Any advice on 929 light primer strikes ?

[JonnyB686]

Hi All
For the last month my new 929 has performed flawlessly over about 500 rounds.
This morning at the range I suddenly have multiple light primer strikes - 1,2,3 even 4 or 5 per clip.
The moon clips are Revolver Supplies (blued and nickel) and the round is my standard 9mm auto reload with Speer or ODL cases, 124 gr RN plated Frontier projectile, 4.0 gr AP70 and CCI SP primers. The pictures tell the story as the primer strikes are a mixture of deep and healthy to pathetic pin pricks in the same clip. This leads me to think that the gun has an issue. Any thoughts ?
Regards

JonnyB

 

[Pizza Bob]

Check the strain screw. Not unusual for it to back-off in a new gun, after several hundred rounds. Since you reload - if Federal primers are available in NZ, you should use those - they have the softest primer cup.

Good luck.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

EDIT: Just read your other post that stated you are somewhat new to revolvers. I was taken to task once for assuming somebody knew what the strain screw is - it is the screw at the bottom front of the grip frame that applies tension to the mainspring. It should be turned all the way in. A drop of purple Loc-Tite will keep it from backing out again - if that is your problem. Picture worth a thousand words...

PB

 

[JonnyB686]

Good Advice

Thanks Pizza Bob that was the answer. The strain screw had backed out about 2 turns and is now tightened and thread locked. Just part of the running-in process I guess but so far nothing like as painful as setting up a competition semi auto ! It was the lack of consistency of the primer strikes which was confusing me.
Once again thanks for the advice.
Regards

JonnyB

 

[Gunman76]

Hello, 929owners. I have the same problem with my 929. All screws are fully tightened.
I have only tried MEN 9x19 service ammunition.

 

[Macinaw]

Hello, 929owners. I have the same problem with my 929. All screws are fully tightened.
I have only tried MEN 9x19 service ammunition.

You may need to install a longer firing pin from Apex or C&S. Others have posted with same problem. They have sent it back to S&W. All they do is put the longer firing pin in.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Hello, 929owners. I have the same problem with my 929. All screws are fully tightened.
I have only tried MEN 9x19 service ammunition.

Is your "service ammunition" meant for use in sub guns? If so, the primers in sub gun ammo are very hard. Try some commercial ammo - preferably Federal, if it's available in Norway.

Good luck.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Gunman76]

In Norway we use this ammo in the HK MP5 and the HK P30 pistol.

Data sheet attatched

 

[M3Stuart]

Perhaps relevant, perhaps it is not:

Topic: light primer strikes on reloads; I called CCI one time when I was having light primer strikes on some .357 reloads. The nice gentleman there told me that the primer should be seated firm, beyond flush if necessary. The incidence of defective primers is like one-in-a-million or something. The next batch got seated deeper and the problem went away.

Anyway, it's just something that could contribute to the OP's predicament given that he said they were reloads.

 

[Pizza Bob]

In Norway we use this ammo in the HK MP5 and the HK P30 pistol.

While I'm not familiar with that ammo, The "service" designation would lead me to believe it may use primers with a very hard cup. The 929 is meant as a competition revolver and as such may not deliver enough force to the firing pin to ignite hard primers. You will need to find ammo that buses primers with the softest cup. In the US that would be Federal. Good luck.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[S&W1911]

For what it's worth the 929 come through with a hollow firing pin. I assume to try to lighten their crapy PC 14lb trigger. A standard N frame pin is about 10 thousands longer and that's considerable since it's not even a extended firing pin. This would help with light stikes. You can say it's for the competitive shooter but they try to build them for reliability without the shooter in mind . When you get one now you have to take the shooter in mind with reliability too. Comp is totally useless , I do see some venting in slow mo but when removed I feel no difference. There is no difference in FPS either. All that said I do like mine but not out of the box.

 

[JonnyB686]

Back to the range.......

Back to the range with a tightened and thread locked strain screw for another 80 rounds. No problems at all with all primers showing a deep, healthy ding. I will continue to use CCI primers because they work, I have a lot of them and I want to keep my 9mm load the same for both the 929 and my semi auto (Tanfoglio Stock 3). I seat the primer as deeply as possible ie deeper than flush and have never had any problems over the years using them.
I agree with the comment about the comp on the 929 as it serves no real function with a Minor pf load other than as a crud catcher.
Overall though I am really pleased with the 929 and with the Bushnell TRS25 (a brilliant little sight) and 8 shots this is a really fun gun !

 

[9146gt]

Primers seated .006"> .010" below flush is the required depth for 100% ignition in a tuned revolver. At this depth and with a 6# trigger my 929 will fire all primers. Lighter than 6# and Federal primers may be required.

