Would I notice flyers from a light FP spring?

[Gil P.]

I'm thinking of trying a light 22# FP spring I'm my BAT. My rifle is chambered for 6.5x47 Lapua.

The reason I want to change it is because I want to disturb the rifle less when I cycle the bolt during tactical matches. I'm wondering if that will outweigh any flyers.

On a good day, my prone groups are in the .3s, average in the .5s or slightly less. I'll occasionally verify at 800 yards and still get 3 and 4 inch groups.

How bad are these flyers? Would it be enough for a mediocre shooter like me to notice? I mostly shoot steel, and I know a lot of you guys can shoot tiny groups. A flyer to you might not be noticeable for me.

Ive got the light spring in hand, I think the standard weight is 26#. I've read that BAT changed their firing pin wight and firing pin spring weight because they were getting light strikes in the past.

Can someone elaborate on this?

 

[TripleS]

Following!

Hopefully someone will reply with concrete evidence. I was doing a search to see what firing pin springs are recommended and dont really see much for lbs, but rather .250, .260, .280 diameter springs.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

4in at 800 yds is pretty good and .5 MoA. Given the extra air disturbance, is this a problem?

 

[dkhunt14]

I don't seem to have trouble with my BAT actions till it gets down to around 18 pounds. That seems to be the number where vertical starts to show up. The amount of time under compression and they start losing strength. Some last longer then others but I seem to replace them every other year to be safe. Matt

 

[ridgeway]

I'm with Matt... Put a new one every year. I run a B and use the light spring. I've had eradic ignition with an old spring to the point I was piercing primers on a normal load. Took me awhile to diagnose, but once a new spring was installed... Issue was totally gone. So yes, weak FP springs can be an issue.

 

[Gil P.]

I don't seem to have trouble with my BAT actions till it gets down to around 18 pounds. That seems to be the number where vertical starts to show up. The amount of time under compression and they start losing strength. Some last longer then others but I seem to replace them every other year to be safe. Matt

Do you remember how much vertical you were getting?

 

[L.Sherm]

Were are you guys finding the factory Rem firing pin springs these days?

 

[Michael Huebner]

I'm thinking of trying a light 22# FP spring I'm my BAT. My rifle is chambered for 6.5x47 Lapua.

The reason I want to change it is because I want to disturb the rifle less when I cycle the bolt during tactical matches. I'm wondering if that will outweigh any flyers.

On a good day, my prone groups are in the .3s, average in the .5s or slightly less. I'll occasionally verify at 800 yards and still get 3 and 4 inch groups.

How bad are these flyers? Would it be enough for a mediocre shooter like me to notice? I mostly shoot steel, and I know a lot of you guys can shoot tiny groups. A flyer to you might not be noticeable for me.

Ive got the light spring in hand, I think the standard weight is 26#. I've read that BAT changed their firing pin wight and firing pin spring weight because they were getting light strikes in the past.

Can someone elaborate on this?

The original BAT ‘B’ pins are 0.25” and these are the pins that some put tungsten weight kits made by Dwight Scott. Spring in these kits was around 22-23lb cocked

The NEW BAT pins are 0.280” and weigh about the same as the 0.25” pin with Dwights Tungsten weight. The BAT springs are around Heavy = 24-25lb cocked and the light spring is 22-23lb cocked

For a ‘B’ action that was using Large Rifle primers I would be using the ‘Heavy’ spring

 

[JSH]

Light springs, I get the erratic ignition.
I am curious on the how or why it would pierce primers?

 

[Gil P.]

The original BAT ‘B’ pins are 0.25” and these are the pins that some put tungsten weight kits made by Dwight Scott. Spring in these kits was around 22-23lb cocked

The NEW BAT pins are 0.280” and weigh about the same as the 0.25” pin with Dwights Tungsten weight. The BAT springs are around Heavy = 24-25lb cocked and the light spring is 22-23lb cocked

For a ‘B’ action that was using Large Rifle primers I would be using the ‘Heavy’ spring

That's good to know. I asked BAT about changing springs, they said they recommend a heavy spring for the cartridge I'm using. BAT didn't mention using a heavy or light spring depending upon the size of the primer, I didn't think to ask them about it though.

I'm using their TR action.

I think ill test it out and see what my SDs do.

 

[Gil P.]

Light springs, I get the erratic ignition.
I am curious on the how or why it would pierce primers?

Is that with new springs? What is rifle chambered and which action are you using?

 

[FeMan]

Were are you guys finding the factory Rem firing pin springs these days?

I get mine from Wolf, here: https://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=2&mID=108

 

[JFrank]

Kinda hard NOT to see flyers from a weak spring.

 

[Gil P.]

Kinda hard NOT to see flyers from a weak spring.

That's good. I was wondering if I sucked too much to notice them.

I'll still check my SDs and switch the spring when I start getting flyers or vertical groups at distance.

 

[ridgeway]

I do not get eratic ignition with a new Bat B light spring with the .280 pin. Now with a worn spring and the old 240 pin, can get eratic. Even possibly a new light spring with the 240 pin. I do now recall when I pierced primers it was with a 240 pin and aged light spring. A timed B with 280 pin and light spring is like butter.

 

[L.Sherm]

I get mine from Wolf, here: https://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=2&mID=108

Thanks

 

[Gil P.]

4in at 800 yds is pretty good and .5 MoA. Given the extra air disturbance, is this a problem?

What do you mean? Are you asking if the groups are a problem?

Not a problem, but I didn't shoot them under match conditions. I can shoot decent when I have all the time in the world lol

 

[Dave Way]

@Alex Wheeler

This post has you written all over it. I know how much you focus on ignition.

Dave.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Ignition can cause fliers. Ignition is more than just spring though. Theres also pin fall, drag, mass, ext. Theres also your primer choice as well. I cant tell you if your ignition is up to par without having it in my hands.

 

[Gil P.]

Ignition can cause fliers. Ignition is more than just spring though. Theres also pin fall, drag, mass, ext. Theres also your primer choice as well. I cant tell you if your ignition is up to par without having it in my hands.

It seems okay to me. I perceived the lock time to be slower on the BAT than the Remington with PTG bolt and Gre Tan parts I sent you. It could be my imagination however. I don't know anything about how to tell it one has faster lock time than the other.

The BAT seems to have a very powerful ignition system. I can really feel it through the stock when dry firing.