light strikes FTF- odyssey of a kadet

[joerchi69]

Haven't been keeping-up with your progress guys, but have you thought to contact Wolff directly and ask if they have a line on a;
Correct length but MUCH lighter Firing Pin Spring ?
I'd bet their Engineering Department could be a great source for you, given that; You've done / are doing a majority of the R&D ? And if they do come-up with the right Spring, they'd sell a ton of them !

Some weeks ago i mailed to CGW asking for the FP springs dimensions they have been used to sale. No response so far.

[painter]

I'm getting close to needing to clean my FP channel. I haven't forgotten about the spring dimensions I said I'd provide.

[joerchi69]

Good results.

Does the CCI SV leave a lot of wax on the feed ramp? I can't tell from the picture.

Hello Painter thanks for asking,
why are you asking especially for that?
Yes there is some dirt. Like on the other areas who are visible on the picture.  Next time i will try to examine what kind of dirt it is. Are you suspect the dirt from the feed ramp to provoke light strikes ? Like getting between rim and chamber face ? Or inhibit the cartridge getting fully seated ?

[joerchi69]

I'm getting close to needing to clean my FP channel. I haven't forgotten about the spring dimensions I said I'd provide.

When cleaning sometimes i use "ever glo" polish on a Q-tip trying to smooth the FP channel`surface    .

[painter]

Good results.

Does the CCI SV leave a lot of wax on the feed ramp? I can't tell from the picture.

Hello Painter thanks for asking,
why are you asking especially for that?
Yes there is some dirt. Like on the other areas who are visible on the picture.  Next time i will try to examine what kind of dirt it is. Are you suspect the dirt from the feed ramp to provoke light strikes ? Like getting between rim and chamber face ? Or inhibit the cartridge getting fully seated ?

The CCI SV I have is very waxy. Most of it is several years old, and bought for too much money...lol.

Sometimes you'll see chunks of wax break loose. I think they come from the feed ramp, because in Bullseye league we have to use OBI's before anyone goes down range, and I think those pieces are loosened up by the OBI being inserted. My theory is those chunks get between the rim and the chamber face and cause light hits.

Next time you clean your kit, use a toothpick, and see if the residue is waxy. You can scrape it off, and it will stick together in clumps. It will also build up on the breech face, and partially block the firing pin hole.

[joerchi69]

450 shots of CCI SV without light strikes !
In box 6 one time the slide did not stay open on the last round.
I started with a Kadet reviewed to have no uncalled lube on the rails or hammer area. To avoid the FP getting disturbed by any fluid.
Same setting with 17lb hs, ball pen FP spring, FP4, two handed. With the last box i could hold all hits inside the nine ring on the target.

[joerchi69]

Hello Painter,
thank you for the patronage.
As you saw on the pictures there is some dirt. When i scrape it off it is more like compressed dust in contact areas like slide to barrel. Or less compressed dust in the other areas. These chunks could also cause lightstrikes getting to dirt sensitive areas. I think i also understand what you describe as waxy. Because i had tested Gecko Semi-Auto wich was very waxy. Another brand was more like very luby.. Both sorts displeasing to handle. The CCI`s are tactile unremarkable.

Feed ramp and barrel face after 450 shots CCI SV

[joerchi69]

First time ever i found a deformed round in the CCI `s.

[joerchi69]

No light strikes also in todays shooting. Same configuration with 17 lb hs, FP4 in ball pen spring, recoil spring 92mm. One and two handed holds.
In the first box of 4 CCI SV i had one failiure to feed and one stove pipe. In 100 shots RWS Target Rifle no issues. As always faultless working shooting
with the 9mm shadow 1 upper.

FP4 dents in rims of CCI SV and RWS Target Rifle

[joerchi69]

 light strikes

For all interested in curing light strikes i give a résumé here out of the previous pages. Of the current measures i took on my Kadet 2 conversion kit on a SP-01 Shadow frame. Until here. Also i was heading to get it working with the CCI SV.  Every gun is a law unto itself it is said. On your gun something else could be the cause. All hints where given by or found in the Kadet Klub forum.

-  Because i adjusted my (self installed SA) trigger set screw in a too tight way, the movement of the trigger was to little for its entire task : To lift the sear enough to get it completely over - and out of the way of the second (half cock) notch. The gunsmith opened the little hex grub screw about one to two turns. And the hammer is freely moving down. Before he was delayed on the way down to hit the firing pin. That´s reduced it`s force hitting the FP.

