NorthIDIndependent
New member
I have a 90s J-frame 60-9 (I believe) which has reliably fired upwards of 2,500 rounds (estimate) It was passed down to me with approximately 1000 rounds of factory ammo fired with no mention of FTFs light hammer strikes or reliability issues of any kind. In the past two years I've fired slightly over a 1000 rounds of handloads Primed with CCI small pistol primers, And I haven't experienced any light hammer strikes. Ive used a handful of small rifle primers (Estimated 15 or so) when I ran out of SPP, Also with no FTFs but 15 is a far to small sample size to be suggestive of reliability.
The powder I primarily use in my loads Is Hs-6 at +p and magnum pressures (along with bullseye and trail boss for occasional light loads) .
Hs-6 Is known for performing best at pressures above standard and performs more consistently with a magnum primer.
Because of this I recently bought a 100 pack of CCI 550 Magnum small pistol primers, and yes, the powder seems to ignite and burn more consistently, Im very happy with that.
However, I experienced two FTF out of those 100 primers, Thats two TOO MANY. IMO. Both rounds FTF on different range trips, not back to back. And both rounds fired fine when struck a second time. Some basic observation of the primer lead me to believe the FTF was due to a light hammer strike.
Im aware the primers have a harder "cup" or "shell" so I went out and bought 100 pack of Winchester Magnum small pistol primers after hearing they are a bit softer than the 550s (not sure if thats really true) And In those 100 primers I experienced another two FTF, again, Not back to back. Again, both rounds fired on a second attempt.
Im sure the amount of FTF (2) with each primer type is purely coincidental.
So, naturally, I have a bunch of questions about the potential source of the issue. Im hoping someone more experienced can help me find answers.
Is it possible my firing pin is worn after thousands of round of use? Im assuming the only way that could be the cause is because of some hot loads I have put through it or even the few Hard SR primers ive put through it.
Could it be that my Hammer spring is worn just enough to start showing light strikes with harder than normal primers? (That would be understandable and a relatively easy fix assuming I could just buy a stock replacement spring)
Should I abandon the harder primers? I dont like that idea because im afraid is doesn't address the core issue of my hammer potentially striking light.
I should mention 500 round ago or so I bopped off the side plate and gave it a cleaning (it wasn't all that dirty) so i dont imagine its any dirtier in there now than it was then.
Could it be an error in my loading technique, I dont use tweezers to handle my primers like my grandfather always did, is it finally coming back to bite my backend?
Let me know if i should move this post to Handloading forum.
The powder I primarily use in my loads Is Hs-6 at +p and magnum pressures (along with bullseye and trail boss for occasional light loads) .
Hs-6 Is known for performing best at pressures above standard and performs more consistently with a magnum primer.
Because of this I recently bought a 100 pack of CCI 550 Magnum small pistol primers, and yes, the powder seems to ignite and burn more consistently, Im very happy with that.
However, I experienced two FTF out of those 100 primers, Thats two TOO MANY. IMO. Both rounds FTF on different range trips, not back to back. And both rounds fired fine when struck a second time. Some basic observation of the primer lead me to believe the FTF was due to a light hammer strike.
Im aware the primers have a harder "cup" or "shell" so I went out and bought 100 pack of Winchester Magnum small pistol primers after hearing they are a bit softer than the 550s (not sure if thats really true) And In those 100 primers I experienced another two FTF, again, Not back to back. Again, both rounds fired on a second attempt.
Im sure the amount of FTF (2) with each primer type is purely coincidental.
So, naturally, I have a bunch of questions about the potential source of the issue. Im hoping someone more experienced can help me find answers.
Is it possible my firing pin is worn after thousands of round of use? Im assuming the only way that could be the cause is because of some hot loads I have put through it or even the few Hard SR primers ive put through it.
Could it be that my Hammer spring is worn just enough to start showing light strikes with harder than normal primers? (That would be understandable and a relatively easy fix assuming I could just buy a stock replacement spring)
Should I abandon the harder primers? I dont like that idea because im afraid is doesn't address the core issue of my hammer potentially striking light.
I should mention 500 round ago or so I bopped off the side plate and gave it a cleaning (it wasn't all that dirty) so i dont imagine its any dirtier in there now than it was then.
Could it be an error in my loading technique, I dont use tweezers to handle my primers like my grandfather always did, is it finally coming back to bite my backend?
Let me know if i should move this post to Handloading forum.
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