Hi all, can anyone help with light primer strikes on my mod. 41 S&W. I Did all the cleaning, new springs, extractor , firing pin and spring, mainspring, recoil spring,. I heard that it may be the disconnecter. How does the disconnecter cause it to just sometimes cause light primer strikes, sometimes not even a mark even though I get a click. And by removing it, does it help? Been trying correct it for over a year now. Thanks, Tony

Check the link for info on maintenance and common problems:

Model 41 maintenance

Other possible things to check......make sure the trigger overtravel screw hasn't backed out, preventing the trigger/bar from moving and adequate amount to remove the sear from the path of the hammer (may be falling to safety notch on hammer or hitting safety notch), recoil spring returning the slide into battery fully, any damage to the chamber or breechface from dry firing, new mainspring, slide/firing pin internals dirty, adequate engagement of trigger bar with tab on sear, magazine dissconnect working properly (see photos on link)

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Hello: no damage to breechface, new mainspring, super cleaned, new recoil spring (had to put 6.0lb. recoil spring to solve extraction problems solved my extraction problem) new firing pin and firing pin spring, firing pin when it strikes is in proper position, I am going to eliminate the trigger overtravel screw, not sure what to look for on the engagement of trigger bar with tab on sear, and what to look for on magazine dissconnect. why would light primer strikes be just random? If something is broke would'nt it happen all the time? Thanks, Tony

Tony,
Any work or modifications by previous owner that you are aware of? Original grips? Magazines clean/replace mag springs? You might check the motion of the trigger bar....remove grip panel and confirm bar/assy moves freely up and down when magazine is inserted and removed, and that bar moves freely/fully (disconnects) up and down when the slide is pulled back, and released.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Armorer951,
No modifications were done. Was almost mint when I got it. Original grips, yes. I don't think nothing is rubbing on grip panel(no marks). Everything is super cleaned, everything moves freely that I can tell. I eliminated the trigger overtravel screw, but have not shot it yet. When I took grip panel off there was excessive oil around the the trigger bar assembly area. Would too much oil cause the occasional light primer strikes? Should I sand down inside of right grip panel in case it is rubbing against the trigger dis. assembly? So you know, it is the model with the firing pin cocking indicator. made around 1975 I think.....

What ammo are you using? I use CCI standard velocity. Does a round seat cleanly in the chamber, if it doesn't you can get light primer strikes. To check this, remove the barrel and drop a round in the chamber, if it doesn't seat all the way, that may be your problem. Next invert the barrel and allow the round to drop out. If it doesn't fall completely out of the chamber that is a further indication of the problem, i.e. A dirty chamber. Clean the chamber until a clean unfired round will seat in the chamber, and drop out when the barrel is inverted.

This is definitely worth a try & its almost free.

Yep, did all that, chamber super clean rounds drop in and out.... CCI std. Velocity.....Thanks, tony

Some of the rims on some brands are .003--.004 thicker. The thinner should work better. I started measuring them when the slide got harder to close on a new box of ammo. I switched ammo & my problem went away using the thinner rim. I don't know when they started making a thicker rim as I never had a reason to measure a 22 until I had a problem.

I know you have cleaned things and replaced firing pin, but it sure sounds like there could still be gunk in the firing pin channel. It might pay to double check this.

It's clean, but will double check.........thicker rim may help!, Thanks, Tony

Tony,
Unless I'm reading it wrong, 4barrel indicated the thinner rim would be better.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Should i get a rim thickness gauge

I was thinking he was measuring them with a micrometer....not sure though.

__________________
Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Model 41 maintenance

Tony....another idea....take a look at the last photo at the bottom of this link. The author is talking about free movement of the disconnector tab (shark fin shape) up into the slot in the slide when the gun is in battery. Check to see that the slot is clean and free of shiny spots on the front and back that would indicate contact. There will (should) be a nice polished crown on the top of the hump or fin. This assy should move up and down freely when the slide is cycled, and when a magazine is inserted and removed.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Yes, I will check that, good idea, thanks.....Tony

Thanks for all the information on this thread! I have learned a great deal about the Model 41.

Here is a photo just for the heck of it.

Attached Images

DSC_0141.jpg (81.9 KB, 117 views)

One more thing to check.... Excessive dry firing, or firing without a round/empty in place will dent the breach. If its a deep enough dent this will sometimes cause FTF. S&Ws firing pin will strike the breech. Something to look at....

Thanks, never dried fired without a snap cap.....