light primer strikes.. new guy

**Grumpyoldguy** · 01-23-2023, 12:38 AM

Hey barrel nut guys. I picked up a model 111 in 338 Win mag. used but not fired. I liked it because it had a crazy looking muzzle break. [ JP eliminator] like a tank muzzle. I had 2 other savages before but they had issues so i sold em. THis one i would like to keep for a while if i can work out the kinks. I have been reloading for 41 years now, so i know a few tricks... I think the gun is only a few years old. First time out had a lot of misfires. I tightened the back allen nut up and next time only had one misfire out of thirty. The pin protrusion is .48 to .52 i believe. I took bolt apart and its got a sleeve behind the firing pin that holds the cocking pin. no other springs. behind the firing pin. The spring measures 2.6 compressed as it is. While i had firing pin out i checked my brass. full length and necked sized. Head spacing looks fine..with both brass. What do you think?? I may not have any misfires with the neck sized brass. pin looks adjustable so i could let it out like 0.005 more protrusion?? or weak spring??? maybe?? i shoot steel from 400 to 1000 with my 708 varmint special, but hard to see steel move and no one is allowed downrange. So thats why i picked this 338 win mag up. Thanks Guys

**Dave Hoback** · 01-23-2023, 03:53 AM

I don’t understand.. In your first line you said you bought a Savage 111 in 338 WinMag that is “used but not fired”. But then go on to say “first time out had a lot of misfires”.

So number one, which story is it? Number two, don’t add more pin protrusion. It’s already too much. Should be about .035” or so.

**prdatr** · 01-23-2023, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Dave Hoback

I don’t understand.. In your first line you said you bought a Savage 111 in 338 WinMag that is “used but not fired”. But then go on to say “first time out had a lot of misfires”.

So number one, which story is it? Number two, don’t add more pin protrusion. It’s already too much. Should be about .035” or so.

Sounds like the gun had a previous owner who never fired it.

**Blue Avenger** · 01-23-2023, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by prdatr

Sounds like the gun had a previous owner who never fired it.

Or it never fired and he sold it.

Is that a factory brake or someone paid to change it and then claimed they never shot it?

If the trigger is adj wrong, it can cause drag on the firing pin during release and slow its travel speed.

**Dave Hoback** · 01-23-2023, 10:31 AM

It doesn’t matter what happened to someone else, and there is no point in speculation. The OP needs to shoot the rifle himself before anything. Never change things based on hearsay & speculation. Shoot the firearm first & go from there.

**charlie b** · 01-23-2023, 10:45 AM

OP stated that the last time he had it out it misfired once in 30 rounds.

What primers?

A little story. My Axis has around 5000 rounds on it now. >4000 with the original .223 barrel and another 1000 with the .308 barrel from my 12BVSS (and a used replacement bolt head). Never had any misfires. Used Remington 7 1/2BR primers in the .223. The .308 has used CCI BR-4, CCI std, Fed Match and now Win.

Since changing to the Win primers (only 300 rounds) I have had at least 10 failures to fire on the first strike. Recock and it fires on the second strike. Happens at least once every 50 rounds (yesterday, it happened twice). The brass is neck size only (Lee collet die).

Next time out will go back to the match primers to see if that is the difference.

I had heard that Win primers had harder cups, like the CCI military primers. Not sure if that is just a rumor or not. I do know that Win primers are a little hotter in order to more reliably ignite the Win ball powders.

**Blue Avenger** · 01-23-2023, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Grumpyoldguy

Hey barrel nut guys .First time out had a lot of misfires. I tightened the back Allen nut up and next time only had one misfire out of thirty.

Originally Posted by Dave Hoback

Guys. He hasn’t even shot the rifle yet.

But he has Dave! And if the screw was loose, someone has been in there! That's why were questioning the as new unfired condition.

**charlie b** · 01-23-2023, 03:28 PM

"...First time out had a lot of misfires. I tightened the back allen nut up and next time only had one misfire out of thirty...."

**Dave Hoback** · 01-23-2023, 07:00 PM

Ahh, yes, I see now. My apologies. (Because I can actually admit a mistake

). I misunderstood his initial comment. And he’s not been back as of yet.

I agree with Charlie… OAL in itself won’t cause it, only too much shoulder set back. We don’t know anything about the loads being used, but the OP did comment of his 41yrs of reloading… (that’s like over 287 Dog years!)

So doubt it’s that.

What does the firing pin look like? Good radius? Again, don’t add more pin protrusion, rather take some out… bring it to around the .035” mark & check the pin fall. Adequate? When dry firing, does the striker pin make a quite pronounced actuation “thunk”, or does it sound muffled? Like it’s not very a very powerful strike movement.

**Nor Cal Mikie** · 01-23-2023, 07:10 PM

(OAL not the issue, but, too much shoulder set back in sizing could be)
Should have said the OAL of the CASE!! (Duh) Comes down to "brass headspace" issue NOT the chamber.

**Robinhood** · 01-23-2023, 09:56 PM

If you have not cleaned the inside of the bolt, clean it and leave it dry when you assemble it..see if that helps. Sometimes lubricant can evaporate and slow things down. Also when you say misfire, are you describing failure to fire(FTF)? Is the primer dented on the FTF or not? If not it is the accutrigger and you might need to increase the trigger return spring preload.