Dan Wesson problem

[silcott]

I'm having problems with my Dan Wesson 15. It shoots flawless in single action, but it light strikes every time in double action. It hits the primer, but it's extremely light. Any ideas?


Thanks
Justin

[magpouch]

Sounds like a new factory power hammer spring may need to be installed?

[silcott]

All I can find are reduced power springs.

I wonder if Dan Wesson/CZ still offers part's for the 15-2

[bradshaw]

Justin.... while I never experienced misfires from a DWA M-15, nor weakening of the mainspring, fatigue is possible. Improbable but possible. The usual modus operandi of mainspring fatigue is a gradual weakening----not catastrophic failure. providing the same primer is used, weakening of mainspring may progress to PRIMER BLANKING, extrusion of primer into firing pin hole. Blanking locks cylinder against rotation. The most common cause of blanking is a worn or oversize firing pin hole, most common with fixed firing pins.

Note: an excessive or worn firing pin hole allows extrusion at low pressure.

The firing pin must support fired primer long enough to prevent high pressure extrusion. Too light a mainspring allows primer cup to flow, but usually at high chamber pressure only. Inertia of the hammer----with pressure of a correct mainspring----supports primer against blanking.

BLANKING = primer extrusion into firing pin hole.

MISFIRE = failure of primer to fire.

SQUIB = any level of primer ignition, with failure of bullet to exit barrel.

When a mainspring dies, it’s likely to pass through the blanking stage, or intermittent misfire, before complete failure to fire. Such deterioration may extend to misfire in single action.
David Bradshaw

[silcott]

Sorry, should of noted that this revolver is new to me. Purchased from a member at the gun club.

When trying to fire the gun double action it has very light strikes on the primers. Those same rounds fire fine when shooting single action with very nice looking strikes on the primers.


Justin

[bradshaw]

Justin.... pull the grip and check mainspring for evidence of shortening. If one end of the mainspring appears cut, filled, or ground off, replace it.
David Bradshaw

[needsmostuff]

silcott, it's been a while since I've had a DW apart but I seem to remember a screw in hammer spring seat. It's the part the grip screw screws into. It might have started to loosen or may have been backed off to lighten the trigger pull.
As Mr. Bradshaw said, pull the grip and have a look under the hood.

[gnappi]

Sounds like the mainspring, but was the hammer bobbed?

[silcott]

Apr 25, 2023 10:18:44 GMT -5 gnappi said:

Sounds like the mainspring, but was the hammer bobbed?

No

[leeenfield]

I ran into this years ago with a DW 15 in .22lr

The cause was that the grip screw penetrated too far into the frame and interfered with the hammer spring.

The first thing I would do is loosen the grip screw a few turns and see if the problem persists.

[handloadingnotes]

Sounds like a new mainspring is the right place to start. But in case it helps since only the light ones can be found, in my testing Federal primers really are easier to set off with too-light springs, if you’re rolling your own. I can’t speak to their factory ammunition. Just another option.

[silcott]

Going to pull it apart and see what I find.

Then I'll take back to range and try a few things before ordering a new spring.

[pattontime]

If a new standard spring is still needed, you may try here.

www.ewkarms.com/zen8/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67_12

I have purchased many parts for my Dan Wesson at EWK & have not been unhappy even once!