Was out Friday with Barbara, she shooting the S&W M-17 again. I fired a couple magazines through my carry gun but really went to shoot my H&R Handi Rifle with the Lyman 311008 bullet, sized .310 & loaded with 5 grains of Promo. The first 2 rounds would not fire with 2 strikes to each.

After her range session I took Barbara home & visited my gunsmith. He headspaced the rifle, the no gauge went but the field gauge didn’t. He also measured the firing pin protrusion a declared it fine. He suggested I check my loads as he thought one of the loads I provided him had a primer not completely seated.

These loads use the CCI #34 primer which has a hard cup. I purchased a ton of them way back, on sale for ‘bout 12/1000. I do know they seat hard in my ’06 using R/P cases & they seated hard in my 30-30 brass also R/P.

Now because of this & the fact my loading room benches are now on the back porch & I’m loading off a desk I purchased a system on which I can seat primers on the down stroke. I’ll load some of these using that system making sure the primers are bottomed.

So today I went back out with a M-94 Winchester in which to try those same loads. Well the gunsmith was correct as usual. I had 5 or 6 rounds which failed to fire on the first strike.

I took a S&W 67-1 along for the trip too. I’m learning to love that little sixgun. Fired a load using the Saeco 928 bullet & 3.5 grains of Promo & a HMF primer. No misfires there. Took a few pictures, hope you enjoy them.

The Winchester

The loads

The 67 Smith

The target

The top 6 shots to the left are from the 38 at 25 yards offhand. They measure 2 1/4” so if it’s said I’m a bullseye shooter don’t believe it. The other holes are from the 30-30. BTW the stainless red ramp doesn’t hold elevation well for me.

A day at the range is better than...most things. Your experience is one of the thnigs that makes reloading so interesting. I use a Lee hand seater and always make sure the primer is fully seated in the pocket not just flush with the rim. No snow on the ground ? WE still have snow on the ground here.

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If that is a very late post 64 made just before they stopped production of the top eject models and has a coil mainspring like a Marlin that works really smooth and you will get misfires. Mine did on the occasionally with the 34 CCI's. The post 64's up to around 4,800,000 or so had a leaf mainspring and although it didn't work as smooth as the coil, it hits the primer much harder.

Bob

first year post 64 rifle. I'm thinking those primers are just a little large & hard to seat. I'll be loading some next week making sure they go to the bottom.

all that was available. I remember that they were considered less desirable at that time. Anyway, I haven't had any problems with them in any of my rifles but I seat all by hand with a Lee Autoprime. I can feel them bottom out. Also, most of my guns have what would might be considered strong main springs/hard striking firing pins.

Did you have any overs that hit the rails? I had a friend that used to have a short section of rail, I don't know where he got it, that was hung from a frame he took to various ranges. It sure would dance but jacketed bullet rifle fire chewed it up.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

And forgot to say thanks for the reply.

CSX.

on the rails for the trains to flatten. Weren't supposed to but... I heard of that when I was a kid but didn't have a penny to try when I lived close enough to the rails! Of course those weren't the zinc pennies we have now.

Not surprised that cast bullets did no damage.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

I see the flat steel buttplate now that is prevelant on the early post 64's similar to the steel ones on the pre-64s.

The coil mainspring set up Winchester installed near the end of the top eject models feels really nice as when cocking it is heavy at first and then gets progressively easier as you thumb it back.

One of my most accurate Winchesters was a very early post 64 like yours. Gave it to a grandbaby for his 10th birthday. He is into high intensity bolt actions at this stage of his life though.

PS I still have 3 94's LOL. I'll always have at least one that's for sure

Bob

According to this: http://www.winchesterguns.com/support/files/images/wfa/2012-All/2012-Articles/Wincheste...

My rifle was built in 1964 & was the 43,694th off the line or at least it seems that way.

They are notorious for problems with S&W revolvers in double action- Contemporary S&W revolvers have less hammer travel in double action vs. single action and don't hit the primers as hard. I was talking with a gunsmith that builds PPC guns, telling him my theory and he confirmed it.

I would have to go look to be sure but I think I am using large Pistol primers in my Red dot load with the 311008.

I primed 40 of my 30-30 cases last night & thought of using pistol primers for these lite plinking loads. Instead I used Wolf LR. I'll shoot these perhaps today to be sure nothing is wrong with the Handi Rifle.