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Light primer strike 12 gauge?

Hi everyone.

I had a light primer strike problem with a 12 gauge shotgun. It is a reputable Turkish manufacturer Derya, 14 inch barrel pump action shotgun. At the range we tried two different types of ammunition and it had the same problem of light primer strikes with both. If I put a shell in the chamber by hand directly, it fires every single time. The problem was when I was loading from the magazine through pump action. It would simply not fire. The gun is clean. When I came back I did a pencil test, put a thick pencil in the barrel, held the gun vertically and pulled the trigger. The firing pin threw the pencil all the way out. What else could be the problem? It fires when loaded directly in the chamber so hammer spring and pin are not an issue.

5 Answers

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  • 4 weeks ago

    Thanks for replies. The gun is not old at all, it is almost new, has fired about 150+ rounds and did not have this issue before. One thing is, I have never shot with this ammunition before. One type was self loaded ammunition, another box was not bought by me and was brought by another person. I have to try different ammunituion first.

  • Mr.357
    Lv 7
    4 weeks ago

    I agree.  Too much head space.  Some Turkish guns are not all that good.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    4 weeks ago

    The pencil test is on the level of folk lore. Probably originated with a gun shop when sales were down and this uncontested test was given when a person could not prove otherwise at that point in time. There`s simply too much headspace when activated with the pump action. 

    The age of the gun has to be taken in consideration and the wear factor as well.

     You may think you are pushing the shell in by hand as far as the bolt does but chances are you`re not is why the firing pin dents the primer more by hand loading.

    Sounds like gunsmith time for someone that does not fix their own which conflicts the action I would take for my personal firearm. 

     

  • ?
    Lv 6
    4 weeks ago

    If the bolt face is not in full contact with the base of the shell, the firing pin may not be able to travel far enough to fully strike the primer. There may be too much lash in the pump mechanism that does not throw the bolt forward enough when the handle is pushed forward during the reload cycle.

  • Ivan
    Lv 6
    4 weeks ago

    Maybe you need to use Turkish ammo in it, or have a gunsmith work on it a bit.

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