30-30 firing pin problem?

[sureshot66]

Hi, I have an old Winchester 94 30-30(made in 1926). I was looking at it tonight and noticed something odd. When the hammer is cocked, looks like the part that the hammer strikes to fire the round is loose. If I point the barrel down towards the ground, that piece goes flush with the bolt and then the hammer would not hit it. Do I have a broken firing pin or something else going on?
Any advice would be welcome.

 

[kamlooky]

Could be you're looking at this a bit hard?
Do you have a spent case you could put in the chamber?
Then you could tell whether the firing pin is too short or not.

 

[crazy_davey]

The part that you are seeing that looks loose is the firing pin. Winchester 94's use a free floating firing pin(no spring). When a case is loaded and is tight against the bolt face, that is what holds the firing pin back. With nothing loaded against the bolt face it will just flop back and forth like you are seeing. Open the lever and then push on the back of the firing pin where the hammer would strike, you will see what I mean.

 

[sureshot66]

That's great if it is supposed to be like that(floppy firing pin). I inherited the rifle and was told that it was still a great shooter but then saw the firing pin problem(at least what I thought was a problem). Thanks again for all of your help.

 

[two-dogs]

The part that you are seeing that looks loose is the firing pin. Winchester 94's use a free floating firing pin(no spring). When a case is loaded and is tight against the bolt face, that is what holds the firing pin back. With nothing loaded against the bolt face it will just flop back and forth like you are seeing. Open the lever and then push on the back of the firing pin where the hammer would strike, you will see what I mean.

good to know. Thanks for the info.