- Hammer- / mainspring. I am using a 17 lb or stronger one. Standard is 18-20 lb.
I think the kadet conversion kit was made for work with the stadard hs. With standard velocity ammo, i use CCI SV, it could be helpfull to go down to 17 lb to avoid other issues. Like slide not staying open on the last round. Ammo not getting striped from the mag into the chamber. Maybe stove pipes.

- I cut down the recoil spring to 92 mm/ 3.62 inches.

- Improvements to make the slide gliding well. Looking for places, springs, parts connected with the movement of the slide. My FP retaining plate was scratching on the upper. The magazine follower was disturbed by a to long edge of the slide stop. The slide stop spring was to ease too.

- Shortened firing pin spring or a ball pen spring. Not all fit in.. Or another lighter sping. If it is too light the FP retaining plate and the FP get ejected while shooting.

- Reshaped firing pin. FP4 is my favorite in the moment. Kept the wideness to cover priming area but avoid hitting the pure brass rim area. Thank you painter.

- Straight FP. Once i found a bend FP in the FP channel. Probably happend when polishing it in a dril press..

- Absolutely no residues of oil or lube around the FP area, in the channel, under the FP retaining plate or on areas from where it could get moved close to the FP assembly. Not leaving superfluous lube on the rails. It possibly gets translatory motioned under the firing pin retaining plate. And then gets pumped into the FP channel too. Where it affects the movement of the FP. Thank you painter.

- A gunsmith checked and maybe reduced the headspace.

- Keeping the contact area from slide to barrel face clean

[joerchi69]

In todays shooting no light strikes, again! Same combo of springs as before. Also started with a lube thouroghly wiped of Kadet again.   
3 boxes of RWS Target Rifle and 2 boxes of CCI SV went through with no issues. 2 or 3 times i saw the spent case snuggish rolling out of the ejection port. The brass was not ejected properly. Not sure if it was on the last round only. Will have a look on this. Fell down just aside the pistol. Where is that coming from ? Maybe i modified the ejector to much.

[painter]

If it were I, I'd call it success and enjoy the fruits of my efforts.

That's just me.

[Andres B]

 Just for loughs and giggles try to convert your Shadow to SA using TS original hammer. I have the same Kadet, bought used, manufactured in 95, with round FP. Ended up moding about everything. New style chizzle head FP, moded retaining plate, extractor, ejector etcetc. If you have original SADA hammer, examine if hammer hits upper part of Kadet. CZ SA hammer https://www.cz-spare.parts/cz-hammer-sa-sw-ts-cz while it works well in 9mm, hits Kadet FP little low. TS original hits right where it should hit. Also- TS original weighs 1 gram (dunno about your Imperial stuff) and mass seems to matter. Alot. Lighter hammer seems to lack good old oomph. Heavier hammer all things being equal, dents the primer kinda more deeply. I am using 13 pound (DUH your Imperial) hammer spring just to be sure, but even 11 ignites SB SV about 100 percent. Besides TS hammer is much more better made than Shadow one.
 Just my metric 2 cents:) Greetings from Estonia.

[painter]

I couldn't get an ID.

Hope it helps you find a spring.

[joerchi69]

Hello Painter,
thanks for posting. The inner diameter (ID) should be 2,7-2,8 mm following the firing pin and the original spring?
Thanks for using the metric switch on your sliding caliper. In wich i write down the findings (dimensions offer without obligation).




                     Original              CGW              ball pen                           possible fromto    looking for from to
length             33                    28,5               24                                  24 - 33                24-33       
wire dia           0,5                   0,38               0,3      (size of material)     0,4 - 0,2              0,3 - 0,25       
OD                  3,85                 3,77               4,1                                 3,3 - 4,1              3,4 - 3,9
ID                   2,8         approx.2,8(+)            3,45                                2,8 - 3,4              2,8 - 3,4
coil count         27                    20                 12                                  10  -  33              12  -  25


                               


Harvesting a few ball pen springs i may report that not all fit in the FP channel because of the outer diameter. The choosen one i stretched a little to have more tension for keeping the retaining plate in place. I was asking myself if the inner diameter is also a sort of assisting guidance to hold the FP in a defined place to hit the rimfire constantly in the exact same place. But then i decided that the necking in the end of the channel will guide the FP tip mainly.

mm to inch conversion chart
https://mdmetric.com/tech/cvtcht.htm