Snap Cap question..

[BAGUTOO]

Hey guys,

Never experienced this before. While dry firing my 340PD with A-Zoom snap caps, I noticed that sparks were present where the firing pin contacts the caps "primer". Is this normal?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, and no.

It appears to only happen with the newer S&W's with frame mounted firing pins.
It can happen with or without snap-caps.

The sparks are coming off the firing pin hitting the frame of the gun, or the steel cross pin that holds the FP & spring in place.

I'd try a drop of oil on the firing pin to stop the friction.
It can't be good for whatever is shearing off in there and making sparks.

rc

 

[BAGUTOO]

Ok i followed your suggestion. I placed some Rem Oil on the pin and re-tested. Sparking still occurs, but much less than before.

Is this a issue that should be addressed by a gun-smith?

 

[rcmodel]

I don't know the real cause, so I don't know if it needs to be addressed or not.

It does seem to be pretty common on the "new" FP design guns though.

Were it mine, I would be getting in there and figure out what is making sparks though.
There has to be metal wearing on metal, or else it's generating electricity through the Piezoelectric effect!

Now that I tried to be funny, I'm wondering if the spark is blue, like static electricity, or white or red, like a spark from metal impact chips?

I only have one newer S&W 625-6 with the frame mounted FP, and it doesn't seem to spark.
But I don't dry-fire it either.

BTW: If you Google s&w sparks when dry-firing you will get over 15,000 hits.
I think the consensus is, it's a non-issue.

rc

 

[BAGUTOO]

White sparks and you are funny. I appreciate your input. Thanks!