I have about 5500 rounds though my 9VE and have begun experiencing light primer strikes. Up until now they have been few and far between and blamed on the ammo, but at the range this morning I had a few different types of ammo and had upwards of 10-12 light strikes.

The gun is factory in all respects, could the light strikes be caused by the firing pin spring wearing out and needing replaced? I also have never broken down the slide for a detailed cleaning, which I am sure is over due. This is my everyday all the time carry and has never left with the unsure feeling that I have now as to if it will work for me.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Chris

I had the same issue with a lot fewer rounds through then you have.
I'd clean it first , it's a pretty simple thing to do. Don't oil it , it needs to be clean and dry. If that doesn't help give S&W service a call and tell them you need a new striker assembly and they should send you one free of charge. If the CSR says they don't send those out call back and see if you get a different CSR ...they sent me one
Norm

Suggest removing the striker assembly, cleaning, inspecting, and reassembling DRY.

Most gummy strikers I've seen had lube put into them without cleaning, or way too much lube. It is also possible that the firing ppin tip is chipped, which you can inspect.

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Science plus Art

I know it has been posted before, but do you guys know of a youtube video that shows the slide breakdown and reassembly procedure?

Go to the APEX Tactical site, they have a video showing how remove the firing pin assy form the slide.

The back plate comes off just like a Glock...if that helps.

Stand slide on muzzle end, depress plastic sleeve around striker
(just in front of the sear engagement) against spring tension
towards muzzle, and slip back plate off. No prying or screwdriver
action on back plate--once you press the plastic sleeve out of it's
socket on back plate, finger pressure will slide the plate out (but it's
fine to use a screwdriver to depress the plastic sleeve!).

While striker is out, check the striker safety plunger for free,
spring action movement. My SW40F ('original Sigma') tends to accumulate brass
primer shavings (shaved by striker hole in breech face, and blown into
striker safety plunger bore over time) which build up until
the plunger movement is restricted--and light primer strikes
result from inhibited striker travel.

The plunger should move freely in the bore when depressed, and
spring up instantly when pressure is removed.

I haven't seen that problem as of yet with my SD9VE, so S&W may have
worked that design bug out.

This is a more likely explanation than a weak spring or a "gunky" channel, although those explanations are possible - well the gunky channel. That said, there seem to be a high number of complaints about light strikes with S&W guns of all descriptions (revolvers and semi-autos, not including the 1911s) than is acceptable for weapons designed for self-defense.