Light Strikes on a 30 30 contender

I just got a new to me 30 30 contender pistol. I have only fired about 14 rounds of Winchester 150 gr power points thru it so far.

I have had two failures to fire caused by light strikes. After reclosing the chamber firmly the gun fired both times. I will be shooting it again this afternoon and plan to close it firmly each time to see if that makes a difference.

What could cause this? Is it a problem with the barrel or a problem with the frame. I have another contender with a 223 barrel that has never had this problem. If I put the 30 30 barrel on that frame would that fix the problem?

I know there are a lot of guys here that have a lot of experience with contenders so I am asking you to share you knowledge with me on this problem.

This gun does have a very light trigger. Is there a chance that it needs to be adjusted?

Try this, and vice-versa. Could be a weak hammer spring. Or could be a stretched frame causing excessive headspace.

Could not be closing all the way was shooting my hornet the other day and couldn't figure out why I was getting light strikes turns out a little piece of the hoody I was using for a rest kept getting stuck in the trigger guard when I closed it try the other frame if it still does it id say the chamber is just a fuzz to deep t/c hasn't always done the best job on their chambers....

Start with the Hammer spring.

Yesterday afternoon I only had a short window of time to try changing the barrels and get to the range to sight my 30 30 in so I could take it hunting Saturday morning.

Probably because I was in such a hurry I was not able to get the barrel pin in after switching barrels so I put everything back as it was and went to the range anyway.

At the range I made sure that I closed the action firmly each time I reloaded and after firing enough shots to sight it in at fifty yards, ten or twelve, I did not have any misfires.

I know that is not enough shoots to confirm that the problem is solved but I felt much better about it. The gun was responding well to my scope adjustments and was easy to get on target with just a few shots.

The porting on the barrel does a good job of reducing the recoil on this gun making it very enjoyable to shoot, much more so than I thought it would be. The Weaver 2 x 8 scope is clear and reacted well to the adjustments I made.

Over all I really like this combination and hope the light strike problem is gone.

Thats great! Absolutely love the contender for hunting. Very versatile imo.

Lot of good reading at bellmtcs.com on contenders. Might help you figure out the contenders little quirks and needs..... Although not always necessary to buy stuff to fix some things.

Here is a photo of the gun and scope combination.

KYODE, I did thank her.

That is one of the older model frames and would surely benefit from new springs. I have several and will be replacing springs on all of them this year.

junebug, where do I get springs for this frame and how do I know which ones to buy for this frame?

Mike Bellm has spring kits .Go to his web site to order .The web site should have specifics for which spring kit to order.There is an article with contact info by Bushytailbasher lower down this page

Thanks

Mike Bellem@belonged.com is the go to guy for TCs. Has spring kits,parts and more importantly the knowledge to help you out! Took care of several problems I had with light strikes on a 35 Whelan barrel I had. Bought his horseracing kit and shims and explained how to go about it. You won't go wrong with Mike!

I put a new hammer spring on my 30 30 contender and took it to the range today. I am still getting light strikes and misfires. I tried several different factory loads and had misfires with all of them. I shot 49 times and had I think six misfires. They would fire on the second try. The strikes that caused the misfires were very light just a very small dent more like a pointed scratch.

When I got home I tried swapping barrels with my 223 contender. When I put the 30 30 barrel on the 223 frame it would not lock up. It just falls open if you just move the gun hand.

What is that about and what should I do next. I really like the gun but can not live with that many misfires.

Can anyone help me with this problem?

Change the bolt (some people incorrectly call them locking lugs) to a new 2 piece bolt. Since you've already changed the hammer spring, that should be good. Be sure to close the action vigorously. To test, carefully pull the trigger with your thumb on the hammer to keep it from slipping, and ease it gently forward to see if the hammer block falls out of the way, allowing the hammer to go all the way forward, and the firing pin to rest on the primer.
WATCH YOUR MUZZLE WHILE TESTING! TO BE SURE IT POINTS IN A SAFE DIRECTION! DON'T LET THE HAMMER SLIP.
If the hammer goes all the way forward, and the hammer block drops out of the way, you should be okay. If not, there could be a myriad of problems: stretched frame, ammo OAL, cases not full length resized, broken hammer, etc.

