Craig1981 Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Just curious what weight mainspring you guys are using to get 100% reliability with winchester primers. I was using a 17lb but was getting light strikes a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 7 minutes ago, Craig1981 said: Just curious what weight mainspring you guys are using to get 100% reliability with winchester primers. I was using a 17lb but was getting light strikes a lot. Lots of folks run 17's. Check your primer seating first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js1130146 Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) I just swapped to a 17 and so far have had no failures with CCI spp Edited January 14, 2017 by js1130146 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) I use 17s and don't have any problems with WSP ("softer") or CCI 500 ("harder"), with either standard-length or extended firing pin. Edited January 14, 2017 by teros135 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig1981 Posted January 14, 2017 Author Share Posted January 14, 2017 I have the extended dawson firing pin the 17lb was giving me lots of light strikes. On my press I can't adjust primer depth. Don't think it's a primer seating issue because the winchester spp works great for my other guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) Craig1981, what kind of gun are you using? When the slide is off, is there firm hammer pressure against the frame when the hammer is in the forward position or does it "flop" back and forth? (i.e., is there pressure from the mainspring against the hammer strut, even when the hammer is forward against the frame?) Does it pass the "pencil test" - put a pencil in the (empty!) barrel, point vertically, pull trigger, pencil should launch enthusiastically and clear the muzzle by about a foot. Does it have a standard or lightened FP spring? Edited January 14, 2017 by teros135 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyGlock Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 39 minutes ago, Craig1981 said: I have the extended dawson firing pin the 17lb was giving me lots of light strikes. On my press I can't adjust primer depth. Don't think it's a primer seating issue because the winchester spp works great for my other guns. One of my 2011s had that similar problem. What I did was replace the extended fp with a std one. The misfires went from about 10/100 tp 1/300. But I need to make it ultra reliable so I got a19# ms and cut 1-1/2 coils to simulate the 17# and the problem completely went away. What teros posted above is good and I went thru them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig1981 Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 4 hours ago, teros135 said: Craig1981, what kind of gun are you using? When the slide is off, is there firm hammer pressure against the frame when the hammer is in the forward position or does it "flop" back and forth? (i.e., is there pressure from the mainspring against the hammer strut, even when the hammer is forward against the frame?) Does it pass the "pencil test" - put a pencil in the (empty!) barrel, point vertically, pull trigger, pencil should launch enthusiastically and clear the muzzle by about a foot. Does it have a standard or lightened FP spring? Thanks for the advise. Have 2 of them that don't set off winchester reliably. One is an sti matchmaster. The other is a custom built 2011. Matchmaster doesn't have extended firing pin. Didn't set off winchester with factory Springs. Got the trigger job and still doesnt. Tried the pencil thing. Launches them further than a foot and hammers are tight with slide off with hammer forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWard79 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Are you case gauging your Ammo? I use a Hundo gauge, and the majority of issues I catch out of my press are high primers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) 17 on mine and an extended Firing pin. Mine was not reliable with wolf's with a regular FP but with an extended FP, it was 100% reliable. Edited January 15, 2017 by bulm540 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWprotected Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Even with a 15lb you should not have any issue with domestic primers, I run a 17lb spring have no problems with CCI small rifle primers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig1981 Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 Yes I case gauged every single bullet. My press is a LnL. It won't allow you to have a high primer. The shell plate won't index if primer isn't seated all the way. Going to be trying a 19lb. See if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quack Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I have the extended dawson firing pin the 17lb was giving me lots of light strikes. On my press I can't adjust primer depth. Don't think it's a primer seating issue because the winchester spp works great for my other guns.What firing pin spring are you using? That may be your issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quack Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 BTW, I use a Dawson FP, ISMI FP spring and a 15# MS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Climbhard Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 17 pounds and I don't recall ever having a light strike on a Winchester or CCI primer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrguar Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 No problem using 17#s with my sti and WSR primers.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dons Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 I have 2 STI 2011s, both 38super. I load Winchester SRP exclusively in this caliber. The old one I've had for many years and many rounds, 17lb mainspring, NEVER had a misfire. I bought my new (used) one and got many light strikes. I finally put in a 23lb mainspring and the problem was cured. I wasn't happy with this, so after many gunsmithing adventures I got rid of the lightweight hammer and put in a heavier one with a 19lb mainspring. Much better. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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