I undertook to do a favor for my Varminting and Big Game Hunting buddy. He bought a New England Firearms Co. "Sportster" Model Rifle in caliber 17 HMR. Its a nifty little single shot, exposed hammer, heavy barreled, break open Rifle and shoots pretty well once I got the scope mounted and sighted it in for him. He had not shot it and it was new in the box when he brought it to me. I mounted the scope and added the factory provided hammer side extension device and headed for the range.
The problem is during my 45 shot sight in and testing the Rifle failed to fire (ignite the rimfire 17 HMR ammo!) on about 12 or 15 occassions! I had left the instructions for the Rifle in the box at home and having never owned one or shot one before I was stumped! I tried varying degrees of intensity of closing the break open action on the loaded cartridge but the intermittent misfires did not cease! The missfired 17 HMR cases did have a firing pin dent on the rim but perhaps it was not deep enough? Some of the missfired cartridges were reinserted in the chamber and some fired when reloaded and some did not!
I tried three brands of ammo and it (the problem) occurred with all brands!
Any suggestions out there. I could remove the hammer extension and see if that "speeds up" the hammer fall.
I could drench the action with solvent or I could give it back to my friend as is for him to return it to the dealer.
The simple written instructions with the Rifle gave no hint as to my performing the loading and cocking procedures incorrectly.
My friend wants the Rifle for his 4 kids and I would hate to see them miss the rest of the summer waiting for the Rifle to be sent to the factory and returned at some unknown time.
The extraction/ejection process of the Rifle gave me pause in this regard - the little Rifle when broke open would send the spent casing (or on 12 - 15 occassions the unfired cartridge!) flying with great gusto and speed from the action. The loaded cartridges would land 8 - 9 feet or so behind me! If one of these flying extracted cases were to strike an eyeball I am sure it would harm it!
I would be very appreciative of any hints or advice in trying to solve this intermittent firing situation!
Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Remove the hammer extension, and try it again.

George

I've worked on several of these rifles and they all suffered the same problem. The recess in the hammer where the transfer bar resides is too deep, and doesn't allow the hammer's blow to be transferred to the firing pin. You can check the firing pin protrusion with the barrel removed, and holding the trigger back. If it is not enough, some metal can be removed from the top of the hammer, allowing for more impact to the transfer bar and thus the firing pin. I don't recommend this fix though. I emailed NEF, and told them that I had seen this problem in 4 or 5 rifles over a period of several months. I received an rather nasty email, that essentially denied the problem. I recommend you return the rifle to NEF and demad a proper fix, and also that they pay shiping both ways. I further would demand a "prompt" fix, not 8 or 10 weeks. Until consumers start holding NEF's feet to the fire, they will continue to deny the problem.
Of course, not having actually seen the rifle in question, I cannot say for sure this is the problem, but it has been prevelant around here.

George & Bobby: Thank you both very much for the suggestions and the detailed explanation from Bobby on his experiences! Sounds exactly like what I have going on!
And Bobby I understand your instructions exactly and will pose this fix to the owner or he can send it back!
Thank you again very much both of you!
Torrential rains here today in SW Montana so no shooting today.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I had an NEF rifle ONCE. What you are describing is a built in safety feature. The manual explains it better than I can but I'll try. The hammer doesn't actually hit the firing pin, it hits this "little deal", but this "little deal" is not in place unless the trigger is pulled completely and held. So in other words you can't just touch it off. If you look closely you can see, pull the trigger and hold the hammer back then release the trigger and ease the hammer down while examining the firing pin area. Again the manual has a more technical explination.
You might try this to be sure this is the problem. when firing fully pull the trigger and be sure to hold it back. It sounds like it missfired often enough that it won't take too long to see.

sent you a PM

Terry

Varmit Guy; sorry to here about the NEF problem. I have one in 06 and the 223 barrel. Good little guns for the price. Not familar with the 17 but my first bet is that
ElCaballero is correct, I have had issues with my rifle without a full follow thru on the trigger. Also; my experience with NEF has been very good. They have beat delivery times on work when I sent mine in for new barrel installation...Give them a call and ask.

Be happy that yours ejects empties with gusto. The .243 I had was about 50-50 whether or not it would eject empties. Got to where I brought with me a 6-inch piece of brass rod to send down the bore via the muzzle to pop the fired cartridge out. The rifle didn't shoot well enough for me to put up with that nonsense for very long.

ElCaballero: The situation you describe could very well be the problem! I was trying to squeeze that trigger as lightly as possible as the Rifle is fitted with a 1.5x5 power scope only. I will take it out tomorrow and try it with a "fuller follow through" on the trigger pull!
Thanks again for the input all of you guys!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have heard others say that the trigger follow through has caused problems with misfires, but have not seen this myself. My feeling is that the transfer bar system should work anytime the trigger is held back far enough to release the hammer. The actions I've had apart show that any slight rearward movement of the trigger keeps the transfer bar in the raised position, should the trigger not be held back, then the transfer bar spring will pull it down out of the hammers way, and not allow the gun to fire, which is exactly how the system is designed to work.
I still say that if you look at the firing pin protrusion, by removing the barrel and cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger in the same manner as if firing the rifle, then this should tell you something. If the firing pin protrudes at all, but not enough, then it is likely a hammer slot issue. If does not protrude at all, then it could be either the trigger follow through or the hammer slot.
Although I've worked on a few, there can be many problems and diagnosing them without seeing the gun is difficult, I have been able to fix all of the ones I've seen and have not had any further problems. I am familiar with the owners of all the ones I've worked on and they report no further problems. In each of these cases the follow through was not the problem.
There is a condition, if the gun had been altered by a backyard gunsmith (no disrespect intended), that would cause the follow through problem. I won't go into the case, as it's rather hard to explain, but if the gun is unaltered, then it would be VERY unlikely this condition exists.

Bobby: Thank you for your additional posting and your efforts in explaining to me a "backyard gunsmith wannabe". But I am one who knows better than to touch the innards of any firearm with the intent of modifying it! I learned that lesson decades ago.

I leave adjustments to the pros like yourself!

I will pass this along to my friend the Rifles owner and I will appraise him of the testing I will do later today. He lives about 40 miles from me and there is no Riflesmith in our area!

I really appreciate your description of the possible causes.

Hold into the wind

VarmintGuy