loose firing pin

[quiknot]

i found out at the range today the firing pin on my 1873 45LC clone was loose, and not contacting the primers...wobbles in hammer

question is: it looks like i would just have to remove a pin, remove the firing pin, and replace both items...is that all that is involved?..

Thanks

 

[Old Fuff]

You didn't mention exactly what make and model of clone you have, and that could make a difference.

In some single action revolvers with hammer mounted firing pins, the pin is supposed to wobble a little, so that it can center itself in the hole in the frame. It is possible that the cross-pin that goes through the hammer is broken, and that causing your problems. Before you go to far, define exactly what is broken - if anything.

 

[Jim K]

I don't know the change date or serial number, but for many years, Colt SAA's have had firing pins that are "loose" as Old Fuff describes. I think some clone makers have gone the same route.

But that is normal and should not cause misfires.

But, to answer the question, on a Colt SAA and most others, yes, you just punch out the crosspin and replace the firing pin. But many clones have some "safety" system and I would check that first if the firing pin does not seem to be reaching the primer.

Jim

 

[1911Tuner]

re:

May be just a shot in the dark...but the Virginian Dragoon revolvers had a
"manual safety" of sorts that under the right circumstances could have gone awry and caused a failure to fire. I don't know if this feature was intentional, or if that's just the way it worked out...but it was actually pretty neat.

On these revolvers that I've handled, you could place the hammer in the half-cock position...push the cylinder pin's release/takedown pin...push the cylinder pin rearward...and it would lock the hammer. Then, drawing the hammer back just a bit, and pushing in on the release pin would snap the pin forward again and allow the gun to fire. If something is worn or out of whack in that area, it's possible that the cylinder pin is changing positions under recoil...moving forward under inertia, and maybe rebounding rearward...not far enough to lock the hammer...but enough to interfere with the hammer falling with full energy on the next shot.

If your revolver misfires immediately after firing a round...then fires on the next try...then misfires, etc...mark the cylinder pin and look at it after each round to see if it's moved rearward...and look into the frame, low on the hammer to see if any of the pin is protruding.

 

[quiknot]

uberti clone

have a uberti cattlemen gunfighter 4 3/4" barrel....it just started to misfire lately at the range...last few shots dented the primer but they never went off..for some i was able to rechamber in the cylinder and shot them, but when it went 3 times in a row...figured something was up...

when i first got the revolver the firing pin was solid in the hammer..now it moves alot....

should i pop out the pin holding the firing pin to see if that is the issue?