Light primer strikes with 329pd

[dla]

My brand new 329pd fired 14 times and then went into "light strike mode", and subsequent restrikes in SA mode would not fire the cartridges. The ammo was CCI Blazer 240gr JHP which Chrony'd at 975fps. The revolver uses a frame mounted firing pin. As near as I could measure, the firing pin only extended 0.030" with the hammer fully down. When I examined the crime lab case they ship with the pistol, it appeared to have a light strike as well. I checked the main spring strain screw, and it had backed out about 1/2 turn, but still no "BOOM". So back to S&W it went. I'll see it again eventually. Nice revolver for the 14 rounds

It's already headed back for warranty work, and S&W is very nice about it, but do you have any ideas on what the problem might be?

[JoeG52]

The first thing I do with a new S&W revolver is replace the (short) standard firing pin with one of these...
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=926136
It is very easy to do and I have never had a problem after putting one of these in.

[dla]

The first thing I do with a new S&W revolver is replace the (short) standard firing pin with one of these...
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=926136
It is very easy to do and I have never had a problem after putting one of these in.

Thanks - if S&W doesn't change the firing pin then I will do it myself. Seems strange to me: when my Kimber burped a part, Kimber mailed it to me and I installed it myself. I wonder why S&W doesn't just do that and save some money?

[dla]

I wonder how long S&W usually takes with something like this.

[P.A. Myers]

I had to have a 617 retimed, it took about 3 weeks. That includes a round trip coast to coast.

[dla]

Just got the revolver back today - total time was 9 days. They replace the firing pin because of the light primer strikes. They replaced the hammer to clean up the double-action trigger pull. And they touched up the frame to cover up a nick. I'm pleased with the speed of the service. I'll find out in a day or two if they fixed the light primer strike problem. The new firing pin looks physically larger in diameter.

[dla]

I'm happy. I put 100rnds through it and it always went BANG. The new firing pin is larger diameter and the firing pin indents are significant  - no doubt the primer got whacked. S&W also smoothed up and lightened both the SA and DA trigger action - very nice of them to do that as I didn't request it (I hinted a little). At the advice of many others, I put the X-Frame Hogue on immediately, so the 100 rounds was not a life-altering event   But the Hogue does increase the reach to the trigger - not a good solution for folks with smallish hands. I've never fired a round with the pretty wood grips, nor do I intend to. I'm presently working up loads trying to hit the 240gr XTP @1300fps mark and/or 255gr CP @1200fps - neither are easy from a 4" barrel. Neither are probably necessary either, but it is part of the learning process.

I picked up some surprisingly nice nylong holsters from a Colorado company called AMS. The top-flap holster is perfect for keeping crud out when I'm crawling through the brush, and it wont turn green/white from fungus. I bought 3 different holsters and spent a total of $50. Not "Made in China" doo-doo, rather they are well made.

[Lloyd Smale]

personaly i would trust my life to cci ammo or reloads with there primers. there cups are harder then anyone elses and they can be unreliable in DA mode.

[dla]

personaly i would trust my life to cci ammo or reloads with there primers. there cups are harder then anyone elses and they can be unreliable in DA mode.

Not sure what you mean. Are you saying that S&W's are so wimpy that they can't ignite CCI primers?

[Lloyd Smale]

im saying any double action gun has a lighter primer strike in double action then it does in single action and this is doubly true if you try to get a double action trigger pull down to where it is shootable. If im using a da gun to protect myself i want it to be a 100 percent reliable and federal primers will go off even with a lighter primer strike. rugers are just as suseptable to this as smith and wessons. Ive yet to see any da gun that i would bet my life would shoot a 1000 cci primed rounds off in a row without a misfire let alone one that has had an action job. I may be anal but even my semi autos i use for ccw or self defense are primed with federal primers or use fed ammo. Ive seen cold weather and gunk from a dirty gun slow the primer strike of them enough to cause a misfire too.