I have an older Elbar Spanish SxS I'm working on. the firing pins are mounted on the hammers and are both snapped. Has anybody had luck drilling and tapping the firing pin holes, flattening what's left of the pins on the hammer and installing disc set strikers? Any issues I'll run into that I haven't mentioned? Cheers
Drilling and tapping a SxS for disc set strikers?
- Thread starter Rebelson
- Start date
The action body will be hardened, so will likely have to be annealed and re-hardened when you're done drilling holes.
Then there's the question of whether the action has enough room to accommodate the pins. I've never considered having that done, so I can't really answer that question.
Then there's the question of whether the action has enough room to accommodate the pins. I've never considered having that done, so I can't really answer that question.
The receiver is probably case hardened. You might be able to work through the case.
As mentioned, make sure there is enough thickness in the breech faces to allow for the installation of the inserts, and retain the firing pins and retracting springs.
The breech face machining would be best done with a mill. The threads on the inserts would be very fine, the counterbores being shallow.
Would the firing pins be floating/rebounding? Spring retracted? If they don't retract before the barrels start to tip, they can be broken.
Just this afternoon I made a two pin spanner and removed a breech face disc so that I could properly radius a firing pin tip. I would not want to scratch build the setup.
I would be inclined to repair the hammers.
As mentioned, make sure there is enough thickness in the breech faces to allow for the installation of the inserts, and retain the firing pins and retracting springs.
The breech face machining would be best done with a mill. The threads on the inserts would be very fine, the counterbores being shallow.
Would the firing pins be floating/rebounding? Spring retracted? If they don't retract before the barrels start to tip, they can be broken.
Just this afternoon I made a two pin spanner and removed a breech face disc so that I could properly radius a firing pin tip. I would not want to scratch build the setup.
I would be inclined to repair the hammers.
Ok I have alot of measuring to do now, how would you go about repairing the hammers?
I assume they are one piece, with the firing pins being integral. Or they might have been added. The hammers will be hardened. Probably cased. Might be necessary to anneal the hammers. Drill and insert new pins. Adjust so that the pins fit the breech. Heat treat as necessary.
I'm going to assume that this is not a high grade gun. From a cost standpoint, there is a limit to what makes sense.
It could also be an interesting challenge.
I'm going to assume that this is not a high grade gun. From a cost standpoint, there is a limit to what makes sense.
It could also be an interesting challenge.
It would help if you have the broken off pins - then you would have a very good idea of what needs to be done.
The area where the hammers engage the sears will need to be hardened. New pins could be silver soldered in place with this area being protected.
Could you post photos of what you are working with?
The area where the hammers engage the sears will need to be hardened. New pins could be silver soldered in place with this area being protected.
Could you post photos of what you are working with?
Most Spanish side by sides I've worked on have rather soft firing pins. I would try drilling the hammers and make new pins, solder them in. If that area is too hard to drill, you could try annealing that area of the hammers without softening the sear area. I would leave the breach face alone. I would be surprised if they are too hard to drill with a good bit. I generally make firing pins out of drill rod. Drill bit shanks work. I don't harden them.
That's pretty much what it is at this point, the SxS has no real value other than as a learning experience. I'll try annealing and drilling this weekend and I'll update
