Sako L 461 Question

[rcol317]

I have a sweet little L 461 chambered in 222 Rem Mag. The rifle while an older Vixen Varmint model has been fire very little. I'm having difficulty with the firing pin not striking the primers on some rounds to detonate. I've tried various primers, checked to see of seated deeper than others but can't seem to figure it out. 90% of the time fires 10% doesn't. I disassembled the bolt and it looked fine, cleaned it up and reinstalled. Worked fine first few rounds and then a misfire. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thanks Rick

 

[Mark M.]

New spring, these older guns can get put away in the in the "cocked position" this may be the case here, spring might be fatigued

 

[AlNyhus]

Have you checked the firing pin protrusion? -Al

 

[Ggmac]

What ammo , factory or reloads ? If reloads what dies are you using ?

 

[mac86951]

Sounds like they've got you covered; any of the above, or some combination of all three could be the culprit.

You disassembled and cleaned the bolt, so the strength of the firing pin spring is still in question. Any chance you've got a burr, or the firing pin is binding up?

Firing pin protrusion or perhaps check the end of the pin, I've seen a single pierced primer on a magnum burn the firing pin to the point of replacement. Protrusion measurement would be good to check.

Reloading practices, can also be a culprit. Not fully seated primer, cases sized down too much are the two main causes that come to mind.

If you have a light strike do you re-cock and then it fires fine; or does that round not fire?

Are you using a batch of mil-primers with harder cups?

First time use brass?

Ok, that's all I can think of for now,
-Mac

 

[jepp2]

You will appreciate what I found when I took apart my L461 bolt (also in 222 Rem Mag originally). And what to set the protrusion at.

 

[swd]

Take the bolt apart and make sure any old oil hasn’t turned into goop. I’ve seen that turn lock time and energy into slow motion.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

Its been a long time ---but---check to see if you have a screw head
at the rear end of the striker.

My memory is that this screw can be used to tighten the striker spring.

A. Weldy

 

[rcol317]

I appreciate all the input. I've addressed most of the suggestions. After reading these suggestions I'm betting it's the trigger assembly. Lucky and Jepp probably have the problem identifies. Thanks Jeep for sending the trigger info. I'll check it out. Thanks again for all the input. Rick

 

[Pawnee Bill]

New spring, these older guns can get put away in the in the "cocked position" this may be the case here, spring might be fatigued

And the inside of the bolt may be gunked up from old oil. Clean it out real good.

 

[NVsquirrelguy]

What is the silver spacer looking thing? I have several L461, as well as a couple of Rhihimaki and dont recall anything other than the spring in contact with the cocking piece. Looks to me like a farm boy way of getting more poop out of a spring, already weak, or too short.
I will opine, like another mention previous, springs dont last forever. I started getting misfires on either a rhihimaki, or an L461, and replacing the spring with a Wolfe made one cured it.
Its easy to forget, the early import Sakos, may be crowding 70 years old. Cripes, about half the really finely made rifles, are 70 years or older, and still maybe in constant use.
Another thought, either Ken Waters, or P O Ackley noted way back, that loads showing no primer problems I E “pressure” signs, were fine in a Rem 600 lets say, and when shot in Sakos, did present pressure, due to the main spring being lighter in the Sako.
I never personally tested that, not having any Rem 600s on hand at the time, nor since. I dont load balls to the walls anyway, as I like to shoot my brass more than once or twice. :-}

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Id look at the brass sizing

 

[jepp2]

What is the silver spacer looking thing?

A Bubba fix - the way I received it. Some added two springs to put more compression on the striker spring. I ordered a new striker spring from Wolff and removed the 3 springs. Set the protrusion correctly and working like a champ ever since.

 

[NVsquirrelguy]

Great to hear. As I recall, the spring I got from Wolff had to be shortened a coil or three to fit. I am a graduate of the school of hard knocks on springs, and get by, but I wish I had more technical knowledge on the engineering of them.
As a kid in the early 60s, they popped what they called "new math" on us, when I barely savvied the "old math", and been counting fingers and toes ever sense. So lot of engineering issues give me grief
Ron

 

[ckrifles]

What is the silver spacer looking thing? I have several L461, as well as a couple of Rhihimaki and dont recall anything other than the spring in contact with the cocking piece. Looks to me like a farm boy way of getting more poop out of a spring, already weak, or too short.
I will opine, like another mention previous, springs dont last forever. I started getting misfires on either a rhihimaki, or an L461, and replacing the spring with a Wolfe made one cured it.
Its easy to forget, the early import Sakos, may be crowding 70 years old. Cripes, about half the really finely made rifles, are 70 years or older, and still maybe in constant use.
Another thought, either Ken Waters, or P O Ackley noted way back, that loads showing no primer problems I E “pressure” signs, were fine in a Rem 600 lets say, and when shot in Sakos, did present pressure, due to the main spring being lighter in the Sako.
I never personally tested that, not having any Rem 600s on hand at the time, nor since. I dont load balls to the walls anyway, as I like to shoot my brass more than once or twice. :-}

Farm boy, Bubba fix, really? Makes us old farm boy bubba fixers. Who are the ones who actually fight for your gun rights, feel kind of like step children.

 

[NVsquirrelguy]

Being an ex farm boy myself, I reserve the right to poke fun at myself.

 

[arizonajake]

Careful when ordering Sako springs from Wolff. I ordered one L46 and one L461 and they sent 2 L46 springs. The L461 springs have a larger diameter. I called Wolff and they said both rifles used the same spring. Unfortunately, my lying eyes, as well as those of my gunsmith saw otherwise.