First outing with Sten - questions

[Traveler]

Have you tried a stronger trigger spring?

What do the tripping lever, pawl and bottom of the bolt look like?

 

[Jba6511]

Have not made any changes other than the return spring and the buffer. I will take a look at the internals again, but the gunsmith said they looked look last week. I will do some research and look again though.

 

[Traveler]

If the new return spring is too strong it might not be letting the bolt come back far enough to engage the sear.

If it was doing it with your old return spring, I would try a new trigger spring and maybe pawl. The trigger spring and pawl provide the up pressure on the sear so it can engage the “bent” on the bolt.

The tripping lever design is notoriously unreliable. It’s not uncommon to have problems. The good news is they are usually easy to fix.

 

[Dockless55]

Thanks, are you referring to the 124 gr NATO Winchester white box or something else?

I always test with 115 grain WWB for consistency. Comes in 100 and 200 rnd bulk packs.

 

[cherenkov]

Have you tried a stronger trigger spring?

What do the tripping lever, pawl and bottom of the bolt look like?

Agreed - trip lever may be worn and not "tall" enough to grab the part of the bolt that it catches.

Also week pawl spring to not hold it up properly.

Could also be too strong main bolt spring or some binding - not going back far enough each time to catch and its just returning forard going full until it Look things over carefully for wear. Good luck.

 

[K2]

Hi,

My guess not looking at the gun. IMHO

1.) Nope.

2.) Nope,

3.)Maybe.

Don't forget to lube the gun. Motor oil, remoil, don't play with grease. Please get some Winchester White Box. Even the 124gr Winchester NATO will do. Do not get Remington. Stay away from any reloads or reman ammo until you get it sorted out.

Be creative. With the gun empty, set the bolt on the sear and put a piece of masking tape across the cocking slot about 1/4" behind the cocking handle. At the range, insert a magazine and shoot a 3 round mag. Now you can tell if the bolt is moving back enough to catch on the sear. If the cocking handle blows through the tape, you likely have a worn sear, bad spring pushing the sear up, or somthing binding the sear. If the tape is not touched, you have a recoil spring that is to strong or binding of the bolt. I'd guess the former.

As usual, YMMV,

Good Luck,

K2

 

[roscoeturner]

Never had a problem with mine. I only use the 32 round magazines. Magazine loader - I use a Norwegian loader, works much better than the British design.

 

[Jba6511]

Thanks guys for the help. I took it to the gunsmith with my parts kit last week. If it is still having issues when I get it back I will try some of the suggestions that have been posted recently. I am also looking for some 32 round magazines while I wait. Thanks for the help so far.