Rossi 720, Broken Firing Pin, Asking for Advice

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Tallball

Tallball

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My Rossi 720 in 44 special is one of my favorite handguns. I was shooting it at the range a few days ago and the firing pin broke. Wow, I was a sad panda. When I got home I looked around online and couldn't find one for sale.

My FiL told me today how he read that a S&W K-frame firing pin of the proper vintage would work (it's the kind that is mounted on the hammer, and it seems to be spring-loaded).

Does anyone have experience with this? I could just go ahead and order one to see if it fits, but that would cost $40, and I am cheap. :)

Any advice would be deeply appreciated. :eek:


Here is a gratuitous (and poor quality) picture. I love shooting it.

Rossi44_zps16ad2875-1.jpg
 
One of the cons of owning a cheap gun is (as you've learned) the cost of repairs, which can exceed the gun's value.
 
Shoot - the Rossi or S&W 357's?

Shaq - You misunderstand. They are not cheap or easy to find. The 720's were made for only a few years, in the early 90's. I bought it after many recommendations and a patient search.
 
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The only thing cheap about a Rossi 720, was the price back in the day! It's a very strong, well made gun. Had one, wish I still had it.

Why not contact Rossi? I would think, that they would be very helpful in resolving your problem.
 
I think that is the same frame as their .357's...probably the same firing pin.
Click to expand...

It sure looks a lot like my Rossi 972, at least frame wise. My contact with Rossi concerning parts has been positive; chat on their site works well and the small part I needed was sent free. The person I talked to was knowledgeable, so you might start there.
 
It wouldn't hurt to call Rossi and at least ask. Some of the old timers there might have worked on the older Rossi handguns. They might even know where to get parts.

You might also call Jack's First Gun Parts at 605-343-9544. They may have what you need.

...
 
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BTW, your gun looks to be a great piece for the money. But I'd sure hate to have any gun fail during a critical time. Were there any signs that there was anything wrong with the gun prior to the firing pin failure? And when it failed, did it do so after firing the shot or before/during a shot?

Also, do you have any photos of the firing pin and the pieces you retrieved? A photo of your cocked revolver would be ideal. Besides, I'd like to see more photos of your 720.

I love my Rossi revolvers. I have an M88 3-incher and my 4-inch .22LR is a peach. I've never worried about my .22LR as it's got a frame-based firing pin. Both guns are better, in my view, than the Taurus versions of the same guns.


RossiPistols_2C.jpg


...
 
It does when their website specifically states they won't service non braztech rossi revolvers, just don't want the gentleman to waste his time. He be better off looking on eBay or one of the other gun parts companies like numrich.
 
Sorry, but a stainless 44 Spl valued at around $300.00 is a very cheap gun. A decent-quality Ruger revolver is closer to $800. You get what you pay for. A broken FP is a hint of the metal quality.
 
Good grief,
I just sent a tarus, rossi, braztech (all 3 names on mine, so who knows what it was) back to Miami Lakes, FL for service.
Just call them! But be prepared to pay shipping to them.
 
Shaq said:
Sorry, but a stainless 44 Spl valued at around $300.00 is a very cheap gun. A decent-quality Ruger revolver is closer to $800. You get what you pay for. A broken FP is a hint of the metal quality.
Click to expand...


And what good does it do to argue that? That's not the point of the thread and you certainly aren't bring helpful.


If you don't like the gun don't buy one but posting "I told you so's" is childish.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Catpop said:
Good grief,
I just sent a tarus, rossi, braztech (all 3 names on mine, so who knows what it was) back to Miami Lakes, FL for service.
Just call them! But be prepared to pay shipping to them.
Click to expand...
Yours was a taurus owned rossi revolver, his is clearly marked interarms which are now defunct his best bet again is any number of gun parts companies or eBay.
 
