I think I wrecked my shotgun...

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I'm a newb. I have an old JC Higgins 12ga pump. I was practicing my reloading with some home made dummy rounds and the next time I went to the range I discovered the firing pin isn't striking the primer hard enough. My boom-stick doesn't go boom! :confused:

I thought dry firing would be OK on this gun. Turns out, its not. Am I going to need a new bolt assembly or something? anyone have experience with these old JC Higgins guns?
 
Did the firing pin break? What were your homemade dummy rounds made of, could they have damaged the pin?

Usually dry firing is when you pull the trigger and there is nothing in the chamber. Snap caps or dummy rounds should give some resistance to the firing pin so it is similar to striking a primer.
 
It's mostly likely not a broken firing pin, but it might be. Start by looking in the bolt for 'crud assorted'. Give it a good bath anyway.
J.C. Higgins is just a Sears brand name. The model determines who actually made it. (Mostly Marlins, but not all.) There should be no reason not to dry fire any of 'em. Anyway, Gunparts has a 'Brand Cross reference page on their site that'll tell you who made your shotgun. A J.C. Higgins Model 20, for example, was made by High Standard. A firing pin runs $14.10US, plus their $35 exporting fee. $49 is kind of expensive for a firing pin.
If you need a new firing pin, try Western Gunparts first, then Gunparts. WGP first because they're in Canada.
 
Yeah Firing pin would be worn or peened down and not extending out far enough, could also have broken the tip off, or perhaps the firing pin channel is full of old powder, lead, carbon ect.


Not a major issue.
 
my dummy rounds were just old shells. I removed the primers, so the firing pin wasn't hitting anything. I cleaned the bolt assembly a bit but maybe I should give it a bath in some solvent? I would rather not have to spend any money!


thanks for the suggestions!
 
Ok its fixed! all I did was take the firing pin out of the bold, clean it and put it back together. it wasn't even very dirty, but I think I pulled a tiny flake of metal out of there. turns out the spring wasn't pushing the pin all the way back, so when the hammer hit the pin it was barely making contact. should be OK now.

thanks again guys!
 
When you pull the primer out put a dab of hot glue in there. When it hardens it's perfect for your firing pin to hit.
 
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