Thanks. I do not think it is the ammo because I tried six different fa tory loads and they all had misfires.

The locking bolts sounded like a good bet to me also.....or frame problem. Im not sure so hence i said nothing, waiting on knowledge to show up. 😉 The locking bolt may not be fitting correctly.

You might check specialty pistols site. There is info in the knowledge database section on stretched frames.... i think. ......or somone there may be able to advise.


If you cant figure anything out soon email mike bellm directly. Ask him/ tell him the specifics.

As last resort imo.....id contact S&W to see if they could/would do anything.

Let us know as soon as you come up with something.

I have already emailed Mike but do not expect to hear from him before monday.

Hard to tell from the pic but that front site appears to be from an older model 30-30 barrel. Does it have the split locking bolt in it?....like mentioned....if not change it out to that. Possibly try one from another barrel you have???

Ive never had the problem, but there are different heights among them(locking bolts) i believe. Some people stone them to fit also.... i guess if too high.

Also ive never had a frame of that vintage.... pre #195,000 serial number. Post 195,000 are "easy open".

Somewhere before/around the easy open time T/C went to a stepped locking lug so id say that is almost definetly the problem since your contender is an old one a 2 piece lug or even a stepped one like on my 357 barrel should solve that issue you could stone it but if you do be really careful only to do just enough since you don't want play in it id see if mike has any lugs and that should fix it cause if they don't close they don't fire you could also try holding it by the grip and snapping it shut one handed they'll usually lock up good like that

I just took the barrel off both guns. The 223 serial number 339xxx has a one piece bolt but it does step. The 30-30 barrel serial number 99309 which is giving me the problem is also one piece and does not have a step or any angles. it looks like it has been stoned into a rounded edge without any step. Do you think too much was taken off and that is why it will not lockup in the other receiver? Could this be causing the misfire problem?

Anything that causes it to not lock up will cause a misfire....whether it is a too long seated bullet, a case that has not been sized down far enough to fit the gun, etc.

id guess you may be on to something. Prob replace those locking bolts.

If its not locking up at all the lug is too tall and won't slide into position if too much was taken off it would lock up but be loose

I'd bet it's the locking bolt too. Now it could be the cases are not sized properly but that's less likely. Take your barrel off and see if a loaded cartridge drops in flush with the breech face of the barrel. If not, then it could be the head space.

I do not think the cases are too long because I had misfires with Six different factory loads. I will take the barrel off again tonight and see how a round fits into it
.

This photo shows the bolt and how a factory loads looks in the chamber. The head of the brass may be just proud of the end of the chamber but not by much if any.

This is another view of the bolt and the barrel with a factory load in the chamber.

Does this look normal?

Don't chase everything! Change to a new split bolt! Get a couple sets.

Where can I buy two sets of split bolts?

You can test the locking bolt theory by swapping with your 223 barrel, provide the 223 barrel functions properly.

Call SSK Industries, and Mike Bellm.

Hard headed aint he? 😂😛 j/k

Yes, I know I can be hard headed but the engineer in me likes to know how something works and this is a learning experience for me. I am trying to understand how the whole gun works and what happens when you make a change.

Rod I took the 223 barrel from the newer receiver and put it on the older receiver and everything appears to work correctly but I will not be able to shoot it until tomorrow. On the other hand the 30-30 barrel will not lock up on the newer receiver.

Does that sound like there is a problem with the bolt on the 30-30 barrel?

I have been reading everything on Mike's site that pertains to this problem and will most likely call him in the next day or so.

This will be a good idea, which I did suggest earlier in this thread. However, what I meant in this recent post is to take the locking bolts from the 223 barrel and install them in the 30-30 barrel to see if that makes a difference.

I have been looking for some instructions that tell you how to do that but have not found any yet. I have also looked for a place to buy some new ones but have not found that yet either.

Can you help me with that?

Mike can answer all your questions you can also message him on Facebook he is really good about getting back with you in a decent amount of time

I sent him a email and the first thing he asked was what is my head spacing so I am getting what I need to measure it.

The gun is really tight so I am wondering if it is not locking up every time like a couple of people here have suggested may be the problem.

