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Forehand .32 primers backing out ???

grayingghostgrayingghost Member Posts: 131 ✭✭
edited May 2012 in Ask the Experts
I have a Forehand Arms .32 pull pin revolver. 1 1/4" cyl. I've tried shooting .32 S&W thru it and the primers all back out tight against recoil shield locking cyl. so tight it can't be turned! I have tried loads of black powder from 6gr. to half that w/filler. I've tried my old Lyman books 'starting load' of 1.1 Bullseye (I'm using a 78gr. lead bullet). Even empty cases with just the primer lock up! This initially had terrible headspace but I made a small washer for in front of cyl. which tightened it up considerably. As .32 S&W Long cases fit cyl. and they have slightly thicker rims I've tried loading them to .32 S&W specs. Same problem! With the the Long cases I think this thing has decent headspace and it cycles etc. fine but every shot is jammed in and the cyl. must be removed to get it out. Curiously, the case isn't stuck in the cyl. as it will usually just drop out when the cyl. is removed.
Any suggestions what is the problem here??
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Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had similar problems with a Model 1887 Swedish Army revolver. The load has to be hot enough to cause the brass to expand in the cylinder, preventing primer back out. If it isn't the primer backs out causing the cylinder to bind up.

    As your Forehand is a Black Powder revolver dating to the first decade of the 20th Century. I wouldn't push your luck with it. If you made a mistake and load it with to hot a load. Although the brass might expand enough to grip the inside of the cylinder, it also might cause failure of the cylinder wall(s) which were made for low pressure Black Powder cartridges.
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Even when new it was not much of a gun, and 100 years plus has not improved it. How is the fit for the firing pin? Got any burrs/peened out in the frame from dry fireing? Maybe some primer sealent to help bond them in place. You might uniform the flash holes. My best advice is the pistol is telling you not to shoot it.
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  • 62fuelie62fuelie Member Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The case needs enough pressure to set back against the recoil shield and keep the primer from backing out. In these older weak framed revolvers it may be a delicate balance between enough force to keep the base of the case against the recoil shield and not straining the limits of the revolver. May be a better idea to hang it on the wall and get something newer and safer for shooting - a good .22 for instance.
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