S&B Nontox + Glock 19 = 1% malfunction (no ignition)

Para Bellum · May 29, 2005, 06:09 AM

In order to avoid lead an other toxic exposures in our indoor range, I bought 3000 rounds of S&B Nontox cartridges. Since I use that stuff I don't have that funny sweetish taste in my mouth after and while shooting.

The downside is that approx 1% of said cartridges don't ignite. My buddies tell me to exchange the firing pin spring to the "red one" i.e. a harder spring.

If I put the rounds which did not ignite into my gun a 2nd time, they all ignite...

any experience/advice with this? Since I hadn't had any malfunctions with my Glock 19 I assume it's the ammo, right?

stevelyn · May 29, 2005, 07:24 AM

Sounds like the primers are a little hard since they light up on a second strike.

Para Bellum · May 29, 2005, 02:43 PM

Do you think a stronger firing-pin-spring would do the job? Now I have the standard civilian spring with 2,5 Kg / 5.5 lbs trigger weight.

**JohnKSa** · May 29, 2005, 05:12 PM

Non-toxic primers tend to be a bit harder to ignite than standard primers. The Glock striker system doesn't put as much energy into the primer strike as many other systems do.

I recommend that you not mess around with the firing pin spring weight. The striker and the recoil spring play against each other in the Glock design. Significantly increasing the striker spring weight can cause functioning issues--besides making the trigger pull much harder. BTW, changing the connector or the trigger spring also affects the trigger pull weight but does not change the striker spring weight.

gudel · May 29, 2005, 05:19 PM

I got the 6lbs wolff striker spring on my G21. works fine although a bit heavy.
never had any no ignition on my 4 glocks though. they work just fine, even with non toxic "clean" ammo (not s&b, just winchester and speer).

does s&b still put the red sealant on the primer? this is a bitch to clean up. one of the reason i stop buying them.

Para Bellum · June 29, 2005, 04:04 PM

yes, they do. I wonder why....

Para Bellum · September 23, 2006, 10:27 AM

finally it was an easy fix. I just had to change for the stronger (red) firing pin spring. Now its 100% reliable even with nonox-ammo (which has harder primers).

Stay safe, PB

**JohnKSa** · September 23, 2006, 05:36 PM

Keep an eye on your recoil spring strength and replace it if you note it is weakening at all. When it gets weak, you can actually push the slide out of battery with the trigger pull acting on the slide through the stiffer striker spring--that will also result in misfires.

boing · September 24, 2006, 05:58 PM

Or worse, firing out of battery. But with stubborn primers, that's unlikely.

May 29, 2005, 06:09 AM	#1
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,774	S&B Nontox + Glock 19 = 1% malfunction (no ignition) In order to avoid lead an other toxic exposures in our indoor range, I bought 3000 rounds of S&B Nontox cartridges. Since I use that stuff I don't have that funny sweetish taste in my mouth after and while shooting. The downside is that approx 1% of said cartridges don't ignite. My buddies tell me to exchange the firing pin spring to the "red one" i.e. a harder spring. If I put the rounds which did not ignite into my gun a 2nd time, they all ignite... any experience/advice with this? Since I hadn't had any malfunctions with my Glock 19 I assume it's the ammo, right? __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war (But defense isn't everything in life)

May 29, 2005, 07:24 AM	#2
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,096	Sounds like the primers are a little hard since they light up on a second strike. __________________ McCain/PALIN '08 Squished bugs on a windshield is proof the slow/heavy bullet theory works.

May 29, 2005, 02:43 PM	#3
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,774	would a stronger firing-pin-spring would do the job? Do you think a stronger firing-pin-spring would do the job? Now I have the standard civilian spring with 2,5 Kg / 5.5 lbs trigger weight. __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war (But defense isn't everything in life)

May 29, 2005, 05:12 PM	#4
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 12,202	Non-toxic primers tend to be a bit harder to ignite than standard primers. The Glock striker system doesn't put as much energy into the primer strike as many other systems do. I recommend that you not mess around with the firing pin spring weight. The striker and the recoil spring play against each other in the Glock design. Significantly increasing the striker spring weight can cause functioning issues--besides making the trigger pull much harder. BTW, changing the connector or the trigger spring also affects the trigger pull weight but does not change the striker spring weight. __________________ Did you know that there is a TEXAS State Rifle Association? Check out Black Bear Flashlights. Gun Shows this Weekend.

June 29, 2005, 04:04 PM	#6
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,774	yes, they do. I wonder why.... __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war (But defense isn't everything in life)

May 29, 2005, 05:19 PM	#5
gudel Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2004 Location: Golden State Posts: 591	I got the 6lbs wolff striker spring on my G21. works fine although a bit heavy. never had any no ignition on my 4 glocks though. they work just fine, even with non toxic "clean" ammo (not s&b, just winchester and speer). does s&b still put the red sealant on the primer? this is a bitch to clean up. one of the reason i stop buying them.

September 23, 2006, 10:27 AM	#7
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,774	finally it was an easy fix finally it was an easy fix. I just had to change for the stronger (red) firing pin spring. Now its 100% reliable even with nonox-ammo (which has harder primers). Stay safe, PB __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war (But defense isn't everything in life)

September 23, 2006, 05:36 PM	#8
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 12,202	Keep an eye on your recoil spring strength and replace it if you note it is weakening at all. When it gets weak, you can actually push the slide out of battery with the trigger pull acting on the slide through the stiffer striker spring--that will also result in misfires. __________________ Did you know that there is a TEXAS State Rifle Association? Check out Black Bear Flashlights. Gun Shows this Weekend.

September 24, 2006, 05:58 PM	#9
boing Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1998 Location: Henderson County, NC Posts: 1,072	Or worse, firing out of battery. But with stubborn primers, that's unlikely.