Pudge
Member
I am genuinely curious why the firing pin could be the correct length for single action, but too short for double action. Why would the physical dimensions of the firing pin be inadequate in one scenario, but functional an another?
It isn't the firing pin per se. In single action the hammer has a greater arc which compresses the mainspring more and thus hits faster with more force than in double action which would cause the firing pin to move forward more.I am genuinely curious why the firing pin could be the correct length for single action, but too short for double action. Why would the physical dimensions of the firing pin be inadequate in one scenario, but functional an another?
I was wondering what the misfire primers look like and if, somehow, the primers are below flush, moving the goal posts as it were.Ok, I put the original spring back and the pull weight is still 15+. ( my weights only go up to 15lbs so I don't know how heavy it actually is.)
I only have the original spring and the Wolff (and the Wolff has the distinctive rib ) so I know the original spring is in. I re-checked.
I did not remove the hammer, trigger or firing pin. I don't have any experience with MIM parts and am not comfortable working on them, so they're factory original. Very slight rub on left side of hammer. ( one spot only, pinheaded size ) No end shake and no shims on yoke.
FP indents are still the same, though not as deep and smaller dia. than on my other guns. Don't have any way to measure FP protrusion but to my uncalibrated eye it doesn't seem like much. I wonder if this may be the culprit?
Anyone have a recommendation for a good S&W 'smith in the Dallas-Ft Worth area? I would rather take it to someone local than send it back to the factory.
But if I do have to send it back, does anyone know what the Performance Center charges for an action job?
Thanks again for all the help and knowledge!
Ken
It isn't the firing pin per se. In single action the hammer has a greater arc which compresses the mainspring more and thus hits faster with more force than in double action which would cause the firing pin to move forward more.
That didn't fix the gun though.I had a similar problem with a S&W 686 when shooting hand loads. Factory loads were fine, so I reloaded some with a softer primer (I was originally using CCI primers) and voila!, Issue resolved.
How many rounds were fired in the gun prior to the spring swap? Was it enough to determine if the light strike issue is a new problem that only started after the spring swap?
I had this exact issue with a performance center 686. It wouldn't reliably fire in double action. S&W put a longer firing pin in it as a fix. It works as it should now, but I have misgivings about the durability of that "repair".So, it isn't an issue with the actual firing pin's dimensions, it is an energy transfer issue. A longer firing pin then might well address the symptom of the problem, but wouldn't actually fix the problem.
I had this exact issue with a performance center 686. It wouldn't reliably fire in double action. S&W put a longer firing pin in it as a fix. It works as it should now, but I have misgivings about the durability of that "repair".
Time will tell.
Was interested in this because I was dealing with a similar issue. Shims on the hammer and cylinder seem to have cleared it up for me.
They usually won't touch it if it is within factory spec.They DID NOT correct the 15# plus double action pull as I requested. No mention of it in the paperwork.
200-300 rounds of 44 is worth a lot of money. I would have just taken the shortcut directly to my gunsmith, if an action job was projected anyway.Ok, I finally got to the range to test fire my model 69 after its return from the factory. I'm moving so it took longer than expected.
I fired 150 rounds total, 100 rounds of .44 special handloads and 50 rounds of factory .44 magnum with no misfires or light hammer strikes. All went "bang" as expected. Accuracy was good at 15 and 25 yards, and should improve as I get accustomed to the trigger, or have an action job done.
Don't know why they changed out the stock parts unless it was just caution on the part of the 'smith who worked on it, but it is working fine now.
I will not be using this gun for EDC until I have put more rounds through it and I feel comfortable that the problem is fixed. That will be about another 200 - 300 rounds without incident.