Light strikes with P1914

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
I had my P1914 converted with a "speedlock" kit to cock on opening. Got light strikes which would fire new ammo but not surplus corrosive (about 75% would require a re-strike). I put the original bolt back in but the problem got worse: now not even a re-strike would fire corrosive ammo though new would still work.

I am not sure if I assembled the bolt incorrectly or something else is wrong. Suggestions? Anyone in Nashville with expereince in such things.

(I'd take it to a smith but the one I tried for the 1911 failed to fix it: ejection became reliable but the direction has become more consistently in-my-face, too. I might have to find a better one locally.)
 
either (1) headspace has increased to unacceptable limits [ I think there would be other signs as well] (2) surplus ammo has become increasingly insensitive due to age and/or poor storage [it usually demands a harder strike anyway] (3) firing pin protrusion is insufficient (4) striker spring is finally giving up after eighty years.
Hard to say which combination of the above.
 
I get light strikes with both firing pins. I must not have assembled the bolt right but not sure how to fix it.
 
Just thinking...P14 has a Mauser type bolt design. I have recently encountered a K98 with an identical problem. I amwondering now if my re-assembly technique was flawed...how'd I check it?
 
Oleg, were you getting light strikes before you installed the kit? There's really only one way to put the bolt back together so I doubt you did it wrong. How's the firing pin protrusion? It should be .060"-.065". Have you checked the headspace? George
 
That rifled was entirely reliable before.Maybe my ammo has grown old or been subjected to poor storage recently...but the problems seem to have started just as I replaced the kit and happen with two batches of ammo.
 
Just a thought... there is no grease inside the bolt? In cold weather grease will cause a firing pin to move in slo-mo. HTH
 
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