Speedsouthshooting Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Cross posted from General gunsmithing. My 2011 .38 super is running about 50% light primer strikes. I've used Atlanta arms ammo major pf as well as reloaded rounds as low as 140 pf. I've also used my same ammo through a new sti open gun and it runs flawlessly. The rounds that fire show a smeared primer strike on the spent primer. Stronger firing pin spring? Heavier mainspring? Different firing pin? The Gun is as is STI. I bought the gun with this issue. Thanks for any help, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler2you Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Cross posted from General gunsmithing. My 2011 .38 super is running about 50% light primer strikes. I've used Atlanta arms ammo major pf as well as reloaded rounds as low as 140 pf. I've also used my same ammo through a new sti open gun and it runs flawlessly. The rounds that fire show a smeared primer strike on the spent primer. Stronger firing pin spring? Heavier mainspring? Different firing pin? The Gun is as is STI. I bought the gun with this issue. Thanks for any help, Tony Sounds like you're on the right track. I'd start with a fresh 17/18 lb mainspring and possibly an extended firing pin. Replace the firing pin return spring while you're at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 I've put in a new 8lb recoil spring with the firing pin spring that came with it. I have a pile of mainsprings but I don't have a spring tester to tell the exact tension Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 Btw Tyler, I have a fb page named speed south shooting since your a local. If interested. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 And also the Steel Challenge match director at the new CMP range in Talladega if your ever down this way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler2you Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 And also the Steel Challenge match director at the new CMP range in Talladega if your ever down this way Thanks for the invite. I just shot the USPSA match there on Saturday. What a great facility and staff. I'm sure I'll get down there for speed steel soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chutist Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) The "smear" makes it sound like the firing pin is not returning back out of the breach face... So the firing pin is binding in the hole or the return spring has an issue. Do you have another 1911 you can swap out the firing pin and spring and see if it solves the problem? I'm assuming that you've pulled the firing pin out and checked that it's not bent and cleaned the tunnel spotless... Edited November 23, 2015 by Chutist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 I have cleaned and inspected. I will swap pin and spring and check. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Hello: Clean the firing pin hole if you have not already. Install 17lb ISMI mainspring, Dawson extended firing pin, 8lb- 9lb ISMI recoil spring and a new firing pin spring. That should solve the problems if the gun was built correctly. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dranoel Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Just go to a titanium firing pin. It will rebound faster and be out of the way by the time the breech unlocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 Swapped the firing pin and spring with one from my Sa 1911 9mm and tried it. Same exact results. Then I replaced the mainspring with a heavier one and it seems to be igniting the primers. Ran it about 10 rounds with no issues then ran out of ammo. Looks like it's hitting the primer harder. Hopefully problem solved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooterj Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) Drop the firing pin in the slide, without the spring. It should not hang up. If it does, there could be an imperfection in the firing pin hole causing it to hang up. Edited November 24, 2015 by scooterj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim v Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Check the fit of the back of the firing pin to the hole in the firing pin retaining plate. The back part of the firing pin has a tendency to enlarge over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 The spent primers still have a smeared look to them and are flat but appears to fire now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigboy69 Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Also clean out your firing pin tunnel. Extended firing pin 18lb main spring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 Here's what I have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPostman Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 (edited) What load are you using? Primers? Powder? OAL? Looks like maybe some defective primers or too much pressure. They look cratered which is one of the pressure signs. Do you use rifle primers, small pistol magnum or regular small pistol? Edited November 28, 2015 by MrPostman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 (edited) Half were Atlanta arms 124 hollow point major factor. All of the Atlanta arms chronoed 170-172 pf. The others are my powder puff steel loads. 8 gr. of hs-6 124 extremes, sm. pistol primers. Atlanta arms major ammo uses sm rifle primers. Doesn't matter the load. Same results coal 1.260 Edited November 28, 2015 by Speedsouthshooting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPostman Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 (edited) Hmmmmm, well it could be that you have some breechface erosion since it does it with different loads. I did notice in the picture that the primer strikes are not centered so it may be the way the extractor is holding the round when it is chambered, the round may be partially cocked and not flush with the breechface. If the gun is setup to shoot supercomp brass then the extractor tension is too strong for regular 38 super brass which would push the round off center away from the extraction port or not allow the round to completely slide up into position which would leave a small gap on the bottom. Just a couple of things to check. Edited November 28, 2015 by MrPostman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rishii Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Here's what I haveimage.jpg I had that happen before, super high pressure signs With mine, the flattened primer were shearing off a disc into the firing pin hole and blocked the firing pin from getting a good hit on the primer A extra long firing pin should help, and change to small rifle primers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 Thanks guys! Will check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 Mr postman! I believe you hit the nail buddy. The extractor tension was extremely tight. I could have thrown the slide onto the concrete without releasing the round. Thanks man! Testing tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPostman Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) Mr postman! I believe you hit the nail buddy. The extractor tension was extremely tight. I could have thrown the slide onto the concrete without releasing the round. Thanks man! Testing tomorrow Cool! Glad I could help! Edited November 29, 2015 by MrPostman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansedgli Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Compare the tip of the firing pin to another to see if they are the same size. I had an undersize pin in a new trojan. It would crater primers like that and occasionally pierce them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedsouthshooting Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 I I'm getting this to make sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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