Firing Pin not hitting hard enough???

[jj141979]

Hi how are you guys, this is a great forum, I do alot more reading than ask questions. But I have a question. I have a VZ 23 Mauser in 30-06, it always shot really good until lately. I do reload, and I found a load that worked very good. Awhile ago it mis fired for the first time, and it kept doing it for at least a couple of shooting sessions, I took the bolt apart and cleaned the firing pin and spring really good. Now it will shoot 5 shots very good but the next 5 are terrible, this is also with factory ammo. It will not consistently shoot good anymore. Can my firing pin and/or spring be the problem?? Please help me!!! THANKS!!!!

[Luckyducker]

When a firearm of mine starts to suddenly not function properly I just think about anything that I have done to it, such as install new scope mounts or remove the stock and reinstall it, etc.   Is the bolt camming all the way over?  If not, sometimes this can cause the firing system to bind up and not release the firing pin freely when the trigger is depressed.  This is usually caused by something in the action such as a too long scope mount screw protruding into the path of the bolt.  I am just throwing some things out to consider, it also could be a firing pin spring that has lost proper tension but I doubt this is the reason for the sudden malfunction, because I would think for this to happen the gun would probably had to have been stored for a very long time in the cocked and ready position that will sometimes lead to lazy spring.  Have you inspected the striking end of the firing pin to see if perhaps it could be broken off and therefore not reaching the priming cap fully?   I hope you or someone can find the cause of this.

[MnMike]

When you say it will shoot 5 rounds OK, then the next 5 are terrible, what do you mean by terrible? They are inaccurate? They don't fire in the first trigger pull? ( if so do they fire on the second?) They make funny noises (joke)? We could use a little more information.

thanks,

mike

[jj141979]

It will fire 5 shots accurately than 5 shots inaccurately. This is the same load! The firing pin looks to me that it is rounded, I am not sure if it really is or not but to me it looks a little rounded?

[Luckyducker]

OKay, is the mis-firing fixed by the bolt clean-up?  Now the problem is with inconsistent accuracy, right?  If so, then I have to wonder if you are letting the barrel cool enough between five shot groups.  Is this rifle fiberglass bedded to the end of the forestock?  A lot of people think that bedding the action and barrel to the end of the stock makes them resistant to inaccuracy because of heat-up, but the exact opposite is true most of the time with a sporter weight barrel.  I have a M77 Ruger tang safety chambered in 25/06 with Accraglass from action to end of stock that will clover leaf four shots at 100 yds but starts to warm up for the fifth shot and the fifth will be out about an inch or more and after that they stray all over the target unless the barrel is allowed to cool.  This is alright for a hunting rifle because extended shooting is almost nonexistant for this use.  Also, the rounded firing pin sounds okay.  That wouldn't account for poor accuracy.

[davem270win]

Since this is a handloading forum, I assume you reload. Have you changed anything in your reloading process? New brand or lot of primers? New priming tool? Different brass? Have you checked your primer seating? Did you spill or spray something on your primers? Are you sizing cases differently? Are your primer pockets clean?

Do you get misfires with factory ammo? If no, then it's your reloads and not the gun.

[Lloyd Smale]

 a week firing pin strike can effect accuracy. What id do first is clean your bolt again real well paying attention to see if there are any burs anywhere and then id get a new firing pin spring and possibly a new firing pin. Its cheap insurance.