S&W 642 Airweight, light primer strikes

[38SPL HV]

My S&W 642 always gives smaller diameter primer strikes and light ones with some FTF’s on CCI-500s and RP 1 1/2s reloads. Remington factory std velocity 158 gr RNLs fire well even though some primer strike “dimples” are small and a bit shallow. On the other hand, Fed 100 (softest ones out there) reloads always fire, but the indentations are also small... Attached are pics of Fed 100 strikes.

My Corbon 110 gr JHP +P factory loads always fire with the 642. Guess I’ll just use Fed 100s in my reloads and stick with Corbon for defense purposes in this particular revolver...these always give me reliable ignition.

...unless you think I should return the revolver to S&W for perhaps a larger point firing pin? I should also mention that the revolver is tight without any measurable end shake concerns.

 

[mikerjf]

Did you buy it new? So many people put lighter springs in J frames... with possibly this result. You could go to a gun shop and compare yours against a new 642's trigger pressure.

 

[38SPL HV]

Did you buy it new? So many people put lighter springs in J frames... with possibly this result. You could go to a gun shop and compare yours against a new 642's trigger pressure.

I purchased it new and shot at least 1k rounds (mainly (80%) standard velocity) through it. Works fine with Fed 100 primers

 

[jimmyj]

new mainspring and firing pin

 

[Engineer1911]

Keep reloading, keep shooting, the gun goes BANG when the hammer falls.

 

[JayFramer]

Most likely has a spring job.

Js come with excessively heavy springs from the factory and most replace them with a lighter set for a smoother pull. So long as the roscoe go bangy when your booger hook presses the fun button, don’t worry about it.

 

[pistolpete10]

I would install a new standard weight spring from Wolf. I've never had a new S&W come with a spring that was light. I have a couple that were super heavy, the Wolf spring is usually smoother and it's lighter than some of the S&W standard springs. I don't know why S&W springs vary so much but I suspect they buy from the lowest bidder and no longer have any QC on them.

 

[Cal44]

My 642 has a 16lb trigger pull.

Light strikes are the least of my problems.

Hitting what I'm aiming at is another story.

 

[rockquarry]

I suppose there is a possibility of a mechanical problem with the trigger of an unmolested factory gun, but that sort of thing is not very common. I've had many J-frame guns in the last fifty years. I've never had springs tampered with or replaced and the guns have fired with 100% reliability. I've used mostly handloads with CCI-500 primers.

Sure, the double-action pull is heavy, but not unduly so. You'll get accustomed to it with practice. A light trigger pull doesn't take the place of shooting skill development.

 

[38SPL HV]

Thank you all, the problem is that the firing pin barely protrudes from its position on the breach face; thereby giving light primer strikes and some FTF on CCI-500 primers. My 637’s pin visibility protrudes more pronouncedly as well as other J frame Airweights including another 642. S&W gave me authorization to return.