Light strike issue

[Equus]

I have an 80s model 36-6 target that I have owned about 5 years. It has always been perfect until last range trip when I had 4 light strikes, which fired on subsequent second strikes. What could be the cause of this?

The firing pin is hammer mounted.

 

[Bubbalou7]

Lack of Internal cleaning and light lubrication?
Worn parts or springs?
Have a gunsmith check it out

 

[Beju]

Personally, I would first pull the side plate and clean and lubricate the action. Depending on method of carry, exposed hammer revolvers can build up a fair bit of lint and skin cells inside of them.

The next simplest thing would be to replace the hammer/mainspring. Coil springs gradually lose tension from usage/compression cycles.

Not exactly apples to apples, but I replaced the rebound slide spring in a 60 year old Model 10-6 with a 15 lb spring. I'm not exactly sure what the original spring was (modern are said to be 18 lbs), but when I replaced that old compressed coil spring with the 15 lb, there was no change whatsoever in the trigger pull. If it was an 18 lb rebound spring from the start, it sure wasn't 60 years later. I'm fairly certain that one of the previous owners did a whole lot of trigger pulls, as it came to me with a broken DA sear pin.

 

[TF82]

What ammo were you using? I had an issue with a 66-3 that I bought used that needed a new strain screw and main spring. It’s good with everything I’ve tried now except Magtech which it still has an occasional light strike with.

 

[Nightowl]

If you are using reloads, it is possible the primers were not seated to the bottom of the cup, resting on the cartridge case. Primers should be firmly seated to the bottom of the primer cup.

 

[stansdds]

Reloaded ammo or factory ammo?
If factory ammo, which brand?
How long has it been since the revolver's lock work was cleaned and properly lubricated?

 

[Equus]

Thanks for the replies. Just to answer a few questions. The gun is kept clean internally. This happened with PPU and Fiocchi ammo that worked previously, no reloads this time. This gun was at some point in the past given a trigger job, the parts were stoned where the work together and the trigger was polished smooth. The trigger is butter smooth and I am guessing under 8lbs DA. So I am going to guess Beju is right. The springs were probably lightened and are now starting to fatigue.

 

[eveled]

Did you take a picture of the primer strike?

 

[Vtgw938]

Your gun should shoot dirty and generally with any ammo. Factory strength springs solve most issues if reliability is what you want and can still be shot accurately double-action.

 

[Equus]

Did you take a picture of the primer strike?

No, just second striked them. They all went off on #2.

 

[eveled]

Next time check them before the second strike. It may offer a clue.

 

[Equus]

Next time check them before the second strike. It may offer a clue.

I’m taking it out this coming Friday if I’m not working OT…..again.

 

[Divroch]

The most common culprit is usually not the firing pin itself, it’s loss of hammer energy somewhere in the system.

 

[gnappi]

I have done several S&W innards and I never got an 8 pound DA trigger.

I have bought guns with 8 pound triggers that failed to ignite primers, but found the strain screw loosened or ground shorter and or the main spring was swapped. Replacing both solved my issues.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I would suspect the ammo rather than a previously known good weapon suddenly failing. COULD be either, or even both..............

 

[KenTheHunter]

I have an 80s model 36-6 target that I have owned about 5 years. It has always been perfect until last range trip when I had 4 light strikes, which fired on subsequent second strikes. What could be the cause of this?

The firing pin is hammer mounted.

Many ! Could be primers, mainspring, headspace, etc

 

[Matt_X]

You'll never find a loose strain screw on a model 36.
Fiocchi seems to use hard primers.
I can't comment on PPU in .38 spl.
If you have a scale, empty 1/2 gal or gal plastic jug and a wire coathanger you can measure the hammer force, as shown (follow the links)

Post in thread 'Normal Hammer block contact? Model 36'

Mar 6, 2024

Checked the main spring force on the hammer as shown here.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141763281-post12.html

It's a little different than Kuhnhausen but makes more sense to me.
Just about 3.5#
I used a coat hanger, milk jug with water, and postal scale.

• Matt_X

Post in thread 'Getting older / short memory /help please'

Jun 23, 2022

Here you go, all the gory details from the S&W Armorers Manual.

Stu

• stu1ritter

• 

 

[gwpercle]

I have an 80s model 36-6 target that I have owned about 5 years. It has always been perfect until last range trip when I had 4 light strikes, which fired on subsequent second strikes. What could be the cause of this?

The firing pin is hammer mounted.

That sounds Exactly like some primers not fully seated in the primer pockets ... first blow , no fire "Light Strike" but seats primer deeper ... The second blow and seated primer now fires !
Classic primer not fully seated in pocket !
Can happen with reloads / handloads and sloppy factory loads !
Check Main Spring Screw tension also ... it wont hurt !
Gary

 

[Alton]

Check Main Spring Screw tension mentioned by gwpercle is probably the problem. Hoping they didn't grind the screw down and you can just adjust it

 

[wproct]

I’m taking it out this coming Friday if I’m not working OT…..again.

Darned overtime can spoil your fun. But sometimes it enables you to buy more fun!

 

[Bobafett]

Check Main Spring Screw tension mentioned by gwpercle is probably the problem. Hoping they didn't grind the screw down and you can just adjust it

OPs problem child is a J frame

 

[Alton]

Well I guess I learned something today since I only have K and N frame revolvers, I will stick with what I know.

 

[Equus]

OPs problem child is a J frame

Yes, coil spring hammer spring

 

[gwpercle]

Yes, coil spring hammer spring

J-Frame and Coil Spring ... Then ... maybe it's the primers ...
Were you shooting reloads / handloads ... ?
I hope it's something simple !
Good Luck ,
Gary

 

[Equus]

J-Frame and Coil Spring ... Then ... maybe it's the primers ...
Were you shooting reloads / handloads ... ?
I hope it's something simple !
Good Luck ,
Gary

Factory. I did check my brass boxes that I used recently and there are some really light looking primer strikes in there. There is one so light I wondered how it even ignited. With it showing evidence of having some previous trigger work done, I am just going to replace the hammer & rebound springs and see if the problem goes away. And observing the hammer cycle, seems it is really light falling in comparison to my other j frames.

 

[stansdds]

The rebound spring has no effect on primer strike power, but the hammer spring surely does. It is quite possible that coils were cut from the hammer spring or the hammer spring was replaced with a lighter spring in this revolver's past.

 

[walkin' trails]

Could also be four bad primers.

 

[Equus]

Could also be four bad primers.

But they fired. So they weren’t bad. Could have been high, but not bad.

 

[Toolguy]

Fiocchi primers are known to be hard. Most likely it's the hammer mainspring. I would vote for a new factory one.