SA RO compact 9mm issue

546 Views 18 Replies 5 Participants Last post by IraG2362, 4 mo ago

IraG2362

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

I picked up a SA 9mm compact a few weeks ago (used). And the gun is very accurate but I was having light strikes and I chalked it up to the Sterling ammo of which I had issues with a few times before.
Next range trip , better ammo same issue. I added an extra power main spring , got rid of the Titanium firing pin and added a EGW with a new standard spring. Cleaned out the pin channel and changed out the sear and hammer. Today after charging the slide , it fired but after pulling the trigger again nothing. I cocked the hammer back and it fired and then fired 2 more rounds then light strike. Rinse and repeat a few more mags. Same results.
Anyone use Wolff extra power firing pin springs? That is my next step unless anyone has any other ideas. I am sure I am close to trouble shooting and yes I know I can send it to SA but I am stubborn and am learning more by doing this.

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Shorikid

· #2 · 5 mo ago

Have you done a pencil test to see what sort of power you are getting from the hammer?

Now here is an odd one I had to sort out with light strikes on a pistol I built.
Hammer strut was rubbing the grip safety slightly, just enough to slow the hammer and cause intermittent light strikes. Had to contour the strut and the issue went away.

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IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #3 · 5 mo ago

No test yet, where did you contour the strut? I changed the strut today before the range with same results. I did just order an xx power pin spring and a 23lb main spring from Wolff which was recommended in a past thread I found.

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Shorikid

· #4 · 5 mo ago

The arch of the strut where it rides inside the grip safety. Sharpied it up and gave it several cycles to see where it was contacting. Kept the shape, just had to thin out the strut where it made contact.

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IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #5 · 5 mo ago

I will try that tomorrow

Shorikid

· #6 · 5 mo ago

IraG2362 said:
No test yet, where did you contour the strut? I changed the strut today before the range with same results. I did just order an xx power pin spring and a 23lb main spring from Wolff which was recommended in a past thread I found.

Is this an older gun with SAs ILS? If so, order all the internals and a msh to go with it. The ILS mainspring housing isn't standard internally of course.

If it's not the ils set up, going to stock 23lbs is a good start. Watch your slide velocity, with 9mm it doesn't take much to mess up reliability.

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IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #7 · 5 mo ago

Already switch out the the ILS Msh which is what I originally thought was the issue and down the rabbit hole I went lol.

Rex

· #8 · 5 mo ago

I never played with 1911s that weren't 45 but don't heavy up the fp spring,counterproductive. SA has used 3 different fp, maybe the wrong got struck in it. Marker up from the hammer strut to the tip of the fp tip and snap it a few times,that will reveals the culprit if the fp spring isn't broke. New SA's aren't like the old days, the n prefix serial #s were badly spec'd out but NM prefix were much gooder. Odd chance is a burr at the fp channel at the breechface or a really loose/miscut extractor with too much chambe headspace.The latter is quite rare but has happened

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IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #9 · 5 mo ago

It extracts great, when it fires. I will definitely be checking the strut tomorrow.

jcc7x7

· #10 · 5 mo ago

Get rid of the titanium firing pin and ILS if it has on in the MSH.
Usually you can install regular top and bottom pieces and a regular main spring but the SA MSH won't be able to capture the assy.
It will work until you can source the MSH you want. (hoping you have a pin kit to pull the parts from and extra main springs in your parts kit)

The Firing Pin has to be a 9mm/38 pin for any recent Springfield.

So maybe just order a new firing pin (steel) FP spring. MSH and the rebuild kit with a 19-21 lbs MS.
In my guns 19lbs will firing off any primers and seems to go well with 9-11lbs recoil springs I run in my 9mm's
FWIW

Ed Brown page with parts you need

pin| Ed Brown Products, Inc.

www.edbrown.com

www.edbrown.com

John 177

· #11 · 5 mo ago

Thought from a newbie....I had light strikes in a 22 revolver, usually when a guest was using it. Turned out that the 22 rimfire cartridges were not being fully pushed into the cylinder chambers. Then the firing pin's energy was wasted merely pushing the cartridge fully into the chamber.

Could the chamber be tight? Causing a similar light strike?

IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #12 · 5 mo ago

jcc7x7 said:
Get rid of the titanium firing pin and ILS if it has on in the MSH.
Usually you can install regular top and bottom pieces and a regular main spring but the SA MSH won't be able to capture the assy.
It will work until you can source the MSH you want. (hoping you have a pin kit to pull the parts from and extra main springs in your parts kit)

The Firing Pin has to be a 9mm/38 pin for any recent Springfield.

So maybe just order a new firing pin (steel) FP spring. MSH and the rebuild kit with a 19-21 lbs MS.
In my guns 19lbs will firing off any primers and seems to go well with 9-11lbs recoil springs I run in my 9mm's
FWIW

Ed Brown page with parts you need

pin| Ed Brown Products, Inc.

www.edbrown.com

. You missed where I posted all have been swapped out already. But thanks.

Reactions: 1

IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #13 · 5 mo ago

John 177 said:
Thought from a newbie....I had light strikes in a 22 revolver, usually when a guest was using it. Turned out that the 22 rimfire cartridges were not being fully pushed into the cylinder chambers. Then the firing pin's energy was wasted merely pushing the cartridge fully into the chamber.

Could the chamber be tight? Causing a similar light strike?

IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #14 · 5 mo ago

Thanks for the input but it is highly unlikely.

jcc7x7

· #15 · 5 mo ago

You're correct I did not see that!

How much protrusion does the firing pin get?

IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #16 · 5 mo ago

More than enough. It was a little thick and EGW suggested I take it down, I put it in my drill press and narrowed it up to match the stock size. So it has plenty of clearance now.

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jcc7x7

· #17 · 5 mo ago (Edited)

That, was what I was wondering.
I've fitted many of mine also for the same reason.
Both EGW and other suppliers.

I use Wolff springs all the time have for as long as I can remember.
Change the FP spring when ever I change the recoil spring
I change more than necessary
When ever I go through a case of bullets (3500) I change the springs
More often if the slide gets sluggish or brass starts going more than 8-10 ft or so on ejection (9mm)

What weight main spring are you using?
What type of primers are in the loads? ( you may not know!)
? Do they go off the 2nd time they are shot/fired? If they do the loads may have high primers in them!

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jcc7x7

· #18 · 5 mo ago

MY SA Champion did the light strike thing.
Once I replaced the FP and MSH guts with a 19lbs hammer spring everything worked fine.
It throws a new pencil about 2 to 21/2 feet out of the muzzle.
Try some Blazer ammo- It's good quality but has CCI primers which are fairly hard so they are a good test.

IraG2362

Discussion Starter · #19 · 4 mo ago

Ok after trying new springs , new FP and still failing the pencil test miserably, I recalled how in my initial take down of the gun, the main spring was not captured by the MSH pin, so I removed it and bingo the pencil now exits equal to my EMPs doing the test. Now to hit the range.Pencil test

Reactions: 2

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