Confederate -The firing pin gave me no warning. My friend and I had each shot a couple of cylinders through it. (My friend was impressed. It has a nice trigger, good accuracy, and surprisingly moderate recoil.) It was my turn, I shot four rounds, and then the fifth round didn't go off. I figured it was the first dud round that I had ever experienced from my FiL's reloads, and emptied the cylinder. So it was my friend's turn again and none of the rounds would fire. A quick look showed the broken-off firing pin. I can't show you the broken-off piece. My FiL has determined that it dropped into the mechanism, and he is obviously correct.

I rescued this particular 720 from an abusive home. The drag line was very light, but the ejection rod was mildly bent and it had a couple of other minor injuries which I am not remembering just now. My local gunsmith believed that someone had flipped the cylinder closed a whole lot of times and had probably done other bad things to it.

Here is a picture of the broken firing pin. My FiL had to buy some stuff from Midway today, and really wanted me to add a S&W K frame hammer-mounted firing pin to the order, so I did. (I try to be a good SiL.) If it doesn't fit, I will pursue other resources as suggested by several kind board members.

Rossi_zpsbioruw5s.jpg
 
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FWIW, I have repaired broken firing pins on both S&W and Colt revolvers, so I can't say that the Rossi is of poor quality or defective because its firing pin broke. If a firing pin can't be purchased, it is pretty easy to make one, though it obviously would cost more than a replacement part.

Jim
 
Jim - Thank you for the good suggestion. If the S&W doesn't fit, and the newer Rossi ones don't either, it wouldn't be impossible for me to make one. I didn't think of doing that. I make knives sometimes and am familiar with shaping pieces of metal. Great idea! :)
 
Keep an eye out on Ebay,there are several auctions with parts but none as of right now with firing pin for the 720.
 
I would think a Model 60 firing pin would be a better bet, but you may be able to make a K-frame pin fit. As mah ol' poor daid pappy used to always say, "If it don't work at first, force it!" More than not, it's worked.

The Rossi revolvers are not cheaply made, nor is its steel second rate. The springs may or may not be the same quality, but of all the stainless revolvers I've ever seen, the only ones I know of that had crappy steel were some Smith & Wesson 681s, the barrels of which were so soft that the holsters were wearing off the front sights and the lands and grooves were becoming smooth and worn. Never saw that happen with a Rossi yet!

Good luck!
 
I had a Smith & Wesson 10-6 break exactly like that a couple years ago. They call that part a "Hammer Nose" instead of a firing pin, if that helps your searching. I wouldn't say it was an inferior gun either, but it broke.
I wound up replacing the hammer & trigger, since I discovered that a previous owner had mucked with a file on the sear engagement surfaces and that was causing my poor-feeling trigger.
I got my parts on eBay, used, and they dropped right in (luckily).
 
I was told broken firing pins is a common issue on Rossi revolvers. Same guy also said a K-frame firing pin should work.

There's a gunsmith in Alabama who used to work for Interarms so he might be able to help you:

M&M Gunsmithing
2423 Carter Grove Rd
Unit B
Hazel Green AL 35750
571-276-7676 8:00am-4:00 pm CST
 
Contact this gunsmith,,,

M&M Gunsmithing
2423 Carter Grove Rd
Unit B
Hazel Green AL 35750

571-276-7676 8:00am-4:00 pm CST

www.mmgunsmithing.com

He was a gunsmith for Interarms who imported many Rossi handguns,,,
Apparently he has a lot of parts for the Rossi revolvers.

He was able to replace the cylinder on my older Model 511,,,
Didn't charge an outrageous sum either.

I hope this helps.

Aarond

.
 
Thank you everyone for your kind advice. You have given me many avenues to help me get the old gal runnin' again. I very much appreciate y'all taking the time to help me out! :)
 
Firing Pins Available for INTERARMS Rossi

I called Jack's First Gun Parts at 605-343-9544 today and they have the firing pin for Rossi Interarms revolvers. The Part Number is 20051 and the price is $18. They also have firing pins for the old S&W 60 (Part Number 5291) for the same price as well as many others.

Shipping is ten bucks and they make the firing pins themselves. If you need any springs for your old autos or other parts, write down what you want because they don't have an online catalog. Visa and MasterCard accepted.
 
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