Light Primer Strike Ammo

[getsome]

Hello all, After reading In-Yo-Grills thread about the light strike ammo that didnt't fire I had a question...What do you do with the rounds? Are they safe to handle and try and fire again...I have never experienced this problem before and just wondered what those who have had it happen do with the ammo that didnt fire?

[Vinikahr]

Hello all, After reading In-Yo-Grills thread about the light strike ammo that didnt't fire I had a question...What do you do with the rounds? Are they safe to handle and try and fire again...I have never experienced this problem before and just wondered what those who have had it happen do with the ammo that didnt fire?

Tap and rack after 30 seconds pointed down range. You can try to re-shoot that round.

[getsome]

Yea thats what I was thinking but I sure wouldn't put them back in the box with other live ammo....It's probably a non issue but looking at a live round with a firing pin mark on the primer is a little scary to me!!!!:eek:

[ripley16]

I've experienced a number of light strikes with the CW9. I usually just recock and refire. If my memory serves...all of the light struck rounds fired after a second strike. I did eject a small number of them to see what the primer looked like. These were probably all reloaded and fired. I can't recall having to throw any away. It was a very annoying problem that not even a replaced spring could solve.

[In-Yo-Grill]

I've experienced a number of light strikes with the CW9. I usually just recock and refire. If my memory serves...all of the light struck rounds fired after a second strike. I did eject a small number of them to see what the primer looked like. These were probably all reloaded and fired. I can't recall having to throw any away. It was a very annoying problem that not even a replaced spring could solve.

So how would you go about solving this problem?

[ripley16]

So how would you go about solving this problem?

That's the $64 question. The only way a light strike can occur is if;

* The spring does not deliver enough energy. Spring making is pretty simple and the amount of energy even a light weight spring generates should be enough to ignite a primer.

* Hard primer. Not all primers are created equal, however light strikes are primarily a striker fired problem. Hit any primer hard enough it will ignite. Hitting the primer with more than enough force should be the goal of the gun maker.

* Short striker pin... I think this could be a real problem with Kahr... that is, out of spec strikers, made with a pin too short to protrude far enough to deliver that "certain or extra" energy to the primer. Just enough is not good in a pistol IMHO.

* Breech face wall too thick to allow the striker to protrude far enough for a "sure" strike.

IMHO, dirt or debris in the striker channel is a very highly overrated diagnosis for light strikes, the problem rarely fixed simply by cleaning.

The only two real, fairly cheap, and fairly simple cures, other than returning the gun, would be to replace the spring and striker.

If the Kahr design has any fault it is that the striker needs to be more of a sure thing... more energy, deeper dimple... more of one or both... or at least more consistency.

[jfrey]

I've only had 1 FTF so far with my CW9 and I fed the round to my BHP. Problem solved with that round anyway. I think most light strike problems are caused by crud in the striker channel. Clean the channel really well and maybe get a new striker spring. That should cure it. The only other problem I've have heard of with light strikes was a person was shooting reloads that were too long and not allowing the action to close completely. Once he shortened his OAL the problem went away.

[coop]

i've had about 10 light strikes after putting about 400 rounds through my cw9. makes me second thought about it going bang when I need it. I had a bunch and I stripped the upper and cleaned everything out. put it back together and have had 1 light strike in about 200 rounds. can we order a stronger firing pin spring?

if it keeps doing this i'm probably going to sell it and get a XD subcompact or glock 26. I can put 1000 rounds through my XD9 4" and not clean it and have zero problems. I would bet my life on that gun...while the kahr I second guess.

[mr surveyor]

I consider light primer strikes to be no more hazardous as dud rounds, if the shooter does as suggested and keep the muzzle pointed down range for the recommended 30 seconds (to make sure you don't have a "hang fire" caused by a fizzling primer). After re-setting the striker, or rechambering the round to get a different strike location on the primer, the round still doesn't fire, and you're sure you finally got a decent strike, you can set the round aside to neutralize it later. Either use a bullet puller, or a gloved hand to hold the casing while you twist out the bullet with pliers. Toss the powder on the grass (good fertilizer) or make a neat little pile of it and toss a match in.

I've encounteed hundreds of "duds" over the years, both handguns and rifles (particularly with .22 cal ammunition), many of which were due to commie ammo with hard primers (causing some questions about the possibility of light strikes), and always handle them as above stated. If it is in fact a light primer strike, fix it...or get it fixed. But, if there is an obvious strike, or second strike that doesn't ignite the primer, then you may possibly have to chalk it up to just another dud.

surv