misfires with Airweight

B

billtheshrink

New member
Not sure if this should be here on in reloading forum. I use cci and winshester primers. FRather frequently i have 'clicks' and so i cycle through the cylnder and usually the secnd time it goes bang. Is it a priomer problem or a s[ring issue? Its a 5 shot S-W airweight. Your thoughts?
Bill
 
Is this a new or used firearm?

May need to check that someone has "lighten" the mainspring???

How does do with factory rounds???

Are primers seated in pocket?

Are the primer PISTOL and not RIFLE, the rifle are harder material for higher pressure.
 
+1 jrothWA, particularly the mainspring comment. Newer J frames typically do not respond well to attempts to lighten the trigger pull with an aftermarket mainspring or shortened factory spring. Light strikes usually result.

The problem could also be caused by a worn or "monkeyed" firing pin. IMHO this is somewhat unlikely, but it wouldn't hurt to check it for obvious damage and/or file marks.

FWIW some aftermarket companies sell extended-length firing pins to help solve light strikes on newer S&Ws with floating firing pins, but these parts are generally intended for competition guns that have had the springs lightened purposefully, and may cause pierced primers when used in conjunction with the factory springs; you trade one problem for another. :(
 
Buy a box of factory ammunition and use it in your weapon. If all 50 rounds fire off o.k. then its your reloads. Probably the primers are not being pushed all the way down. Clean the pocket before installing the primers.
 
Does the airweight have a strain screw in the frame like the larger models? If it does, check that it is correctly set, as this tensions the mainspring, and if backed out too much might be the cause of your misfires.
 
Most J-frames don't respond well to lighter mainsprings. They have a coil spring setup unlike the K,L, or N-frame guns.

If factory ammo has misfires, you might want to consider having the end-shake checked.

My Model 38 airweight came with a really decent trigger, but I realize some are heavier.
 
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mmm

I used faxctory ammo to qualify for ccw and no misfires. I have not really checked the hole for primers..the brass is all once fired . The weapon is OLDER (like me) maybe 40 years old... I am not much of a wheel man guy, shlould i take it to the gunsmith?
Thanks guys
 
I would fire a couple of boxes of factory ammo before I spent the money to send it anywhere due to the cost of shipping.

If it fires a couple of boxes of factory OK, then review your reloading practices.

Jerry
 
So factory ammo fires, but

reloads don't.

Sounds like reloads may have a soft-seated primer, and the force of the hammer is seating the primer but wastes the majority of energy, with the primer not firing.

Did you do the reloading? Are you cleaning the residue of the previous primer
from the pocket before seating a new primer? Are the cases made with a primer crimp that not completely removed, that will prevent seating.

Recheck your procedure.
 
Call S&W...the guy on the other end of the phone has always been experienced in my experience. Smith has fixed two of my J frames in the last year at their expense...one was new the other I bought new in '73!. Their warranty is 2nd to none...and I had the guns back in my hands in one week flat...they even paid for the shipping. Rod
 
I'll second the recommendation to try factory ammo and see if the problem persists. Specifically, try Winchester and CCI/Speer ammo as they're loaded with the same primers you're using for your reloads (Federal primers are known to be "softer" and thus easier to ignite but I'm not sure about Remington). If the problem disappears with factory ammo, I'd say your issue is either dirty primer pockets in your brass or that you're not seating your primers deeply enough.
 
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