Firing Pin Bushings

[Dmay]

A long shot I know, but worth a try until I hear back from the manufacturer (hopefully).

This is a Merkel 140 AE rifle. I wish to remove the firing pin bushings. They have supplied me with the proper tool. But they don't simply unthread as far as I can tell. I can move them just very slightly, but there must be some trick. Perhaps something to do with the hole under the bushing.

 

[B]

Some bushings are press fit..? Just a wild guess.

 

[guntech]

You may have to disassemble behind the face of the action first?... or they may just be very tight...

 

[G.E.FLACH]

There appears to be a lock pin on the Bottom circumference of the bushing to keep them from rotating .You need to remove the stock to see if they just push thru or they are screws from the inside of the action

 

[Brassman66]

Give Gunmakers Martini and/or Hagn a call 250 428 3006 or 250 489 4861. Both will know how to proceed.

Cheers

 

[Dmay]

Hoping not to have to remove the stock. Would seem a silly way to have it, but who knows?

The holes under the bushing do not seem to interfere with them, although there does seem to be a very fine roll pin in there.

Also note how the tool is angled....which is what makes me believe it's not just a matter of unscrewing them.

Waiting on Merkel to respond, I'm sure they will. When I enquired about the tool they immediately shipped it to me free of charge. I shall report soon as I know, just for interest's sake.

 

[trevj]

They should unscrew. I would shine a decent light down that lower hole and see if it appears to be a spring loaded pin from the back end that is holding them in position. Or slide the back end of a suitably small drill bit in and feel to see if there is a retainer there.
Supposition on my part, but not anything that can cause damage, if you wanted to try it.

My grandfather's double shotgun has a similar set of pin holes in the bushing, no holes below. Those bushings screw right out.

Another supposition is that the end of the tool is angled like that to allow either to unscrew the bushing while the rifle has it's barrels mounted, or to allow access at that lower hole while holding the bushing in place, if it is a retainer lock of some sort.

 

[Longwalker]

I have the same model Merkel 140 AE rifle. Although mine has no problems whatsoever, I must say that i'm impressed that Merkel shipped you the tool when you contacted them. That is a level of service not commonly seen with lesser manufacturers. Gives me even more confidence.

 

[ago1]

there should be locking screws inside ...

 

[Dmay]

I did receive a reply from Merkel. Apparently they just unscrew according to the person who answered me. However, there is a bit of a language-barrier issue. I am going to explore the third hole, as mentioned by trevj, before I "turn very strongly against the clockwise direction".

 

[dilly]

I start them with a brass punch. I place the edge of the punch on one of two holes and tap very lightly while riding the hole as it starts to turn. After a quarter turn or when the holes line up vertical, you should be able to turn it out. It comes out on an angle, not straight out.

 

[Dmay]

Well, mystery solved! And yes dilly, they are at an angle. But I wanted to probe the third hole first. 1/16 drill bit too big. Next smallest thing I had handy was a .050 allen key. It fit......I mean it FIT! Hole was deeper than I'm used to for an allen head, so I hadn't thought of this. Unthreaded the little guy. Then the tool they supplied unscrewed the bushing like nothing. Odd angle, but it all makes sense now.
On the downside, the pin and everything was perfectly clean, so firing pin wasn't hanging up or anything to cause light strikes. Only happens with my reloads, not the factory loads. I did uniform the primer pockets so I'm guessing I should have left them be. It must like the primer just slightly proud of the depth I use for everything.
On a side note, if you ever want to check for a flinch, pull the trigger on a 470NE and have it not fire....

 

[Dmay]

I have the same model Merkel 140 AE rifle. Although mine has no problems whatsoever, I must say that i'm impressed that Merkel shipped you the tool when you contacted them. That is a level of service not commonly seen with lesser manufacturers. Gives me even more confidence.

Well that is right. You can certainly see and feel that rifles like these are a different league than we are used to in domestic mass produced guns. I have a Blaser K95 as well, and same thing, it's a work of art.

 

[G.E.FLACH]

Aren't you glad you didnt take a hammer and chisel to it ? The third hole is there for a reason not esthetics .

 

[guntech]

Only happens with my reloads, not the factory loads. I did uniform the primer pockets so I'm guessing I should have left them be. It must like the primer just slightly proud of the depth I use for everything.

Primers should always be seated as deep as they will go... never left proud...

 

[trevj]

Glad you got things sorted without leaving any 'signature' of your being there! LOL!

I had done a quick dig around on line to see if I could find an exploded parts list or suck for the gun, with no joy. Would make things SO much easier to sort out issues such as this.

Also clarifies why the angle on the tool, too, eh?

 

[fingers284]

Dont know what brand of primers your using with your reloads but if your not using Federal, I would try them to remedy the light strike problem.
they will "go" when nothing else will on tunes guns.

 

[Brassman66]

As usual, Knowledge pays.
Glad you did not heavy handed this and thanks for sharing !

Cheers