My dream revolver is here :) (pics) UPDATED - BROKEN FIRING PIN!!!

sailor723 said:
You know, I've heard more than one oldtimer at the gun club say the new Smith and Wessons can't hold a candle to what they built 30-40 years ago. I put it down to crotchety old fart BS but the more I read the more I wonder....
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They're not wrong, except that Performance Center guns are supposed to be built to the old, higher standards, being custom built and tuned by hand instead of mass produced on the factory line.

I'm disappointed to hear that no longer seems to be the case.
 
id64 said:
I was starting to have a light strikes more and more often and after the last trip to the range I've took it apart and find out that the firing pin is broken. So much for a legendary Smith and Wesson quality. :( Ordered the new one from Brownells, extended length as well. Updates of the situation after new pin is installed.
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OUCH! yeah... I totally agree with you. Not something one would expect from a "high end" revolver. In fact, the only time I ever experienced a broken firing pin was dry-firing a friends-fathers relic and the firing pin flew out the barrel (I didn't know any better at the time.)

Sorry to hear, but that's what Brownells is for.
I'm sure it will be fine once replaced ;)
 
It's interesting that the frame mounted firing pin has a so-so reputation in the newer S&W revolvers. All of my Smiths have the hammer mounted firing pin and I've personally never had a single problem with them.
Colt, when they actually did manufacture DA revolvers, had used the frame mounted firing pin since the early 1950s.
 
There are some pretty lively discussions on the S&W Forums regarding this very issue.
The one popular theory is that the titanium used for the newer internal firing pin is more prone to breakage.
Unhappy American owners then often go to Cylinder and Slide for a better than factory replacement part.
So, why not the same issue with the S&W rimfire revolvers of long ago? Probably because those ancient K-22s never had titanium firing pins in the first place.

Maybe.....
 
Brutus said:
There are some pretty lively discussions on the S&W Forums regarding this very issue.
The one popular theory is that the titanium used for the newer internal firing pin is more prone to breakage.
Unhappy American owners then often go to Cylinder and Slide for a better than factory replacement part.
So, why not the same issue with the S&W rimfire revolvers of long ago? Probably because those ancient K-22s never had titanium firing pins in the first place.

Maybe.....
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I love buying good condition, used older S&W revolvers. I really believe that the workmanship and quality of these older revolvers can't be matched by any modern production revolver.

17-3

12-2

34-1 now sports a Tyler T grip like it's three other brothers.

DSCN1873_zpsec2f9b4d.jpg
 
Yep. I've read them. It's exactly the problem that I have. And Cylinder and Slide extended what I've ordered. I am pretty sure it will completely eliminate the issue. :)

R8 is ready for the new pin :)

2014-11-09%2017.08.25.jpg


Brutus said:
There are some pretty lively discussions on the S&W Forums regarding this very issue.
The one popular theory is that the titanium used for the newer internal firing pin is more prone to breakage.
Unhappy American owners then often go to Cylinder and Slide for a better than factory replacement part.
So, why not the same issue with the S&W rimfire revolvers of long ago? Probably because those ancient K-22s never had titanium firing pins in the first place.

Maybe.....
Click to expand...
 
That picture reminded me of a neat tool I have for removing rebound springs. Sold by "Gunsmither tools". A real time saver if you need to strip a S&W.
 
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