[David]

Does anyone have information on the reliability of the older-style firing pin attached to the hammer vs. the newer-style intergrated firing pin on S&W wheelguns?

Does it may any real difference when it comes to reliability or is it just a matter of personal preference?

:what: :what: :what:

Thanks...

[Robert inOregon]

Its a matter of preference. Modern gunsmithing technique and products available make the argument moot.

[J Miller]

David,

To a certain extent it is personal preference.

However in actual use I have broken exactly zero hammer mounted firing pins.
The only firing pin I ever had break was a frame mounted pin in an Interarms Virginian Dragoon SA rev. in .45 Colt.

Rugers have used the FM pin since they started, I have had several and have broken none.

It is simply a difference in design.

[ruger357]

I have had both and had no problems with either style.

[Tamara]

To-may-to, to-mah-to.

I prefer the older hammer-mounted pins, but it's entirely an aesthetic thing. I know MIM parts can be made to exacting dimensions without expensive hand-fitting, but if I wanted something made with ultra-modern techniques and no hand-fitting, I'd be buying USPs instead of old Smiths. ;)

[Quantrill]

Owning several S&W revolvers in several different frames, the only firing pin I ever saw break was on a Llama .45acp. Quantrill

[VictorLouis]

I've personally bent a hammer-nose(old-style). However, I'm convinced it was from dry-firing without snap-caps. The 6 o'clock spot on the firing-pin bushing was peened outward because of it. I agree with Robert in Oregon.

[10-Ring]

I prefer the older style. There's just a cool factor the new ones have missed.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Old style here also-

Just 'cause I'm a vintage S&W snob. I'm not a big fan of the newer metal-injection-molding process they use on their small parts.

[Standing Wolf]

I prefer the look and feel of the old hammer-mounted pins; then again, I prefer blued steel to stainless.

[Frenchy]

Have both...100% reliability! Prefer older style though.

[4thHorseman]

I like the older style. Seems more of a positve striking method to me. However that can be argued. Just preference actually.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All,

The only firing pin problem I have ever experienced didn't
come from any Smith & Wesson!

It came by way of a Colt Trooper MK-III; as the firing pin
bushing moved forward, binding the cylinder. With a quick
trip to Walter Craig Arms of Selma, AL the weapon was
again rendered functional. However, I soon traded if away
as it looked like a high school lad had worked on it with a
ball-peen hammer!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Pinned&Recessed]

Old-style hammer fan here as well. But you probbly guessed that from my handle! :cool:

[JPM70535]

I have had both types also and I guess if frame mounting is good enough for my Colt Python, it is good enough for my S&W 649.

[GooseGestapo]

The new styles are highly DISLIKED by gunsmiths and competitors in the competitions scene. The 'floating' firing pin requires greater hammer energy for reliable primer strike hence are requiring heavier trigger pulls. I shoot PPC, and all the competitors are scrounging for older used guns to build a "new gun" from. I have a "new" 617 .22, and I was unable to get as light a trigger pull as if it were equiped with the old style hammer/triggers. I did not however experience problems with getting a smooth trigger pull with the MIM trigger/hammer. There is no way to "practically" convert to the older hammer style.

[Randy63]

GooseGestapo,
K22's never had a hammer mounted firing pin.

K22

[VictorLouis]

The 'floating' firing pin requires greater hammer energy for reliable primer strike hence are requiring heavier trigger pulls. Having TWO such guns altered by a local smith, along with two older models, I must disagree. If there is any difference at all, it would be measurable in mere ounces. Side-by-side, you can not tell any difference. They are equally sweet.

[Tamara]

If there is any difference at all, it would be measurable in mere ounces.

You're probably right; outside of a multi-hundred dollar PPC-gun type trigger job, the difference is so small as to be no difference at all. I have noticed that newer J-frame triggers seem to be heavier out of the box than they used to, but that's probably more a liability thing than any mechanical function of the design...

[Robert inOregon]

Whether a trigger is five pounds or ten pounds, it's meaningless to someone who practices, drills and does finger strength exercises . Its the athlete and not the machine.


And if I were a gunsmith, I'd dislike any product that takes food off my table too.

[Tamara]

Whether a trigger is five pounds or ten pounds, it's meaningless to someone who practices, drills and does finger strength exercises . Its the athlete and not the machine.

I dunno, man; those PPC guys go to some crazy lengths on their trigger jobs to get the lightest possible DA pull (milling out the insides of the frame to leave the tiniest possible contact area for the hammer and then polishing the snot out of that, and such). I ain't actually seen 'em call in witch doctors to wave a chicken foot over the internals, but it wouldn't surprise me. :D They're not quite as weird as benchresters, but they're close. ;)

[BigG]

Its the athlete and not the machine

Woo Hoo. That stings! (said it myself a million times) :neener:

[bountyhunter]

I have gotten and old style 686 trigger pull down to about 5.2# (DA) with reliable ignition and good trigger return. The new style ones I can get down to about 5.8#. I use the extended FP to allow a little less spring force to get that low. So, the difference is ounces: about 6 ounces. Feel the difference? I can.

[Robert inOregon]

Tamara,
...those PPC guys go to some crazy lengths on their trigger jobs to get the lightest possible DA pull...

Seen them, but those people spend too much time with guns and not enough time socializing. :p Besides which race guns are more than what us mortals can handle. Have shot a few and the triggers always seem to get away from me. Bullet sails down range before I'm ready.

Bench shooters use pixy dust. :D

[mikey357]

...it IS true that some of the more FANATICAL PPC competitors will go to great lengths to shave an additional ounce or two from the DA triggerpull of their revolvers...but so will some of the guys who "play" at ICORE...the ones with the "Spacegun--Racegun" revo's...all ported, comp'ed and red-dotted...after talking to several of the ICORE-types, MANY of them think that the newer N-frame "Performance Center" revolvers have the potential to have DA triggerpulls as light as, OR LIGHTER THAN, the "old-style" N's...note that this is only OPINION, AND it only relates to the N-frames specifically...most of 'em feel that the "New-style" K's and L's do NOT have the potential to end up with as light a DA triggerpull as the "old-style" S&W's...FWIW....mikey357

[Boats]

What year was the transition made to a transfer bar on S&Ws?