Have a Kimber 84M in 308 that has failed to fire twice in the last 50 rounds or so. Examining the primers, the strikes look light. I have cleaned and lubed the bolt assembly and it is 70 degrees here so cold is not the factor. The primers are CCI 200's LRP and I am not experiencing any problems in the rest of my rifles with them.
When the rifle is dry fired, the firing pin does not click with authority, it sounds more like a dink.
I suspect a weak firing pin spring. If so, where is the best place to get one and can I change it out myself?

I have a friend with this problem....

You might check the firing pin protrusion just to be sure....

CCI primers are some of the harder-cupped ones, so you could give Federal a try. Make sure you don't seat the primer down too hard, as flattening them in there can shorten it just a bit and make it harder for the firing pin to reach.

You didn't say if it had issues with factory loads as well--my friend's did not. If it doesn't happen with factory loads chances are Kimber won't care (his returns to the factory and complaints went nowhere.....)

I suspect their rifles are a bit less user friendly than most. In addition, replacement springs are a factory only part and heavier ones are not stocked......

Best of luck,

Dan

Thanks Dan. I checked the FP protrusion and it was fine. Haven't shot a factory load in years but haven't had this problem with my other rifles or this one before with this same batch of primers.
Scoured the net and couldn't find any so I called the factory and have a replacement on the way for less than $15.
Have never had this happen on any other rifle but I think this was the problem. We will see.

Have a new win mod 70 after a couple hundred rounds was doing the same replaced the firing pin with a heavier one all's well ...

Do you experience the same thing with factory-loaded rounds? If you do not, do you use a case gauge to check your home-loaded rounds? I've had several customers over the years that were inducing an excess-headspace issue by pushing back the case shoulder when sizing the cases, putting the primer out of reach of the firing causing ignition issues.

I know someone who had the same problem .They fixed it but never told him the cause.One misfire occurred when he was hunting a bear [the second round.]
One thing you might look for is burrs . I had a M51 Beretta and there was a burr on firing pin and firing pin hole .About every 100 rds the two burrs met and 'click' !

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
Do you experience the same thing with factory-loaded rounds? If you do not, do you use a case gauge to check your home-loaded rounds? I've had several customers over the years that were inducing an excess-headspace issue by pushing back the case shoulder when sizing the cases, putting the primer out of reach of the firing causing ignition issues.

Cases are necksized and the bolt closes with just a little resistance so I don't think it's a headspace problem. I haven't fired a factory round in many years except when required for pistol self defense quals.
I'll try sizing a little longer and see if the bolt will still close.

If you store a rifle vertically sometimes oil will run
in front of the firing pin and soften the strike.

What can I say except that it is not the experienced that buy Kimbers.

What you might try is to remove the firing pi and spring assemble and use some steel wool around a bronze brush to polish the inside of your bolt sleeve.Also degrease and brush clean your spring then use light oil.
If you can buy a heavier spring then that will solve the issue.If you cant look for a lighter firing pin or a lighter bolt shroud.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
What can I say except that it is not the experienced that buy Kimbers.

This is very helpful . The rifle has worked fine for 10 years. As to your other post, the first thing I did was degrease and relube the firing pin and bolt assembly.

Change the spring.I never had a factory rifle that this did not happen to-except my Sako and my Winchesters(although I have not used my Winchesters enough).It certainly would not happen to my Sako 75 deluxe.My Sako has the best spring mechanism I ever seen.
At least with some factory rifles you could easily buy a heavier spring.You cant do that with a CZ.

I had a Rem 700 that did that. The culprit was a slightly oversized mainspring which kinked when compressed. This caused it to drag on the inside of the bolt body.

Toomanytools was right. After I went back and looked at the misfires, it turned out that they occurred on new brass. Evidently these were made slightly undersized and caused shells to move forward enough to cause misfires. The primer strikes on the once fired and necksized shells were fine although still fairly light. Since I already have a replacement spring on the way I will install that and see what that does. For the record, I have never had a problem with new brass before.

Very good ! That's the way , throw out all the assumptions and start from square 1 !!

quote:

Originally posted by Blacktailer:
Toomanytools was right. After I went back and looked at the misfires, it turned out that they occurred on new brass. Evidently these were made slightly undersized and caused shells to move forward enough to cause misfires. The primer strikes on the once fired and necksized shells were fine although still fairly light. Since I already have a replacement spring on the way I will install that and see what that does. For the record, I have never had a problem with new brass before.

You dont have a problem with the brass you have a problem with your striker spring.

Good man (Blacktailer, not you, George.)

Wolf makes a 40 # replacement spring, factory 37# is claimed. I have had the same thing happen with my two Kimbers, just have to be carefull with sizing for mine. Love the rifles though, accurate as hell.

I have had the same problem with Kimbers. I lengthened the firing to the max of the spec. and it didn't help. The stronger spring may work. I couldn't trust them any more so I now own other brands that have never had this problem. It just made me to uncomfortable to hunt with them, especially the .375 H&H.......Tom

Common problem with earlier Kimbers both 84 and 8400. I replace the firing pin springs with stronger Wolfe ones I believe for the Sako finbear. Not in the shop at the moment but blieve that is the Model you will require.