I went to the range this morning and shot my super redhawk 44 magnum. I had several misfires. It looks like the firing pin is barely hitting the primers. This happened with handloads and factory rounds. I cleaned the firing pin area with brake cleaner like I read on another website and it seems to have helped. What else could the problem be and how often should I clean the firing pin? I loaded 6 rounds with primers only and they fired fine after the cleaning. One strange thing though was firing just the primers jammed up my cylinder. The primers backed out a little. I found jamming odd.

No help on your misfires, but primers will back out to some extent under normal firing which typically isn't a big deal as when the powder ignites it pushes the case back onto the primer so you don't see it standing proud to the case head even though it was for a fraction of a second during the ignition process.

I have experienced several misfire with my Redhawk when using Winchester primers. The firing pin will make a dent in the primer, but it won't fire. I noticed the height of Winchester primers are .002" - .003" shorter than CCI primers. If I seat them to the bottom of the primer pocket, they are below the case head. CCI primers when seated to the bottom of the primer pocket will be flush with the case head. That is what I've experienced using Starline brass.

Thanks for the information. It makes since about the primers pushing out and then the case coming back to when a bullets is loaded. I will also try the CCI primers as well.

Have you changed springs?
The SRH has a pretty good spring but Ruger hammer springs can take a set.
I switched to Wolff springs and use over power.
I changed my Ruger spring every year shooting IHMSA because accuracy went to pot. The replacement was 1/2" or more longer then the one I removed. Wolff fixed it.

THanks for the great advice on the spring change. I found it on the Midway's site and read the reviews. Common problem but fixed with wolf springs. This is a Great Site!!

It might be cheaper to go right to Wolff. Midway can eat you with postage. I buy direct. Great company.

If you are not the original owner, there could be a reduced power spring in there from the previous owner. You may just need to put the original spring back in there, I have one you can try if you like.

Thanks for the offer s4s4u. I read 7 good reviews for wolf springs on midway website. I figure either way it will be improvement.

Looks like I got some good advice here again. My Wolf springs came in today and I installed them. THe hammer is noticably harder to pull back but not excessive. I shoot single action hunting anyway. I would rather a little more effort pulling the hammer back than another misfire. I installed the 12 pound hammer spring and the 9 pound trigger spring. Ready to shoot tomorrow.

If the 12# spring is noticeably heavier than what you had, then you didn't have the factory spring in there. Someone must have swapped to a lighter spring prior to your posession. As long as it works, that is all that matters. Give it a good workout now ;-)

430man:
I added Wolff springs to my BFR and like you suggested get very consistent results. Never a misfire. Good tip. Thanks, by the way.

Couldn't you use a lighter trigger spring? The hammer spring will most likely cure your fail to fire problem, and the lighter trigger spring should give you a lighter trigger pull.

Just got back from the camp and fired 50 rounds with the new springs. Not one misfire so problem is solved. Thank you for your information.

Yes, true. I have gone to as high as a 28# on BFR's and still had 1-1/2# trigger pulls because I worked the trigger springs and polished the sear surfaces.
All of my Ruger and BFR single actions have 26# hammer springs. Factory springs are 22 to 23# but they take a set and get weak.
A good hammer spring that is faster but weaker works too. Speed is good. Hammer impact is what you need.
Many spring kits do not have a speed hammer spring, just lighter and that makes it worse.

Its one of the Ruger DA draw backs go to Bowen Classic Arms and read what Hamilton says makes sense.