Light primer strikes?

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11 years 9 months ago #18531 by bollox
Light primer strikes? was created by bollox
OK gentlemen. I'm requesting help with a weapon issue. Shooting at an Appleseed today and I wanted to try to qualify Rifleman with my AR 10B A4 20". Shooting MAL 5-82. Rifle & ammo have been 100% since purchase ~ 300rds (low rd count I know.) Had 2 light strikes during the first stage. Took the weapon off the line. Collected the dud rds and during the next string I was able to fire them through an M14 without any issues. The dimple of the ammo fired through the M14 is noticeably deeper than those fired through the AR10. Conclusion I have come to is light strikes. Hammer spring is in the right way (Spring curls on top of the hammer pin)and firing pin protrusion is .053 (I don't know what the spec is for this)checked with the bolt out of the carrier. Checked function of pin and travel w/ the bolt carrier assy together and no apparent binding or limits on its free travel. It shoulders up right on the rear of the bolt just like it does with the bolt out of the carrier. No serious crud in bolt or carrier either.

So here I am. What should I check next? How possible is it that the hammer spring is weak? Can y'all help?

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11 years 9 months ago #18535 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Light primer strikes?
If you computer is not working right Step 1 is REBOOT, weapon not working right but was, Clean it.

Have you are anyone replaced the firing pin? TactiKool boys go for Titanium, which often bring on a light strike issue.

Then my question is did it work fine this morning or yesterday, do you know that is not has not been a problem.

Try different ammo.

Those are the basics which just about my pay grade, but we got some folks on here that are guru's and I am sure they will weigh in...

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11 years 9 months ago #18536 by bollox
Replied by bollox on topic Light primer strikes?
Thank you Cowboy. Stock firing pin. Didn't try any other ammo. And I compared my spent brass from the past few months to some spent brass shot through an M14 at the range today and noted that my primer dimples look shallower. I guess the next thing is checking the head space and then replacing the hammer spring. The MAL I was shooting is Mil surp so hard primers are to be expected... and I need the rifle to be able to eat Mil Surp. If it won't, it will be sold.

Thanks for the prompt response.

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11 years 9 months ago #18537 by faawrenchbndr
Replied by faawrenchbndr on topic Light primer strikes?
I would suggest replacing the hammer spring

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11 years 9 months ago #18543 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Light primer strikes?
Headspace could be the issue, but that's pretty rare. I've only seen it with ammo that's been chambered and re-chambered several times.

You've put 300 rounds through it. Were all the rounds from the same manufacturer?

Hammer spring: Are the legs of the hammer spring resting on top of the trigger pin? If not, that's probably the culprit. If the legs of the hammer spring are installed underneath the trigger pin (ie, resting on the floor of the lower receiver), then the hammer won't have the proper spring tension needed. The rifle will pass a functions check and fire most commercial ammo, albeit with shallow primer indentations, but FTF on military and mil-surp ammo due to the harder primers used.

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11 years 9 months ago - 11 years 9 months ago #18575 by bollox
Replied by bollox on topic Light primer strikes?
Lebben:

Legs of the hammer spring are an top of the trigger pin. All but 9 rds have been the MAL. The other 9 rds are hunting ammo. I appreciate all y'alls help. Need to find some one around here that wouldn't mind letting me borrow his headspace gauges for about 5 minutes.
Last edit: 11 years 9 months ago by bollox.

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11 years 9 months ago #18608 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Light primer strikes?
Also, inspect the tip of the firing pin. It may have become blunted or chipped.

Inspect the face of the hammer. I've seen some AR hammers that have a deep dimple on the face (Usually caused by an improper heat treatment that led to a softer surface.) This little bit of extra space didn't allow the firing pin to go forward far enough.

Hopefully, you've got a reliable AR 'smith near you that can help you get your rifle sorted out.

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11 years 9 months ago #18609 by Dabu
Replied by Dabu on topic Light primer strikes?
Sometimes the best solutions to the most difficult problems are normally the simplest ones.

Make sure when you are firing the first round you slam the bolt home and hammer fist the forward assist.

And if that doesn't help, and everything's clean and lubed, it's most likely the hammer spring.

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11 years 9 months ago - 11 years 9 months ago #18612 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Light primer strikes?

Dabu wrote: Sometimes the best solutions to the most difficult problems are normally the simplest ones.

Make sure when you are firing the first round you slam the bolt home and hammer fist the forward assist.

And if that doesn't help, and everything's clean and lubed, it's most likely the hammer spring.

Dad was retired and had been for many years. Electronics was his thing, got his HAM radio license back in the early 30's. He was working at a hospital in Dallas and was a maintenance man working on as he said 'changing light bulbs'. It was a major Dallas hospital and did a lot of stuff. They were doing open heart on a Texas dignitary when the machine that keep the patient alive during surgery. In the middle of surgery the machine shut down. Folks are flying around flipping switches and dialing dials and the clock is ticking. They are at a loss it will not come on. Finally in desperation one of the guys says, call 'Charlie' the guy has been around maybe he has an idea.

Dad is called and he runs up to the OR asking where is the machine? They point, Dad runs around to the back, grabs the power cord and starts heading to the wall. He gets there, shoves the plug all the way in and the machine lights up...all is well.

What had happened was the cord which they were walking on was getting twisted each time and would shorten the cord a bit by torquing it. It rocked the plug out just enough to lose contact but stay in the socket.

My dad taught me the first thing you do if an electrical circut does not light is to insure its properly plugged in. Always start with the most basic and simple solution...
Last edit: 11 years 9 months ago by OleCowboy.

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11 years 9 months ago #18613 by Dabu
Replied by Dabu on topic Light primer strikes?
:I-agree: :thumbs:

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