Thought I’d share my experience today shooting RWS 124gr ball ammo (orange box) out of my Wilson Combat modified 92A1. I experienced 2 failures to fire with this ammo. Each time I was able to pull the trigger again and get the round to go off. I snapped a pic of one before firing it.
So I’ve heard this could be a problem with certain types of ammo when using an Elite II hammer with the D spring, which mine has both of. I still have 450 rounds of this stuff and plan to shoot all of it still. I have not had an issue firing the Remington UMC yellow box stuff or Winchester white box.
Not really posting this to bitch or complain, merely just wanted to let people know that it’s definitely possible to get light primer strikes with this setup. I basically wrote off reports of this happening as crappy ammo, or a clapped out gun that was bubba’d. The gun has 500 rounds through it now and I’ve always had very good results with RWS ammo in the past.
Is it the RWS Target ammo (black and orange box)? Reason I ask is because I got some light primer strikes with that in 230g ball in my USP. Maybe 5-10% of the time. My USP has over 12000 though it and has never had light primers in any other ammo I’ve used, or used since. I am wondering if it’s just hard primers or something.
I’ve run a few boxes though my 1911 without a hiccup.
Yes, the black and orange box. I’ve had this ammo for a couple years and have slowly been using it here and there. This is the first time I’ve experienced an issue with it. It runs in my P2000 just fine.
Unless Beretta sold off some old stock to Wilson… Beretta only makes one Elite hammer and I can’t imagine why their one Elite hammer would be the old model.
I mean, I suppose it is Beretta, so it’s possible. But then they do seem to have been making a lot of sensible decisions lately.
My 92G Elite II has never had a problem touching of a primer and has the EII hammer and D spring from the factory. Outside of hard primers in your particular ammo, another thing to look for is free movement of the firing pin.
The firing pin in the 92’s is a two piece design so check to ensure the firing pin and plunger inside the safety lever are moving freely, don’t lube them heavily to avoid gumming up the works. I don’t lube mine at all. I’ve seen that green paste stuff gum up firing pins when too much is used. Also avoid excessive dry fire as the 92 firing pin is heavy and it can break at the weakest point where its machined for the firing pin block, causing it to become a three piece system. It will in most cases still work when broken, but it will cause weak strikes. Also make sure the firing pin block is clearing the firing pin at full trigger travel
Thanks for the advice. As far as lube goes I use Slip 2000 EWL and have never put any in the firing pin channel. I also don’t dry fire this thing very much, but I do use snap caps sometimes to work on trigger control in my guns. At only 500 rounds I would hope the firing pin is still good. Also the block seems to be functioning normally.
I also posted this on the Beretta forum and someone said I shouldn’t be having an issue and to send the gun back to Wilson. But reading around it seems this RWS has a harder primer than what I normally run.
If you got our action tune the gun has a 13# hammer spring. A “D” spring is 16#. We have seen some Euro ammo have even have light hits with the “D” spring.
You guys did the custom carry package, short reach trigger, Elite II hammer, and G conversion.
So what’s my best course of action here? I like the way the gun shoots right now, but I want it to be reliable at the same time. I suppose I could avoid buying some of the euro ammo, but I would like it to work with whatever ammo I have on hand. That ranges from RWS, Magtech, Geco, Remington, and Winchester.
If switching to a heavier hammer spring and going back to the regular hammer is needed, then I can go that route.
I was just looking at a video from Hickok45.
He was shooting a Python and RWS ammo.
Light primer strikes on double action.
Could be that RWS is using hard cup primers.
