Light primer strike.

[gatorwade]

I took 2 old vets to the range yesterday. An Underwood, and an IBM. They functioned smooth as butter. I have enjoyed them for decades, with never one problem, ever. Thousands of my handloads, not one problem. My shooting buddy brought a new AO M1 Carbine. I was interested in shooting it, but all that gun could deliver was the slightest dimple on the primer. I was unimpressed with everything about that gun What causes a light primer strike?

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[browningautorifle]

Check firing pin protrusion and hammer spring strength, then primer seating depth. If your reloads never have caused problems then I suspect it's the carbine. A "New" AO carbine doesn't blow my hair back...they have had some poor user reports.

[gatorwade]

We visually looked at firing pin protrusion. It looked similar to my vintage guns, but we didn't measure it. I have Kuhnhausen, so we knew what to look for. But he left with his AO before we could go farther with exam. We also got light primer strikes with American Eagle factory, in the AO, which shot fine in the Underwood. Maybe it is a weak hammer spring, but in a new gum? I relayed the knowledge you provided. He is going to take it to a gun smith.

[browningautorifle]

Maybe it is a weak hammer spring, but in a new gun?

Sure, maybe a punk spring. If you changed it with GI it would probably be magic. We'll never know now.

[floydthecat]

Sure, maybe a punk spring. If you changed it with GI it would probably be magic. We'll never know now.

Maybe OP will provide the outcome. Could be a number of things and seemingly not ammo. OP, being a reloader, could have built some longer rounds to see if head space is at issue.
I am not convinced these commercials ever pay much attention to it most of the time.

[browningautorifle]

Maybe OP will provide the outcome.

Sure thing...

[painter777]

At least he got it to chamber a round, unlike many AO's.

My shooting buddy brought a new AO M1 Carbine.

As in New New?
Send it back and have them service it. For that kinda money, I would.
I hear their CS crew are a friendly bunch

Good Luck,

[jimb16]

When I see something like that, the first thing I check it the extractor. A dirty extractor spring will keep the bolt from closing over the case rim. That prevents the bolt from closing all the way so the carbine cannot fire since it is out of battery.The tiny dimple is nothing more than the mark left by the firing pin slamming forward when the bolt stops.

[jond41403]

I'm thinking if he's getting tiny dimples on the primer due to the light strike, then the extractor would pretty much have to be snapped on the rim to get the firing pin that close to the primer I would imagine unless he has really far protruding firing pin. I have never seen or held an AO carbine before though so I have no idea how similar or different they are from usgi

[floydthecat]

I have never seen or held an AO carbine before though so I have no idea how similar or different they are from usgi

Consider yourself lucky….and wise.