Well, after installing the CCG kit and getting a few rounds from CorBon, I took it to the range, and this was the result:
The first four shots seemed to go off without a hitch, and I had a big grin on my face.
The grin was quickly gone as shots 5 and 6 failed to fire. I hadn't picked up and examined the brass yet (stupid move), but the fifth round seemed to show a light strike, so I tried again after a cursory inspection. The sixth round showed some funky marks, and the pistol was put away.
What the heck happened to the primers? I've never seen any that looked like these. It looks as though the primers flowed into the firing pin hole upon firing, and then the bulge was sheared off upon unlocking.
I imagine the weird marks on the last one must have been a bit of brass that had been sheared off and stuck in the firing pin hole that I failed to see.
I took the gun apart and can see no damage to the firing pin or hole.
Do I dare put the original firing pin spring back in, or do I need a heavier main spring (has main spring from a Cylinder and Slide 3.5lb trigger kit)? Am I completely off-base?
Can this be remedied, or does the 460 Rowland barrel end up in the unused parts bin?
Primer flow, severe.
The firing pin must be steel.
Must be a very close fit to the hole in the slide. No more than .002" clearance.
Mainspring should be 23 or 25lbs.
Might need to use an EGW long firing pin.
It's curable.
After looking, I see the C&S set uses an 18# main spring. I ordered a couple different strengths to try (23 and 25).
I tried to find an extra-long firing pin, but the only ones I came across are the smaller diameter (Limcat, M2i). Mine measures at 0.088" and is just a little loose.
I wonder if I should get the EGW 0.093" and ream if necessary to achieve a close fit, or if it may be better at this point to go with a small diameter, possibly extra-length, firing pin, and install a bushing.
Additional causes for the primers you've got are over pressure, an enlarged firing pin hole in the slide or standard primers instead of magnum primers.
I've been told that magnum primers use a thicker cup than standard primers. If these are handloads you might try switching to magnum primers.
Also if these are handloads check your loads and loading procedures very carefully and thoroughly.
I had the same problem once upon a time with 45 ACP when my powder scale was way off zero. The result was ammo that was way over pressure.
Caspian slides us a 38 Super diameter firing pin (smaller diameter) for all calibers to help prevent primer flow such as you're experiencing.
Nope, these were CorBon 460 Rowland 230gr FMJ factory ammo. Over pressure when compared to 45ACP, no doubt...
I thought of using a smaller diameter pin with something like a Clark bushing to change pin diameter. After thinking a while longer, I don't know if the bushing would be deep enough. I imagine the smaller bushing would allow the pin to hang up on the shoulder where the diameter is reduced if the firing pin retracts that far.
I'm sure a custom job could be done, reducing the diameter of the firing pin hole along its entire length, but at that rate, I'd be better off just going with a different slide.
Besides, this slide has the Accro rear and tenon front sights. I don't imagine that either is going to last very long with the Rowland.
So, if the tighter EGW 0.093" pin, plus heavier mainspring don't do it, I'll end up getting a different slide altogether.
I use to have the same problem, here is how I solved it. My gun is a springfield GI with the titanium, 38 super firing pin. I ordered a steel firing pin from Brownell's, part#296-000-116 (.075). Not saying this is the size you need, but the firing pin play is the problem.