Failure to Fire !

[dkelly27]

I had four FTF with my CW9 today. The ammo has CCI primers. I know they are a hard primer. The gun was dirty but not as bad as it has been. I cleaned the gun when I got home so the next time I go to the range I'll try again. This is the first time it has happened.:amflag:

[Ikeo74]

It may be too much oil (or dirt/powder residue) in the striker channel. Not likely due to faulty primers.

[Bobshouse]

Might want to check your primer depth, has similar problems with deeply set primers before.

[OvalNut]

It may be too much oil (or dirt/powder residue) in the striker channel. Not likely due to faulty primers.

This would be my guess, as it happened to me with my PM9. I had been overly generous with Rand CLP while cleaning and lubing, then one day I went to the range and pulled my 7+1 carry loaded PM9 out of the holster, pointed it at the target and pulled the trigger. Click. Racked the slide to eject the round and load a fresh one then pulled the trigger. Click. Very bad, as I had been carrying it like that for over a week.

I cleared the gun and brought it to the gunsmith at the range. He took one look at it, pulled the slide off, and showed me how gunked up the striker channel was. He dropped the slide into an ultrasonic cleaner, brought it back out and lightly lubed it just at the contact points. It's worked like a charm since then. Now, other than the more modest correct lubrication, I also shoot some non-chlorinated brake cleaner into the striker channel every other time or so I clean it, then lube.

If you don't have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, or don't want to disassemble the slide to clean out the gunk, the non-chlorinated brake cleaner by itself should clean out the striker channel fine by itself. Then lube, lightly. Lesson learned.


Tim

[CJB]

I had four FTF with my CW9 today. The ammo has CCI primers. I know they are a hard primer. The gun was dirty but not as bad as it has been. I cleaned the gun when I got home so the next time I go to the range I'll try again. This is the first time it has happened.:amflag:

Just what ammo are you shooting? All sorts of stuff can cause FTFire

[dkelly27]

Thanks for the responses guys. I shoot my own reloads so I figured it might be something I did.

[Ikeo74]

Thanks for the responses guys. I shoot my own reloads so I figured it might be something I did.
Primers might not be set deep enough. I have never heard of setting them "too deep". Make sure they are seated all the way down.
I have been reloading 40 years, never set one too deep.

[kwh]

If all else fails, would not hurt to try a new recoil spring. Old spring might not hold in battery tight enough.
Seemed to work for my 40 S&W Shield. Had primer strikes w/o ignition on different primers, different manufacturers of practice ammo. Seemed to be at random. Firing pin O.K. Striker channel was slick and clean. Previous 600 rounds with 0 problems.

[marshal kane]

Only had fail to fires with reloads once with a SIG P228 and it was due to not seating the primers to the bottom of the primer pockets. A second pull of the trigger fired all of the rounds. Glad this happened during a range session and not during a life/death situation. Adjusted the primer seating station on my progressive reloader and it's never happened again. When seating primers, make sure you feel the primers "bottom" in the primer pockets.

[CPTKILLER]

I used a Lee hand primer instead of a press with extremely reliable results.

http://leeprecision.com/new-auto-prime.html

An update of the one I used. The feel for primer depth is critical.

[dkelly27]

Happening again. changed the recoil spring and shot about 180 with no problem. went to the range today and had half a dozen ftf. what to do next? can't get the cover off the back of the slide no matter what I do. I do live next to Lake Ontario so I could throw it there. maybe i'll trade it for a hammer fired gun. what the h..l.

[Bawanna]

The little hole in the back plate is deceiving, it's really smaller than it looks. I use a tiny jewelers screw driver.
It also sometimes take a bit of gentle prying if it never been off before.

Be sure to use a Ripley Retractor to control the striker spring. I worked on 3 this week and lost the guide and spring twice.
Fortunately I found them easily.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?197-How-To-quot-Detail-Strip-quot-the-Kahr-s-Upper!&highlight=Ripley+Retractor
This thread discus's clearly the slide takedown including the Ripley Retractor.

I use a coat hanger. I know a paper clip is not durable enough. Any heavy stiff wire will work.

Working inside a large freezer bag is a good thing too. I started to do that but got frustrated and ditched the bag.

[Bobshouse]

I started to do that but got frustrated and ditched the bag.

I've felt that way before, but you need to learn patience. They are nice to have around if you need them.:rolleyes:

[yqtszhj]

Pic of Ripley Retractor with a "handle".

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o706/yqtszhj/IMG_20150516_091116177_zpsvdxm7ryx.jpg

[Bawanna]

Nice touch, love the handle. You got a patent on that, I might have to make me another one. Maybe I'll cover it in Coco Bolo.

[yqtszhj]

Coco Bolo? Show off. Actually if I remember right I think I got in trouble when I made that. I think I cut one of the wifes hanging baskets or something to get that piece of wire.

That should teach her to leave her stuff in my garage .

[desmobob]

I used a Lee hand primer instead of a press with extremely reliable results... ...The feel for primer depth is critical.

+1

The only FTF issues I've ever had came from improper primer seating using a progressive press (in my case, shotgun primers in loads used in a finicky SxS 20ga.). I really like the extra "feel" you get when priming with a hand prime tool. They're plenty fast, also.

I also feel like it's safer to use a hand prime tool. I think most everyone who has used a progressive press has seen a primer or two that was inserted sideways and was crushed into a primer pocket. That always made me a little uneasy...

Tight groups,
Bob

[Bawanna]

I always liked the hand priming tool also. It allowed me to look at each primer pocket to ensure it was clean and clear.
The feel was the big plus and you could pull it out and look, if it looked high you could just put it back in and hit a little more.
The progressive eliminates that option.

I concur with the not really being on top of the priming. But the progressive is so much faster overall.

I've thought of just eliminating the prime station and just hand prime but haven't tried it yet.

I only load 45 on the progressive and used to on the 12 gauge. Haven't loaded shotgun in many years. Probably should sell those press's. Everything else is a single stage and hand priming.

[dkelly27]

I use a hand primer and I use a single stage press. I'm at a loss as to why it's happening. I had around 1500 rounds through the gun before the FTF. Almost 200 since I changed the recoil spring and now I'm having more FTFs. Swearing doesn't seem to help. No problems with factory ammo.

[Bawanna]

Are the primers old or something. Maybe some got contaminated.