It is factory new ammo. Can't remember if I got it from Cheaper Than Dirt or Lucky Gunner...some such place. The brass is headstamped "Top Brass 30 Carbine"...so at least the brass is made in the USA. I've met the folks who own Top Brass and they are alright.
The chamber, bolt gas cylinder...everything...is spotless. I blasted everything with Gum Out and then cleaned with Kroil. Firing pin moves freely, as does the gas piston.
I thought it might be weak old springs, so I ordered a complete spring kit, which will be in next week. But, honestly, the hammer falls crisply every time, so it probably isn't the hammer spring.
I'm leaning towards the ammo because I saved three "Did not fire" rounds and repeatedly tried to fire them. Could not get them to go off, but other new rounds fired before and after each re-try attempt.
On fired rounds the primers are properly dimpled from the firing pin. But on the "fail to fire" primers there is just a tiny, tiny speck of a dimple. That's why I thought maybe I was getting light hammer strikes.
But, it seems odd that I would consistently get a light strike on the repeat attempts on each "fail to fire" round, but get good hits on new rounds before and after.
So I'm thinking maybe really hard primer cups on some rounds...don't know.
If it is the ammo, I'll be unhappy as I have a full Ammo can of the stuff left.
But I don't remember this ever occurring with Federal ammo I shot before I bought this stuff in bulk.
Next week I'll go out to the range with some Federal ammo and see if it all goes off.
I need to go to the gunsmith anyway because the threads on my barrel barrel band stripped awhile ago, so I have a nut and bolt on it...new band and sight key are coming with the spring kit...
But I'd like to know if it is ammo related or mechanical before going to the 'smith.
