Ruger SR45 Light Strikes.

[stchman]

OK, I replaced the following in the SR45.

Replaced striker spring with the 20% heavier spring.
Striker plunger.
Installed 3.5lb Ghost Connector.

I also polished the contact points between the striker and the striker release. I also polished the plunger. and the device that depresses the plunger for.

The trigger was definitely smoother and a tad lighter. I did get 3 light primer strikes in ~120 rounds. I have designated this gun to be my tinker around with gun.

 

[jonb32248]

OK, I replaced the following in the SR45.

Replaced striker spring with the 20% heavier spring.
Striker plunger.
Installed 3.5lb Ghost Connector.

I also polished the contact points between the striker and the striker release. I also polished the plunger. and the device that depresses the plunger for.

The trigger was definitely smoother and a tad lighter. I did get 3 light primer strikes in ~120 rounds. I have designated this gun to be my tinker around with gun.

Sorry to hear this update. Don't have an answer except give it more rounds? What ammo? Frustrating.

 

[stchman]

Sorry to hear this update. Don't have an answer except give it more rounds? What ammo? Frustrating.

Sellier & Belloit 45ACP. I will have to try some different brands.

It is better that it used to be, and this gun will be my play toy now.

 

[RecoilRob]

It would be interesting on one of these problem child pistols to remove the mag safety and see if it affects the light striking. If the safety is just barely releasing the firing pin it could cause light strikes and someone with a pistol that can't be made totally reliable would be a good subject for experiment. I'm betting they'll be reliable without the mag safety.

 

[stchman]

It would be interesting on one of these problem child pistols to remove the mag safety and see if it affects the light striking. If the safety is just barely releasing the firing pin it could cause light strikes and someone with a pistol that can't be made totally reliable would be a good subject for experiment. I'm betting they'll be reliable without the mag safety.

The magazine disconnect was the first thing I removed even before I ever fired the pistol. I got 3 light strikes out of say 120 rounds which is still a 97.5% reliable ignition rate. I have wondered if replacing the recoil spring with a slightly heavier spring would help any? Maybe the stock recoil spring isn't putting the pistol perfectly into battery? The stock spring is 18 lbs, but I can get say a 20 lb spring.

 

[RecoilRob]

The magazine disconnect was the first thing I removed even before I ever fired the pistol. I got 3 light strikes out of say 120 rounds which is still a 97.5% reliable ignition rate. I have wondered if replacing the recoil spring with a slightly heavier spring would help any? Maybe the stock recoil spring isn't putting the pistol perfectly into battery? The stock spring is 18 lbs, but I can get say a 20 lb spring.

Hmmmm....interesting! How positively does the recoil spring push the slide into battery against the fully cocked striker? It might very well want/need a heavier spring to more positively push it home.

I had a first Generation Glock 19 that was so undersprung that just before the striker fell the spring tension of recoil and striker almost were balanced out and very little force applied to the slide would push it back out of battery. It never had a light strike problem...but it was right on the edge of slipping back which could have affected the firing pin safety. That might be something to look at on the Ruger...if the pin safety is being marginally released any slight movement might push it over the edge and interfere with the striker fall. This could even be affected by play in the slide rails allowing the slide to rise up away from the trigger finger trying to release the pin safety.

Can the striker pin safety be removed temporarily to see if that's what is causing the light strikes? Or...maybe a shim added to increase the travel of the safety just to be sure it's fully releasing? There has GOT to be something in there not working right and I'd rather remove or correct what is dragging on the striker rather than just adding a stiffer striker spring when the stock one works fine in most guns. Fun stuff.

 

[jonb32248]

If this is a range toy all this playing with the firing mechanism is fine but if you go to a defensive weapon be careful. Making adjustment to these parts might come back to bite you in court. Just a cautionary word to the wise. I would return the gun to stock and send it back and have them start fresh.

 

[stchman]

Hmmmm....interesting! How positively does the recoil spring push the slide into battery against the fully cocked striker? It might very well want/need a heavier spring to more positively push it home.

I had a first Generation Glock 19 that was so undersprung that just before the striker fell the spring tension of recoil and striker almost were balanced out and very little force applied to the slide would push it back out of battery. It never had a light strike problem...but it was right on the edge of slipping back which could have affected the firing pin safety. That might be something to look at on the Ruger...if the pin safety is being marginally released any slight movement might push it over the edge and interfere with the striker fall. This could even be affected by play in the slide rails allowing the slide to rise up away from the trigger finger trying to release the pin safety.

Can the striker pin safety be removed temporarily to see if that's what is causing the light strikes? Or...maybe a shim added to increase the travel of the safety just to be sure it's fully releasing? There has GOT to be something in there not working right and I'd rather remove or correct what is dragging on the striker rather than just adding a stiffer striker spring when the stock one works fine in most guns. Fun stuff.

I may try a heavier recoil spring. The only downside is that a heavier recoil spring will have a negative impact if the loads are lighter.

If this is a range toy all this playing with the firing mechanism is fine but if you go to a defensive weapon be careful. Making adjustment to these parts might come back to bite you in court. Just a cautionary word to the wise. I would return the gun to stock and send it back and have them start fresh.

Yes, this gun has been designated a range toy. I would NEVER use it in a SD scenario.

 

[TarDevil]

Different ammo may (or may not) make a difference. I don't have the SR45, but the only similar issues I experienced with my SR9c occurred when I purchased two boxes of WWB in Texas. Those particular boxes of ammo had mil spec primers which were too hard for the gun.
The gun has been flawless otherwise through thousands of rounds.

 

[saiga308]

OK, I replaced the following in the SR45.

Replaced striker spring with the 20% heavier spring.
Striker plunger.
Installed 3.5lb Ghost Connector.

I also polished the contact points between the striker and the striker release. I also polished the plunger. and the device that depresses the plunger for.

The trigger was definitely smoother and a tad lighter. I did get 3 light primer strikes in ~120 rounds. I have designated this gun to be my tinker around with gun.

wow still some light strikes after all that crazy. my sr40 hits primers hard

 

[stchman]

wow still some light strikes after all that crazy. my sr40 hits primers hard

My SR9 and SR40 have zero issues with primer strikes as well. The one thing I notice about the SR45's recoil spring is it almost hangs there and doesn't click in really well like the other SR guns.

 

[saiga308]

My SR9 and SR40 have zero issues with primer strikes as well. The one thing I notice about the SR45's recoil spring is it almost hangs there and doesn't click in really well like the other SR guns.

i had scraping on my inside upper slide on my sr40 like this draging the slide a little on my sr40

is that happpeing to the inside upper slide coming from the top barrel rubbing it ?
the edge was to sharp i lightly dremeling it some took the edge of and buffed the inside upper slide and barrel

 

[saiga308]

also if your barrel looks like this like mine was then dremel polish it smooth

 

[saiga308]

wow check the sr45 buffed out like a mirrior