Ruger Bisley .32 H&R Magnum Primer Piercing

[pbcaster45]

I thought I had the primer piercing problem licked with my Ruger .32 H&R Magnum (link) but it happened again. I was using some +50 year old CCI-500 Primers and had 4 pierce with fifty rounds I'd loaded up.

Bullet: Missouri Bullet Company 100 gr. RNFP (.313/Cowboy Alloy/Hi-Tek)
Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 2.1 grs.
Primer: CCI-500
Case: Starline

I couldn't detect any roughness on the firing pin but I went ahead and polished it anyway. I then loaded up another fifty rounds and tried them again - got it down to one pierced primer.





Not good enough so I installed a Wilson Combat trigger return spring and 19 lb. mainspring (I think the factory mainspring is 23 lbs.)



The trigger pull measured 3 lbs. 6 oz. before I installed the spring kit and 2 lbs. afterwards.

I loaded up 100 more rounds but I had to use Winchester Small Pistol Primers (no more of those old, old CCI-500s!)

I didn't have a single pierced primer this time and the primer strikes look a little less severe.



I think I can finally try some hotter loads without worrying about firing pin erosion!

[x101airborne]

Good job Sir!!
That first picture, the firing pin stood tall as Everest! Good Lord that thing sticks out! I might still give it a lick or two with a file even though you already worked on it.
Those primers were CRATERED in!

[bushog]

Never heard Wilson made Ruger SA springs…..

[Encore64]

Jun 21, 2021 8:24:23 GMT -5 bushog said:

Never heard Wilson made Ruger SA springs…..

They do.... I generally get them from Midway. I like their hammer springs better than any I've used.

[pbcaster45]

Tried a hotter load today and the primers looked great!  The cases fall out with the mildest push on the ejector rod so nowhere near max.

Bullet: Cast Performance 113 gr. LFNGC
Powder: Ramshot True Blue 5.1 grs.
Primer: Winchester Small Pistol
Case: Starline (new)
OAL: 1.381

[Aeroscout]

That's a pretty projectile! Screaming for a "ton" of h110 underneath it!!

[kgb]

The plastic bag in the picture shows a Wolff mainspring label, not Wilson.

I have the same primer results from my Bisley .32 H&R and after reading of your experiences started looking through my gear. Found a Brownells Pro-Spring Kit, RSA-106 for new model Ruger single actions that was bought for a Blackhawk but apparently works on the Single Six as well. 17, 18 and 19lb mainsprings, a 35% reduced power trigger spring and stronger base pin latch spring, all made by Wolff.

Installed the 18lb hammer spring and the trigger spring, noticed the original was 2.77" long and springs in the kit are around 3.00". Installed just fine and hammer goes to full cock so spring doesn't bind. Finally got some H110 to try out, will see how primers with it and the other loads I've worked up look after shooting.

[pbcaster45]

I did use a Wilson Trigger Return Spring - but I used a Wolff 19 lb. Mainspring (don't know why!). I had both on my workspace. I was trying H110 tonight too!

Bullet: Montana Bullet Works RCBS 98 gr. SWC-PB
Powder: Hodgdon H-110 10.3 grs.
Primer: CCI-550
Case: Federal

I've got the primer piercing problem licked! Easy extraction, but these loads had a decided crack to them!