442 still light strike with Extra Power mainspring

[alexrex20]

I've got a new-to-me 442 that had 4-5 light primer strikes out of 40 rounds of WWB. Took it home, opened it up and found a clipped rebound spring; hammer spring looked normal. I replaced the rebound spring with a Wolff 15lb (reduced power, but new and all I had) and the hammer spring with a Wolff 9lb extra power (also new). Of the last 10 rounds of WWB, I had another light primer strike. I tried it again and it still did not ignite. I removed it and set it aside, and tested my other ammo. Winchester +P PDX1, Hornady Critical Defense, and Aguila FMJ all had zero light primer strikes. I put in the dud from earlier and it fired.

Is there a way the gun could malfunction in a way that the light strike only happens on a single charging hole?

Or should I just blame it on the ammo?

 

[armorer951]

Doubt if it would occur on just one charge hole, unless there was an isolated burr or defect in the cylinder or extractor at that location.

I would guess it was ammunition related......more testing/firing would confirm this.

 

[alexrex20]

It is double action only.

 

[Florida J Frame]

I would return it to all factory springs. Your problem should go away.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I concur with regard to restoring the factory springs and re-evaluating.

Also, WWB is notorious for not being particularly reliable.

 

[alexrex20]

Where can I get "factory" springs? I am using brand new Wolff springs. They sell an OEM replacement but I installed the extra power hammer spring. I just don't see how going lower in power would fix this...

 

[Florida J Frame]

Did you try ordering from S&W?

 

[armorer951]

Is this an older model, or the newer one with the frame mounted firing pin? Have you done the "new-2-me" thorough cleaning and checked the rear gauge ?

Excessive rear gauge will often cause misfires. Should be between .062" and .066"....smaller in this range the better.

 

[tomcatt51]

If your 442 has the "new style" FMFP (they have the cross pin for the firing pin under the side plate) I would check the length of the firing pin. There are a lot of revolvers S&W sent out with "short" firing pins.

If your firing pin is <.492" get a new S&W firing pin. All the ones I've rcd for a long time now have been the "good ones", titanium and measuring .492" - .495". Apex Tactical also makes good firing pins and a good "duty/carry" spring/firing pin kit for the new style J frames. They bailed us out when all that was available from S&W was the "short" firing pins.

 

[WR Moore]

The rebound spring has no effect by itself on hammer strike. However, user error can cause misfires if you're trying to finese the shot and relax the trigger finger as soon as the trigger relases the hammer instead of pulling all the way through. If the finger relaxes while the hammer is falling the rebound slide can bump the falling hammer and rob enough energy to cause misfires.

That said, it does appear that your issue may be ammo related. WWB is definately bottom rung of the quality ladder. Still, maybe the original owner had similar problems. Do check clearance from back of cylinder to recoil shield as previously stated and check cylinder endplay.

 

[shawn mccarver]

If you get it back to real factory springs, and it still happens at all - I mean even once - with any factory ammo, then you likely have a headspace problem. This revolver must go back to S&W for a full examination.