I picked up a very lightly used GI Champion for about $300. The only problem is that the gun doesn't go bang every time I pull the trigger. It's not always striking the primer with enought force to set it off. It will dimple the primer although. I've tried several factory loads and some reloads. They all act about the same.
I called SA and they said I could get the gun fixed under warranty but is there anythng I should try be for mailing the gun off. So far I've tried removing all the oil from the mainspring housing (per instructions of SA customer service), replaced the mainspring (the one that was in the gun looked like someone chopped it down a bit), and replaced both the plunger and end cap pieces that go with the spring. The hammer, strut, sear, etc. all seem to be OK and free from any burrs. None of this has helped. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
If the gun has one of the new ILS systems, it's possible that the firing pin spring is too much for the mainspring to overcome. Other possibilities are:
Short/out of spec firing pin... Weakened, lightened, or worn mainspring... Broken mainspring... Butt-end of firing pin peened or mushroomed so that the hammer stops on the firing pin stop before full strike delivery.
These could apply, even if the gun is without the ILS system.
The ILS mainspring is a shorter spring than standard, and the cap is longer.
You might try a standard firing pin spring in the gun, if it's ILS-equipped.
Thanks for the ideas. I just read somewhere else that the firing pin and or FP spring could be the culprit. I'm going to replace both of them. It has the locking system, but I replaced the spring and the cap with standard parts.
Does it have an overtravel stop screw in the trigger?
That can be set too tight and the sear hit the half cock (safety stop) on the way down and sap power from the hammer fall.
I'll try that. I replaced the trigger before I even fired the gun (I've large hands and the stock GI triggers are way too short). Thanks. I would have never thought about that.
I backed the overtravel screw out and I didn't have any failures. The dimple on the primer is still real shallow so I'll try replacing the firing pin and spring next. Thanks for the ideas.
Just wanted to thank everybody for their input. I replaced the firing pin and spring. The gun has been 100% since. Thanks everyone.