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May 23, 2010
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Im a relativly new owner (pistol in signature) and first DW.
basicly, when i try to shoot Double action, it only fires about 2-3 out of 6 rounds.. Thats pretty scary!! not to mention hazzardous to MY health,.. the primer dents seem to be uniform and centered... however these rounds will fire on Single action.
When shooting Single action, they almost alwayse fire the first time (17 of 18 ish.)
also, after firing a couple hundred rds. in one session, i cannot cycle the cyl. by trigger or thumbing hammer back, it goes about 1/2 click.
this is obviously unacceptable reliability.
only %100 is acceptable
I really need some ideas, I do not know of any DW smiths' around Portland, OR.
any ideas of things i an do??
its very embarrasing when people want to fire it and half the rounds do not fire on DA.
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
October 15, 2010
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Change the hammer spring to a new one or go look for a extra power if it is needed.
Check the spacing beteen barrel and cylinder with your feeler guage, sounds like its a little tight.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Deep clean it as may have build up Keeping things form working properly! Have you pulled the side plate? If not do and look for the thread on here that will guide you in this cleaning and lubercation. Keep us posted and watch for more to come. Pictures please!
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
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The 744 you have in your signature line is a large frame, therefore no side plate.
Here's a tutorial thread on how to get your gun apart...
https://www.danwessonforum.com/?page_id=3/reloading/large-frame-disassembly-tutorial-pics/
Large frame DW's are harder to mess with, but if you've had other guns apart, or are mecanically inclined, you should be able to work on yours. It could easily just be built-up gunk inside the action (or firing pin) that's causing this, or it could be simply a weak hammer spring.
I don't know of any DW smiths around Portland either, but you can always send it back to DW to have it worked on.
December 28, 2010
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What kind of ammo? Factory or handloads?
A poorly seated primer will often misfire on the first strike, which seats it, then fire on the second. CCI primers are generally considered the hardest, most prone to misfires. Federal the softest.
It's not unusual for a revolver to tighten up after a number of rounds. Residue accumulates in the CB gap. Cleaning the front of the cylinder & the forcing cone usually will fix. My .45ACP S&W has a gap of about .003 and is only good for about 70 rds before it starts getting stiff.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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First off, Welcome to DWF.
Your 744 is 25 years old, and since it's new to you, may very well have had NO/POOR/INDIFFERENT care. Many DW's get shot, put away, and not see daylight for years. Light primer strike in DA sounds like a cleaning and spring problem first and foremost, but Fishslayer has a good point, are you shooting factory new ammunition?
The binding problem at 200+ rounds may be due to the barrel/cylinder gap being too tight. A range of .002-.006" is normally OK, but if you're shooting 200 rounds of .44 Magnum, everything is heating up and expanding, so the forcing cone on the barrel and the front of the cylinder are both expanding towards each other. This is less of a problem with other rvolvers, because the B/C gap is fixed, and often at closer to the .005" point. Any powder or lead residue in that area will make that problem worse.
I would remove the grip and clean thoroughly, to the extent of thoroughly trying to "wash out" the lockwork, firing pin, and mainspring areas with solvent (or disassemble and clean), re-lube, set the B/C gap at .006, and try it again.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
February 20, 2008
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Very GOOD info above, ammo is usually the "first" culprit, then cleanliness, do the shells go in and out of the chambers "easily"?? if not they can be hanging up, dampening the firing pin "hit", and as said, flush out the firing pin hole from the front, can get residue and gunk in there and cause the pin to NOT go all the way forward...also check the pins "nose" (tip) make sure its NOT chipped or flattened or even 'broken'...."stuff happens"....
Good luck....................
dant
August 7, 2009
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For the light primer strikes, make sure the correct length screw is in the stocks. If the screw is too long or is screwed in to far you would be limiting the travel of the spring. Try just backing the stock screw out a turn or two without loosening of the stock to the frame.
May 23, 2010
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Thanks for ALL the info guyz...
it was VERY helpful... to answer some questions..
not sure how to change out the hammer spring though im sure it is weaker than new.
i dont know the B/C clearance but it does free up after some field cleaning.
firing pis is in good shape, cleaned out anyway, cap indents seem solid.
