Light primer strike issue

[grimreaper21]

took out my new M&P9 pro series 4.25'' with a 10/2010 build date. It is a brand new gun, I took it down, oiled it up and took it out to the range today. I shot a 100 round box of WWB. The only bad round I got was a very light primer strike. Halfway through a mag, I had pulled the trigger and nothing happened, I shifted focus to the slide thinking if I'm empty it should be locked back, but it wasn't yet. I got the round out and inspected it, there was a very light primer strike.. about half to a third as deep as the others I compared it to. I didn't keep it or take pictures because I wasn't sure how safe it was, I disposed of it.
I wanted to quickly blame it on the cheap value ammo but it kept bothering me why the strike was so light compared to all the others.. do you think I have a firing pin or other issue here?

 

[Dragon6]

Most likely the ammo. Rarely you may find a bad or improperly set primer. A striker problem would be less inconsistent. Shoot your pistol more and with a variety of ammo. Im sure you'll see why we all love our M&P pistols.

 

[grimreaper21]

I definately love the thing! Could it be the ammo's fault if the strike wasn't deep enough? Me and my buddy just looked at eachother like what the heck. never seen that before. I'm gonna be trying some win super X subsonics, win Ranger, and Rem UMC nickel plated soon.

 

[shembree]

I've recently been seeing light strikes with my 40c. I don't think it's the ammo because I've seen it with 2 different types, and the rounds will fire if I reload them. I cleaned the striker channel and it seemed to take care of the problem for awhile, but had 2 rounds out of about 250 fail today...

 

[WR Moore]

Cleaning the striker tunnel helps, an absolute minimum of lubrication (it's not one of the lube points noted in the owners manual) also helps. There's something that can be overlooked. When looking at the bottom of the slide in the breechblock area, you'll notice a hole near the breech face. This is a debris drain from the striker tunnel and it should be cleaned at the same time as the tunnel.

This was placed there to allow brass shavings and other gunk that can collect in the striker tunnel someplace to go that doesn't interfere with operation. Why the owners manual doesn't mention cleaning of it is somewhat puzzling, but IIRC, it doesn't cover removing the striker either.

And yes, WWB isn't the best ammo in the world.

 

[KCOG]

I experience light primer strikes sometimes in several of the striker fired guns I own (including a Glock 17). First thought it was some cheapo ammo. Happens sometime with the good stuff as well. Second strike capability is a good safety feature on a striker fired weapon.

 

[Dragon6]

I haven't had this issue but am interested striker channel. Where do I find instructions for beyond field striping disassembly?

 

[iouri]

Check out this video S&W M&P Pistol Striker Removal Procedure Firing Pin - YouTube . Very easy procedure.

 

[saylor]

i just wanted to +1 for light primer strike with a brand new m&p 9mm. I oiled it per the manual (7 spots given) and then took it out for a test run. It light struck 6 of 20 times, and I quit shooting it. It put a half moon looking impression on the primer cap when it FTF.
I took it back to the shop this evening and they changed the striker for me. (That disassembly is not in the manual, but I did find a how to on the internet). They told me the striker was actually broken.
I will get to the range this weekend hopefully, and report back as to the result. As the first gun I've ever had that didn't go bang when it was supposed to, I can hardly explain the sick feeling I got when it only went 'click' on me. If it doesn't chew the next 1k or so rounds without fail, I don't know if I could trust this weapon.
Just wanted to put that out there for anyone - hope it helps -

- saylor

 

[saylor]

i wanted to report that my new m&p 9 worked perfectly today at the range. It gets to stay.
- Saylor

 

[Scott450]

I make weekly trips to the range and I use WWB to practice and it does Average about one bad round out of 100, but as suggested keep the guns clean and it will keep this to a minimum. If you guys are using any of your pistols for defense please load and practice with high quality ammo also I use hornandy tap for my personal defense pistols and knock on wood have never had an ffl on the range or anywhere else.

 

[bobkarno]

I have 4 M&P's and aside from sampling various brands of hollow points when choosing my defensive ammo I have shot WWB exclusively. Over several years and thousands of rounds I have not had a single ammunition related failure or any issues with light strikes.

 

[saylor]

still working perfectly, now have about 400 rounds thru it... for the price you pay .vs what quality of weapon you get, i think it is a very good gun. saylor

 

[m&p9mmAG3NT]

out of 800 rounds total through my m&p 9 full size ive had 1 bullet do this and the guys who run the range say it happens its not the gun i threw mine out also- after this specefic round i fired over 100 more with the same ammo and no other issue- hope this helps peace of mind


had to look up wwb and yea i use the same ammo as you apparently winchestor 100 count white boxes ?

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Cleaning the striker tunnel helps, an absolute minimum of lubrication (it's not one of the lube points noted in the owners manual) also helps.

Any lube in the channel will just gum up the works and should be avoided. It should be clean and dry when reassembled.

 

[walkin' trails]

Any lube in the channel will just gum up the works and should be avoided. It should be clean and dry when reassembled.

Exactly. Any bathing a slide with solvent or holding it vertical with muzzle up when brushing the breach face with a solvent soaked toothbrush will also get unwanted dirty solvent into the firing pin channel.