S&W 41 light primer strikes

S

StrawDog

New member
Hello

I have a very high mileage S&W 41 that has grown erratic. Shoots fine for awhile then will hardly touch the rim. Local gunsmith reamed the chamber and it ran fine for about 400 rounds and then went back to erratic hits. I don't believe the ammo is an issue because I purchase bulk quantities of CCI standard velocity. I wonder if the gun may need springs etc. When light strikes happen, the slide appears fully forward. I've dry fired it and shot it a lot with very few issues for 43 years. Mostly mag problems that I can remember.

Thanks for you ideas.
 
If you've dry fired it much, the firing pin might be peened or set back now. Have you taken it apart and examined the firing pin closely?
 
Remove the rear sight to find the release. It's not a big deal, When you get it clean and inspect the firing pin clean the channel and spring with a good solvent and never let grease or oil get to it. If the firing pin is peened it will be obvious and easy to replace. Whenever I clean my 41 one of the last things I do is squirt carburetor cleaner into the firing pin hole and blow out with my compressor. Since 1972 I have had to strip it 3 or 4 times and replace the pin once. That was pre compressor days and when I was doing a lot of dry firing without a snap cap.
 
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