SR9c Light Primer Strikes.

[Stallard]

I have had my SR9c for almost a year and have roughly 2000 rounds through it. It has performed great and I shoot it very well.

Just recently I started having some light primer strikes. I instantly went to the pencil test to check the firing pin. At first I got nothing but soon realized that the loaded chamber indicator was getting in the way. After putting a zip tie between it and the slide to keep it out of the way I could finally feel the firing pin.

I say feel because it was not near enough to shoot the pencil out of the barrel, all the other gun I have tested would shoot it out of the barrel with the 1911's shooting it half way across the room.

After cleaning the firing pin and channel it made no difference. While looking it over I noticed the blue was worn off the magazines where the mag safety rides. Thought maybe the mags were getting worn. I bought a new mag and the same thing. Finally I removed the mag safety and now it will shoot the pencil out, not hard but much better.

After a trip to the range no light strikes but I worry about carrying a gun that has a safety removed, not much for safety reasons but for legal reasons.

Have others had this problem? and if they did what solved it?


Thanks
Stallard

 

[axisofoil]

Contact ruger? Might solve your issue.

 

[tcanthonyii]

I doubt you'll have any legal issues by pulling the mag safety out. Did you hold the LCI way up? I didn't hold it all the way up and I shot barley out of the barrel. I then held it all they way out and the pen flew across the room twice.

Either way I'd call Ruger. they may just send you a new mag disco and not have to send in your gun. You never know if something else is wrong with it.

 

[Yawn]

I have heard one or two others mention some light strike issues around the same round count as you. I think it was about 2 or 3 weeks back. Hope you get it worked out!

 

[Verndog]

...Just recently I started having some light primer strikes.

How many have you had and what is the ammo being used? I had 2 at about round #700 and I had the range owner look at the rounds and the primer strike was the same depth as the spent rounds. This was with WWB ammo, and since I have changed to Federal American Eagle with zero failures at over 1100 rounds now. Many of those that have had issues have noted it was WWB ammo, and it's believed there are some hard primer issues with WWB.

 

[Heliman]

My SR9c also has occasional light primer strikes. I cleaned the gun really well after the problem begain. It was good after that for about 100 rds, then the problem returned. Ammo choice didn't seem matter. I haven't had the gun out for several months, but intend on getting to the bottom of this when time permits. Until the problem is resolved, I will not trust it for personal defense. To be continued.............. :?

Dave

 

[buckshotshorty]

I had consistent light strikes with ammo I reloaded using Wolf primers, and a few using WW Primers. The Wolf primers were extremely hard, and it turned out that the Wolf primers gave me some light strikes even with my Glocks. They fired perfectly in my hammer fired guns, but not in my striker fired guns.

I did the pencil test using my Glocks and my hammer fired guns (Striker vs. hammer). Without a doubt the hammer fired guns sent the pencil for a ride, whereas the striker fired guns sent the pencil up only a few inches, and not out of the gun.

Anyway, I spoke to Ruger, and the tech said the gun should fire with any ammo. So, I sent it back on their dime, and they replaced the striker assembly. She said that they have added a stronger striker spring, since mine was a very early model. It did change the trigger a bit, and it is no longer so hairy, but rather more Glock like. I have reserved my Wolf primers for those guns that are hammer fired. I have had no further light strikes with any other ammo.

BTW Wolf acknowledged a problem, and reimbursed me the cost of the primers.

 

[vacextar]

Finally I removed the mag safety and now it will shoot the pencil out, not hard but much better.

After a trip to the range no light strikes.................

Thanks
Stallard

Hmmmm.....seems we had a bit of a debate a few weeks ago about what I perceived as a POOR DESIGN of the mag safety.

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=103003&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

I rest my case....

 

[Sal1950]

If your comfortable doing this, it's very easy. Take the striker out and drive the pin out that holds the assembly together. Measure the length the striker spring, if it's the early one that is about 1.5" long, and I'm betting it is, you then have two choices.
Send the gun back to Ruger for repair.
Or call Ruger and ask them to send you the current spring, which measures about 1.620 long.
Trigger pull will go up a bit but you won't have any more issues with light strikes..
Sal

 

[Yawn]

Sal... excellent post and advice

Vace - ha ha, you have serious issues, and have still missed everything that we were saying!!! But God Bless You man!!!!

 

[Stallard]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I have had a total of 3 light strikes, 1 federal FMJ and 2 reloads with Remington primers. All fired with a second strike.

Taking Sal's advice I removed FP spring and it seems to be the old/short tube. I will try to get the time today to contact Ruger.

I never have liked mag safeties and this is not making me like them more. Just kind of seems like a weak design. Most only get pressed/ worn once per mag change but with this design it gets it every round.

Re-installed the safety last night to do more testing, both mags do it equally. And both have some wear where the safety rides.

Looks like with a round grinding bit in a dremel I could give the safety a little more clearance. I would want a spare to work on first though.
Sorry just thinking out loud.

 

[Sal1950]

While you have the striker out, polish the outside bearing surfaces like chrome, this will make some minor improvements in a couple areas.

I also used a stone to remove all the high casting marks on the inside U channel area of the mag safety. I didn't see or feel any evidence of it rubbing the striker when it was in the retracted position (mag installed) but did this as a "just in case" anyway.

Some folks seem to want to point at the mag safety as a source of any number of problems, 95% of which it has no effect on what so ever.
Cheers,
Sal

 

[fixer]

My SR9 had terrible light strikes out of the box. Ruger replaced the striker and it has been great through 850-900 rds.

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm in the 2-3k round ballpark and had several light strikes yesterday. WWB, I usually get the 250 pack Remingtons.
Never a problem before. I'll clean tonight and try again with different ammo.

 

[Sonnytoo]

You might wish to do a Search on my username and codeword light primer hits. I went through this last summer and fall. I have many posts, and several threads, in SemiAuto section, on this subject. Also sent light-hit brass to Winchester/Olin and got back letter (posted portion of it) saying that it is the gun and NOT the WWB ammo.
On 2nd Service call, they changed my striker system, which basically included a longer striker spring which maintains a postive pressure on the striker at all positions of the striker, even when at rest. This cured the problem.
Ruger Service is excellent. They are used to this. Give them a call.
Sonnytoo

 

[Stallard]

Update,

Sent the gun to Ruger, fast turn around and the gun seems fixed. Have not fired yet but now it throws that pencil across the room.

Looks like they replaced the striker and spring. Very happy with Ruger CS but still not impressed with this mag safety design. Seems like over time it will wear the magazines enough to cause problems.

 

[Verndog]

Update,

Sent the gun to Ruger, fast turn around and the gun seems fixed. Have not fired yet but now it throws that pencil across the room.

Looks like they replaced the striker and spring. Very happy with Ruger CS but still not impressed with this mag safety design. Seems like over time it will wear the magazines enough to cause problems.

Hope that does it for you. On this pencil test, do you put the eraser end toward the firing pin?

 

[Stallard]

Update,

Sent the gun to Ruger, fast turn around and the gun seems fixed. Have not fired yet but now it throws that pencil across the room.

Looks like they replaced the striker and spring. Very happy with Ruger CS but still not impressed with this mag safety design. Seems like over time it will wear the magazines enough to cause problems.

Hope that does it for you. On this pencil test, do you put the eraser end toward the firing pin?

Yes and I use a pencil with a new eraser but at first the strikes were so soft I had to use the wood end just to see it move at all.