Thanks to the nice instructional post w/ pix I was able to take the pistol trigger assembly apart.. not too dirty, just a little crud, but not as bad as I expected. So I cleaned everything up real good and polished a surface that look like they touch? drop of oil here and there. It all works again after re-assembly.. thanks!
Mostly shooting my reloaded ammo, WPC primers. when they do not fire in DA even after repeated hits, but will after a single SA.
my main loades have been:
180g/ 240g ea. using XTP HP, 20.5g of 2400 powder.
240g Barry plated FP over 9g Tite Group
all from 8" barrel (pic in avitar)
Snce the cleaning, DA action has improved, but still happens 20%, S.A. fires 100%
the little factory firing ammo I have done has been fine.
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
May 23, 2010
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MrGreenMachine said:
For the light primer strikes, make sure the correct length screw is in the stocks. If the screw is too long or is screwed in to far you would be limiting the travel of the spring. Try just backing the stock screw out a turn or two without loosening of the stock to the frame.
please explain to me where I would find this adjustment...
i only saw 2 skrews I could access.. bottom of the grip to frame, and the tiny hex head on the right side inder the grip.
what/ where are the stocks?
thanks!!
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Sounds like you're on the right track, and the post about the correct length grip screw is right on. There are some grip screws out there with a captured washer, and some not. The thickness of that washer (or it's absence) can be enough to affect mainspring function and cause intermittent light strike problems. Sometimes it's a matter of over/under tightening of the grip screw.
Maybe invest in a couple hundred rounds of factory new ammo to remove that as a variable.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
May 23, 2010
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Yes, I was afraid I might have to do that..with factory ammo.
My grip did not have any washers on either side of the screw..?
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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If your 744 has a non-DW grip (maybe a Hogue fingergroove or a Pachy Presentation) gripscrew length/seating depth may be a problem. Gripscrew tightness/seating depth is a very little understood issue with DW's.
If you're shooting reloads it may be a primer selection or seating depth problem.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
May 23, 2010
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yea, i bought iit with a black Pachmier, and Just put on the Hogue fingergrove..
I think i have to tighten it down to keep the grip secure??
im geting a new box cci 350 mag. very soon
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
March 25, 2008
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Have you addressed the barrel cylinder gap if this is under .003 when set cold on the tightest surface of the cylinder then when the gun warms up you will surely have binding problems. hope all works out. Do you have a barrel wrench and .006 " feeler guage. I'm not to far away in Beavercreek, Ore. 
Dayton
May 23, 2010
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Pops,
Thanks for your reply!
I have Neither of those things, im afraid to mess with the barrel adjustment as I may not get it tight enough ( i see many posts of barrels loosing adjustment) so i just live with having to clean that gap mor often..
Mine did not come with anything but a scope, some rounds, and a nylon case thats too short!.
thanks! (im near 117/ Division.) so I keep it loaded 🙂
BTW: do you know a place around here to get KG cleaning chemicals, or decent price/ selection of reload supplies?? (other than Outfitters/ sportsmens wherehouse)
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
February 15, 2009
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Bimart for reloading supplies. I'm going to bet on the stock screw the Hogue grips. All three Hogue grips I have needed the screw grinded down. It sounds like your B/C gap needs to be set again which is an easy fix. You will need a barrel tool and EWK, a member here, is the guy to contact. I'm confident your gun will be fine. I don't think it's a week spring. I have two Dans with action jobs and have no problem with ignition. I use CCI primers too which are supposedly thicker and harder to ignite than others.
May 23, 2010
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warnerwh said:
Bimart for reloading supplies. I'm going to bet on the stock screw the Hogue grips. All three Hogue grips I have needed the screw grinded down. It sounds like your B/C gap needs to be set again which is an easy fix. You will need a barrel tool and EWK, a member here, is the guy to contact. I'm confident your gun will be fine. I don't think it's a week spring. I have two Dans with action jobs and have no problem with ignition. I use CCI primers too which are supposedly thicker and harder to ignite than others.
Thankyou,
Yes i discovered Bi-Mart as an unlikley "good" priced source of the most popular reload supplies.. 
I got some 2400 powder for 17$ 1lb. (sale on powder and bullets!)
cant wait to test out the grip skrew idea...
Thankx
Mod 744 8" stainless,vent/ ultra dot Site.
SN# SB0116xx Monson, Mass.
.44 mag CTG
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