1874 Sharps and 45-70 Cartridges

[jolasa]

New Sharps 45-70.

Fired 10 cartridges, had one misfire (primer did not fire).  Using top notch ammo (Ten-X).  I have never had a misfire with my older Sharps after about 800 rounds.  

So am little bit worried about the new Sharps.

Looking at the firing pin impression, it is off center almost to the edge of the primer.

Should the firing pin be strking the dead center of the primer.  Could this off-center firing pin be causing misfires?

Do I have a defective Sharps?

See the following picture.  The red dot is where the firing pin is hitting on the silver colored primer.

[Kent Shootwell]

The firing pin should hit center or very near it. The breech block is too high in your case and is due most likely to the lever being incorrectly shaped. If the breech block is level with the loading groove when opened then the lever link could be too long closeing the block high, none the less send it back for repair or replacement.

[john boy]

Do I have a defective Sharps?

jolasa, could be.  Look at the firing pin hole in the block.  If the diameter is larger than the pin or the hole is 'egg shaped', you have a defective firing pin hole in the block.  The off center strike on the primer has nothing to do with misfires. As for the misfires, check the the length of the pin, plus determine the shape of the end of the pin
Now the magic question ... how well did you clean the new rifle?  There may be crud in the firing pin hole of the block on the spring.  Drop the block and give it a good bath and then see if you issue goes away

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