[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Light Primer Strikes

Posted: 10/3/2003 11:59:39 AM EDT

I just got a Bushmaster M4. I put 20 rounds through it yesterday and had two light primer strikes. I was using Win Q3131A ammo. I've owned several AR's and never had this problem. Should I be worried? What can I do to correct this problem?

Posted: 10/3/2003 12:21:46 PM EDT

[#1]

Check for the hammer spring with a broken leg or installed backwards.

Posted: 10/3/2003 1:30:51 PM EDT

[#2]

Check firing pin protrusion.

Minimum .028 inches
Maximum .036 inches

Posted: 10/3/2003 3:06:23 PM EDT

[#3]

Also make sure the firing pin and it’s hole in the bolt are clean and lightly lubed.

Edited to add: also make sure everything else is clean and lubed. Maybe your bolt isn’t going entirely into battery, resulting in the hammer using part of it’s energy to knock the bolt fully into battery.

Posted: 10/4/2003 8:02:41 PM EDT

[#4]

Two more questions:
1. Where can I get a firing pin protrusion gage?
2. Can I swap a bolt from another rifle to see if that solves the problem or is that a no no?

Posted: 10/4/2003 8:05:43 PM EDT

[#5]

Two more questions:
1. Where can I get a firing pin protrusion gage?
2. Can I swap a bolt from another rifle to see if that solves the problem or is that a no no?

Posted: 10/4/2003 8:25:32 PM EDT

[#6]

#1 ??
#2 yes you can.

Posted: 10/4/2003 8:35:26 PM EDT

[#7]

Mil-spec hammer/springs/firing pin?

If so, then I agree with all the other recommendations.

Posted: 10/5/2003 9:19:16 PM EDT

[#8]

#1: You can get the firing pin protrusion gauge from [url=http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=432&title=TOOLS+FOR+AR-15%2fM16&s=1990#1990]Brownells[/url], it's item #21
#2: Yes

Posted: 10/7/2003 7:57:12 AM EDT

[#9]

Had the same problem....was shooting PMC and S&B ammo. The PMC shot fine, the S&B had decent primer strikes but no bang. I bent the hammer spring prongs down SLIGHTLY (about 5 degrees, 1/2" from the ends of each prong) to increase tension and that did the trick. It also solved my failure to fire problem w/ a .22 conversion bolt.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Light Primer Strikes

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Light Primer Strikes

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Light Primer Strikes