RE: Cleaned the R51 firing pin channel to eliminate light primer strike tests.

Loaded up 100, Wolf primer primed rounds and brought 6 light primer strikes that I had from last week.

The R51 fired five of the six light primer strikes and fired the sixth one on the 2nd attempt.

Then she ate the 100, new reloads without any light primer strikes.

I'll need to check it again after another 500 rounds to see if changing to grease for the Pedersen device and reinstalling the firing pin dry, keeps the goop out of the firing pin channel.

russc2542,

Good theory about the primer because I bought some Rooski Wolf primers and if they are harder than my normal CCIs,
then that is a viable cause.

I just received 4K of Remington No 5 1/2s which corrected my P232 light primer strikes so I'll try some of those.

Thanks for the Suggestion.

Matt

Old, but excellent evaluation of the R51 that I can relate too.

I try to load the lightest load I can run reliably in all my firearms in that caliber.

The R51 forced me to bump my loads up a couple of grains to prevent my getting light primer strikes which I assume was from the slide not fully cocking the hammer or leaving the gun out of battery.

After a few range sessions of no, light primer strikes using the hotter loads, it started happening again.

I dissasembled the Pedersen device so I could check the firing pin and firing pin channel.

The channel and firing pin were very dirty so I cleaned them up and reinstalled them without any lubricant.

I also started using grease on the Pedersen device to eliminate oil migration.

The modification is still in my test schedule.

You have an excellent process!

Just last week, I purchased the RCBS Universal Hand Priming tool to prime the 5 to 10 round batch of cases for my test loads.

Fell in love with the damn thing because of being able to feel it seat.

I still use my 1970's Bonanza (now Forster) CO-AX single stage press.

For 9mm, I'm going to use the BB 120gr Truncated Cone.

The R51 eats non-coated lead ones (124gr) pretty well.

I have a chamber hone ordered for one of the two R51 barrels I now have.

That $21 barrel is for fun stuff like that.

I just honed the two revolver's cylinder chambers and a Shield .45 acp Lone Wolf barrel chamber so I'm on a role.

At least until I get them to the range to see how I did.

funflyer,

I recently started reloading .357s again in order to shoot 148 gr wadcutters at .38 Spl. velocities using .357 cases in a Ruger Security Six and S&W 66, both 4".

The load knocks down plates, is accurate and is fun to shoot so I'm happy.

My .380 adventure started with a Sig P232, which I sold due to Sig stopping production of them;  I loved that little thing.

To fill the space in the safe, a Sig P238 was aquired. Then, a Beretta 84FS Cheetah followed me home so I kept her.

I'm switching all my loads to use Bayou Bullet projectiles.  Currently, I'm testing Alliant Sport Pistol and will be testing Winchester 244 powders because they are designed for coated bullets.

I'm 100% on BB .45 acp and .380 acp  projectiles.

Much cleaner shooting with little smoke so I have even higher expectations when the coated bullet powders come online.

In the .380s, I'm using BB 95gr. RN and Lehigh Defense 90gr X-Treme Penetrator projectiles.

They both worked well so I bought a box of Lehigh Defense .380 cartridges to compare to my reloads of their bullet.

I also load Lehigh Defense .32 acp X-Treme Cavitatior bullets.

Check out the gell tests on those!

Makes you rethink mouse gun limitations.

Funflyer,

This is my first post, after joining today.

I reload .32 acp, .380 acp, .38/.357 Mag, 9mm, .40 S&W, 45 acp and .44 Mag.

I still have all my fingers even though I've been reloading since  the mid '60s.

I recently retired so I can happly go broke aquiring reloading equipment that I've always wanted.

It can be a very rewarding hobby as long as you apply mass quantities of common sense.

Enjoy,

Matt