Making a firing pin

[dj_28]

I've been trying to make a firing pin for a Stevens Crackshot and little scout. Turned them down on a lathe, fit them to the breech block, and they have good protrution. I'm getting hard strikes on the primers of the .22 shells but no bang. What's up. I can't figure were I'm going wrong.

And yes I know that I can buy the firing pins for both guns but why buy when I can make.

DJ

 

[GarySTL]

Could the contact surface be too pointed rather than rounded? Maybe missing the sweet spot?

 

[dj_28]

Have tried a few different point designs. Rounded, flat, pointed, and vertical wedge.
Any thoughts?

DJ

 

[GCBurner]

The fit through the breechblock should be loose enough that the pin slides back and forth easily, and the through-pin that locks it into the breechblock shouldn't contact it except at each end of its travel. I spent some time with a Dremel polishing wheel getting mine just right for reliable functioning. Even the replacement firing pins for the Crackshot require a good deal of fitting. If it's sliding smoothly and still doesn't fire reliably, I'd suspect the ammo. My Crackshot 26 is marked "Not For Highspeed Ammunition", so I don't shoot anything in it but Standard Velocity, or CCI Subsonic and CB Caps anymore.

 

[dj_28]

Yeah I've been shooting shorts in mine. I'm starting to think that the hammer spring may be weak. I don't know. Going to give that a try because like I said the firing pin is fitting right. Loose enough to slide freely, no contact to the cross pin until it reaches the end of it's travel, and has enough protrution. Thats all I can think to do.

DJ

 

[rcmodel]

Lots of old Crack-Shots have excess headspace from the take-down screw hole wallowing out in the barrel.

Also make sure there isn't a firing pin dent in the barrel chamber face cushioning the blow.

However, if you are getting good deep dents in the rims, I would suspect bad ammo first.

Try some other ammo brand before you go crazy thinking it is your firing pin when it isn't..

rc

 

[NCsmitty]

I'm curious why you made a new firing pin? Were you getting failures with your old Fpin, or was the old Fpin broke or missing?

However, if you are getting good deep dents in the rims, I would suspect bad ammo first.

If you were getting FTF with the old Fpin, then rcmodel's explanation seems valid. Try some other fresh ammo first to check & verify.


NCsmitty

 

[dj_28]

Tried a couple different brands of ammo.

The old firing pin was broke, so I don't know if it was bad or if it had a weak mainspring. I was thinking it was getting good hard firing pin strikes but not real sure now. I was comparing it to the primer strikes I was getting from a marlin 60's primer strikes. Not a good comparison do to the different firing pin designs. The 60 has a flat firing pin whereas the crack shot and little scout has round firing pins.

DJ

 

[rcmodel]

Hammer velocity & impact has to be high enough to set the primer compound off.

It's not the size that matters (of the dent), but how fast you made it that counts.

Could well be a weak spring, not fast enogh impact.

rc

 

[dj_28]

RC I think thats it. I'm trying to find a spring that will work in the little scout. I have tried adding spacers to the spring guide but no help the spring is miss shaped and I'm guessing to weak.

The problem isn't as hard to fix in the crackshot, I'm going to make a new spring plunger that's alittle longer tiped to add tension to the mainspring. I'm hoping that will help it.

DJ

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Show us a couple of photos of struck yet unfired brass and the striking portion of the firing pin as well as the hammer interface of the firing pin.