Quote........."When I got home I tried swapping barrels with my 223 contender. When I put the 30 30 barrel on the 223 frame it would not lock up. It just falls open if you just move the gun hand."

This told me locking bolts. It should not just fall open!

The fact you are using factory ammo kinnda hints it is not a headspace adjustment UNLESS the rim counter bore is way to shallow.....or deep in other instances. I guess it could happen but doubtful here imo.

Ive been around the horn on headspace adjustments. I finally got it down....and into my hard head as well. 😉

Be patient. You will work it out. It would be tempting to send that frame/barrel to someone for fitting if you cant figure it out.

Friday I sent my 30 30 contender back to TC to be repaired. I called them and they sent a prepaid address lable for Fed EX to send it back with. They told me it would take 6-8 weeks to complete any work that had to be done.

I got my 30 30 contender pistol back from TC last week. The list of repairs only listed a new hammer spring. I had put a new hammer spring in before sending it off. When I sent it to them I sent a note explaining about getting light strikes on one out of 10 or 13 shots. I mounted my scope back on and went to the range. I fired 20 Remington 150 gr coRe lock rounds without a misfire and they were grouping very well at 50 yards but when I switched to Winchester power points I started getting misfires again and it got worse when I went to the Winchester 250 gr hollow points. Why would Remington fire and Winchesters start misfiring again.

Might be the type/brand of primers playing a role. Some use softer metal that takes less energy to deform and ignight. From my 223 reloading experience, cci primers "always" cratered while Remington didn't with the exact same load. Could also be brass differences from different manufacturers. Frustrating that it happens with factory loads.

Yes it is. I told TC that I had replaced the hammer spring and that made no difference and they sent it back and only did what I had already done.

This gun groups really well when it fires.

I know that's got to be frustrating.

Well I finally gave up on me being able to stop the misfires on this gun. I had tried everything people had told me to try and even sent it back to TC which was a waste of time. All they did was to put a new hammer spring on it after I told them that I had already done that. I called Mike Bellm and am sending it to him next

Well good. I really think that will most likely help you find out n get it fixed and going this time. I sure hope so. Please report bellms findings.

I congratulate you on your not give up attitude. Impressive....as a lot would give up.

Hope you can get that barrel behaving properly, REDHAWK. What a frustrating ordeal.

If anyone can fix the issue, Mike Bellm will.

I sent my 30 30 contender to Mike Bellm today. It will be a few weeks before I get it back. I will be shooting my 223 and muzzle loading pistol till it gets back.

I got a notice yesterday that Mike will be shipping my 30 30 contender back today. I can not wait to get it back and check it out on the range. Christmas in April!

Any mention of work done?

Not yet.

Nice to hear!!

Can't wait for you to get it back. Hopefully it won't give you any more headaches.

Looking forward to hearing what had to be done to resolve the problem :-)

I got my 30 30 contender back yesterday. Mike did a trigger job, cleaned the frame, replaced all the springs, checked the head space, replaced the hinge pin and replaced the firing pin which was bent. He did a great job on it.

I took it to the range this afternoon. It shot great using three different factory loads. I pulled the trigger 28 times and for the first time it went bang 28 times. Thanks Mike Bellm.

WOOOHOOO!!!! LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!!

Great to hear!

Great!

So....the bent firing pin being the main culprit ya reckon?

Glad it is back in fine condition 👍

I guess so but not sure.

I took my 30 30 back to the range during my lunch Monday and fired 12 more shoots of three different factory loads and it fired each and every time. I have now tried six different factory loads and shot the gun forty times and it went bang each and every time. I am a happy camper.

That's great to hear after all the trouble you had with it.

Glad it's going bang as expected. Good job sticking it through to a solution.

Happy for you ... glad to know it goes bang now.

Now it's a gun. Not a bullet holder.

This is a four shot group at 50 yards using Winchester 150 gr hp load. After my first shot I settled down and fired three shots that are less than 1/4 inches center to center.

I am loving this gun more every day. Thanks Mr Bellm.

This how my 30 30 looks since I took the wooden grips off and added these. If fits my hand much better and I shoot it better now.

That's some good shootin', Michael. Looks like you are ready to rock.

Looking good! That should do the job quite nicely.

Good to hear its functioning properly now. Not a bad group!