Looking back at the pictures, #2 pic does indeed look like the rim cut is deeper at the top than at the bottom. And by his measurements, .018" and .025" doesn't sound like the shells are setting way too deep. Another thought is that if some bozo has removed those bushings to install the new, ugly firing pins, they may have the bushings screwed in too deep, maybe even switched. This could account for the primers backing out, as they obviously have. Primer bushings usually do not screw in tight to make them flush with the breech face. They need to be in their original holes, to start with, and stopped at the witness marks. It's also not uncommon for cheap guns to have the cocking levers or rods wear so that they do not start to cock the hammers soon enough, to take the pressure off the firing pins. I'd start by shortening the firing pins(out of the gun), to get about .040-.045" protrusion. Them when reinstalling, make sure the bushings are in the right holes and screwed in just enough to make them exactly flush with the standing breech. Them, if the problem still persists, work on the cocking parts to make cocking occur sooner. Go slow on this because if you go too far, they will prevent the hammers/firing pins from going forward far enough, when firing. I went through this with a cheap Crescent .410. It also had very deep rim cuts. Lots of newer shells have thinner rims than some of the very older shells, in use when some of the older guns were made.
Last edited by Jim Legg; 11/17/08 01:06 PM.