Tom

 

[Poidaaa]

Light Strikes with new 929

Hi folks, new to the forum, I realise this thread is quite old (2014) but I recently bought a 929 in Qld Australia, brand new and have had the same issues with light strikes. First 500 or so rounds great then light strike after light strike. I wound up the trigger spring 1/4 turn at a time and still light strikes. I then wound it up fully 2 full turns)and first 50 rounds all good, then wound it back 1/4 turn and now light strikes again. Is this an issue worth trying to get sorted on warranty or just get a different firing pin?
Also just mentioning, every screw was loose on the gun when I started to figure out the light strikes
To jonnyB686 I too use the same rounds between my Tanfog Gold Match and the 929 and never an issue with the Tanfog. My loads are 3.6 grains AP50 with 124gr copper coated hollow point and federal primers. I too really enjoy the 929 except when it doesn't fire of course.
I haven't tried the 929 without the compensator but will give it a go tommorrow to see if I notice any difference

 

[Macinaw]

The "strain screw" for the hammer should always be tight. You can reduce the length. It should remain tight. Apex or TK Custom extended firing pin would probably solve the issue.

Hi folks, new to the forum, I realise this thread is quite old (2014) but I recently bought a 929 in Qld Australia, brand new and have had the same issues with light strikes. First 500 or so rounds great then light strike after light strike. I wound up the trigger spring 1/4 turn at a time and still light strikes. I then wound it up fully 2 full turns)and first 50 rounds all good, then wound it back 1/4 turn and now light strikes again. Is this an issue worth trying to get sorted on warranty or just get a different firing pin?
Also just mentioning, every screw was loose on the gun when I started to figure out the light strikes
To jonnyB686 I too use the same rounds between my Tanfog Gold Match and the 929 and never an issue with the Tanfog. My loads are 3.6 grains AP50 with 124gr copper coated hollow point and federal primers. I too really enjoy the 929 except when it doesn't fire of course.
I haven't tried the 929 without the compensator but will give it a go tommorrow to see if I notice any difference

 

[browndog2]

Last week I also experienced a few light strikes at a bowling pin match with my 929. I just checked my strain screw and it has worked itself loose. I hope that is/was the issue. Thanks for posting.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Strain Screw replacement

After several years of reliable service my 686-4 AFS started to misfire, one or two rounds every cylinder full. My gun is fitted with a Wolff standard power ribbed mainspring and a #12 trigger return spring and at the time I was using the Hodgdon H4227 equivalent (ADI/Mulwex AR2208) with Federal small rifle primers.

The strain screw was tight and I ended up changing powder and reverting to Federal all pistol primers. The problem practically disappeared. Occasionally a primer would not go off the first time but would ignite he second time it was struck.

Then I read about replacing the strain screw with an 8-32 X 1/2 UNC socket head screw. I did this and today took the gun tot he range with some of the old ammo loaded with rifle primers. All except open round ignited first pull of the trigger. That round went off when I cycled the cylinder again.

Also a bit of blue locktite on the screw thread doesn't go amis. But you will need a heat gun if you ever want to remove it again.

 

[dr. mordo]

Also a bit of blue locktite on the screw thread doesn't go amis. But you will need a heat gun if you ever want to remove it again.

Blue loctite does not require a torch; red loctite requires a torch. I actually used blue on my M29 cylinder release latch and removed the screw with just a bit of difficulty before remembering I had loctited it.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Blue loctite does not require a torch; red loctite requires a torch. I actually used blue on my M29 cylinder release latch and removed the screw with just a bit of difficulty before remembering I had loctited it.

I had blue locktite on my old strain screw. It wouldn't come undone and I was at risk of stripping the head off the screw.

5 - 10 minutes with the heat gun on the grip frame, hot and uncomfortable to touch, and it came out with just a bot of added pressure.

 

[Poidaaa]

Hi Again, after retightening the strain screw on my 929, and visiting the range I have had a couple more soft strikes and after looking for something to blame them on I noticed these wear marks. It seems like the hammer has a high point on the left side which may be stopping the full travel of hammer and thence the full travel of firing pin.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=349569&stc=1&d=1531796495
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=349570&stc=1&d=1531796495
Is this something that should be looked at by S&W or do I grab my file and give the hammer a bit of a touch up? Advice would be appreciated.
Further to shooting without the comp on I didn't notice any difference, still didn't shoot a 480.

 

[dogdoc]

Install stronger main spring and or get an apex or other extended firing pin. Common on these competition revolvers . I have an apex on the way for mine . Reload with federal primers. Sloppy headspace with moon clips and light spring for comp gun most likely culprit . Mine does the same as did my 625 when I went to reduced power mainspring for light double action. Extended firing pin fixed that. Check out benos forums for much discussion on this. Do not file hammer.