What's this primer trying to tell me?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Oh just start ripping into her and you'll figure it out! But do it under a blanket, those springs are way too frisky and hard to chase down...

Seriously, Author Jerry Kuhnhausen "The S&W Revolver - A Shop Manual" costs less than $30. Or you can take your gun to any reputable gun shop and they'll charge you about $30 to clean it.

I do my own mechanical stuff.. Thanks for that.

 

[SMSgt]

A gummed up firing pin/striker will most likely result in light strikes or misfires. Still, a good cleaning never hurts. My Glock does that with a spanking clean striker channel. But it still goes bang.

 

[gm272gs]

...I only noticed it because I was getting up to a max load...

With some powders (like TiteGroup or Bullseye), it's pretty easy to get to max load in a 9mm with just a difference in 3/10 of a grain. You might want to mark your brass with a red sharpie, to remind you which ones had the hot loads in them.

The danger in max loads is not to the brass so much as to the firearm. Think of the brass as a gasket, and the firing chamber as the part that receives all the stress. Sometimes a barrel will split before the brass fails.

Be very, very careful!

 

[bergermeister]

Firing pin dragging across primer

Definitely no apparent problem. Have you considered "firing pin swipe"? Happens when the shell is being ejected and the firing pin is still in contact with the primer and makes a slight "gouge" in the soft primer cup. Nuttin' to worry about (especially if one needs a 10x magnifucation to see it!).

Affirmative: Ejection process still has the pin nose dragging across the spent primer. Not a problem. I have had weapons that consistently do more of a marking than that. Be concerned when the primer face flows back around the rounded pin nose into the bolt face OR you can see bolt face mill marks on the flat area of the primer. (TOO HOT!)

 

[Vulcan Bob]

If this only happens with near "Max" loads the slide speed may be too fast and the fireing pin just cannot get out of the way in time and you get a fireing pin drag mark on the primer. A fresh or slightly stronger recoil spring may be called for.

Just loaded a few more, and the easy way apparently isn't the answer. Sprayed some cleaner in there, blew it out..3 out of 5 did it. It's no big deal, I suppose.. but I checked some other brass that I'd shot, and even some military ball, and some did it. I only noticed it because I was getting up to a max load, and was looking pretty hard for pressure signs. When I find a manual, I'll tear it down and clean it up.
Thanks!

 

[H Richard]

I keep a pkg of Pipe Cleaners around for cleaning out firing pin openings. A little gun scrubber or similar cleaner shot down there then scrub it out with the pipe cleaner.

 

[2hawk]

Could be a weak firing pin spring.The pin is not returning before the case is starting to be ejected and dragging on the primer.

I think Iggy nailed it. As suggested, clean up the firing pin channel and get a new spring, and additionally I would get a new recoil spring as well. I think the Wolff spring kits include a new FP spring when you buy a recoil spring.

Good to give semi autos a good cleaning and new springs once in awhile anyway, I'd bet yours is due.

 

[Rule3]

Oh just start ripping into her and you'll figure it out! But do it under a blanket, those springs are way too frisky and hard to chase down...

Seriously, Author Jerry Kuhnhausen "The S&W Revolver - A Shop Manual" costs less than $30. Or you can take your gun to any reputable gun shop and they'll charge you about $30 to clean it.

Well there is this guy. I believe his name is Bubba. He has this here U tube video. It's about 20 minutes long. He has real long, dirty fingernails. A lot of smoke in the air as he is smoking while he talks about his gun. Does a lot of racking of the slide and how he came to own such a fine SW pistol.

Of course you get to met the dog and his Wife stops in. Phone rings a few times so he has to answer. Adjusted the camera a lot. Hard to see as he is a dark basement or something. Pretty cluttered bench, think he might have Stanley screwdrivers.

Anyway, about the last few minutes he shows how the gun is empty and proceeds to take out the firing pin and spring. Of course the spring goes flying and after he finds it it all goes back together. Great how to video and it's FREE.

 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Affirmative: Ejection process still has the pin nose dragging across the spent primer. Not a problem. I have had weapons that consistently do more of a marking than that. Be concerned when the primer face flows back around the rounded pin nose into the bolt face OR you can see bolt face mill marks on the flat area of the primer. (TOO HOT!)

That's why I had a 10X magnifier looking at the primer. I've checked back through my fired brass, and it doesn't seem to have any pattern as far as whether it is a light, moderate, or hot load. I'm betting that what I'm seeing is not unusual from what you guys are telling me. Once I get a manual, though, I'll tear it down and clean it up.

 

[Chuck in Indiana]

"Anyway, about the last few minutes he shows how the gun is empty and proceeds to take out the firing pin and spring. Of course the spring goes flying and after he finds it it all goes back together. Great how to video and it's FREE."

Now, we're talkin..

 

[Neumann]

How 'bout this? As the recoil begins, the firing pin may still be protruding a bit, or with an inertia f.p., reenters the strike as the slide begins to recoil. As the barrel drops to unlock, the tip of the f.p. makes that "swipe" at the edge of the strike. Again, given dependable function, not a problem you need to do anything about.

Larry

This! It is normal. My SIGs and SW 1911s do it. The firing pin protrudes due to inertia, and swipes the primer as the case is ejected, even if everything is clean and lubricated lightly.

 

[bergermeister]

My money's on; "That's just the way it is going to be"

That's why I had a 10X magnifier looking at the primer. I've checked back through my fired brass, and it doesn't seem to have any pattern as far as whether it is a light, moderate, or hot load. I'm betting that what I'm seeing is not unusual from what you guys are telling me. Once I get a manual, though, I'll tear it down and clean it up.

I'd be willing to bet that no matter what you do, there is a very high probability that with the same load/cartridge, it is going to look the same

 

[Fishslayer]

Could be a weak firing pin spring.The pin is not returning before the case is starting to be ejected and dragging on the primer.

I can't really see the case in the OP but the wiped primer Iggy mentions is VERY common in my range pickup brass. It varies in degree but my guess is that it's not a big deal. Probably half my range pickups have some wiping.