have been suggested, both here and on other sites, I've realized that I am probably in over my head. I admit I'm not much of a revolver guy (give me a 1911 or a Garand and I can deal with most issues.)   The trouble that the guy from my club (who IS a revolver guy) had reassembling my NV with the new hammer has made me leery of trying to do any more myself than replacing the spring.  So I will try shimming the old spring with washers (assuming I can find some that fit on the strut and under the grips) and if that doesn't work, I need to send it off to someone who knows what he is doing.
Who do you recommend?  I see a lot of lists of Ruger pistol smiths online, but most of those are 5-10 years old, and I have already run across a few instances of gunsmiths who are getting out of the business or who are not taking new work.  As I think I mentioned, I don't want o send it off to Ruger as they will probably put the factory spec high hammer back in.

King Medallion

If I read correctly, your spring has been cut too short? If thats so, why not simply buy a Wolf reduced weight spring? I have them on all my Blackhawks and have never ever had an issue. Just a thought.
King Medallion
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

Doc Holloman

Spring does not look it was cut.  I shimmed it with a washer and have it reassembled.   Will have to wait until Tuesday afternoon before I can test fire it (local range is closed on Sunday and Monday. )  Will try with factory ammo.  I checked my ammo locker and I have Federal, CCI and Winchester .38 special ammo so I can try it with all 3 brands of primers.

If that doesn't work, then I may send it off to Cody at the Cowboy shop.

Doc Holloman

Just to follow up.  Took it to the range with 3 boxes of ammo -- one each of Federal, CCI and Winchester.  Performance was no different between ammo brands. 

Gun misfired on one chamber -- the  same chamber each time (I numbered them of the cylinder face).  Not a hint of a mark on the primers.  Moved the misfired rounds tro other chambers and they fired every time.


DeaconKC

As unlikely as it sounds, I would look at the cylinder facing where the rim sets. If it somehow wound up a few thousandths off it might keep the hammer from striking properly.
SASS DeaconKC
The Deacon AZSA
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Mustang Gregg

I reckon that I would go back to the original Ruger springs.

SIDEBAR:
A couple of fellers were having primer failures at our last shoot.
They were using small rifle primers, because that was all they could get.
And they were getting 1 or 2 duds every stage in both rifle and revolvers.

MG
"I have two guns.  {CLICK--CLICK}  One for each of ya."
  BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN!!
"Mustang Gregg" Clement-----NRA LIFER, since '72-----SASS Life & Territorial Governor-----GAF #64-----RATS #0 & Forum Moderator-----BP Warthog------Distinguished Pistol 2004------SAIROC & MMTC Instructor-----Owner of Wild West Arms, Inc. [gun shop] Table Rock, NE------CASTIN' & BLASTIN'!!!!
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Baltimore Ed

Small rifle primers are the same size as small pistol primers BUT are thicker so a heavier hammer spring is needed to set them off. Gone to small rifle primers myself having swapped my small pistol primers for large pistol primers a while back.
"Give'em hell, Pike"
There is no horse so dead that you cannot continue to beat it.

Mustang Gregg

Baltimore:

Have you been finding any small pistol primers yet?
Beware of new unknown internet component suppliers.  Some are scammers.
I have seen a few at the big box stores, by my LGS can't get any.
BTW:  The LGS is mine.

Mustang
Wild West Arms, Inc.
"I have two guns.  {CLICK--CLICK}  One for each of ya."
  BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN!!
"Mustang Gregg" Clement-----NRA LIFER, since '72-----SASS Life & Territorial Governor-----GAF #64-----RATS #0 & Forum Moderator-----BP Warthog------Distinguished Pistol 2004------SAIROC & MMTC Instructor-----Owner of Wild West Arms, Inc. [gun shop] Table Rock, NE------CASTIN' & BLASTIN'!!!!
www.wildwestarms.net

Baltimore Ed

The only primers I've seen at the last shows are imported ones for way too much. A gunshop that I stopped at on the way home from the Baltimore Military Show called big dog outfitters in Va had a large assortment of primers 3 months ago.
"Give'em hell, Pike"
There is no horse so dead that you cannot continue to beat it.

Doc Holloman

Update for the crew.  Had a gunsmith check out the New Vaquero.  The problem is not with the hammer or the hammer spring (he put the original hammer back in and replaced the spring -- and it still would not fire on one chamber.)  In his opinion, the cylinder is out of time.  Looks like it is going back to Ruger.

Doc sends.


Mustang Gregg

Doc, please post a report on what the factory did to fix the issue.
Mustang
"I have two guns.  {CLICK--CLICK}  One for each of ya."
  BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN!!
"Mustang Gregg" Clement-----NRA LIFER, since '72-----SASS Life & Territorial Governor-----GAF #64-----RATS #0 & Forum Moderator-----BP Warthog------Distinguished Pistol 2004------SAIROC & MMTC Instructor-----Owner of Wild West Arms, Inc. [gun shop] Table Rock, NE------CASTIN' & BLASTIN'!!!!
www.wildwestarms.net

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