Took my recently purchased Model 17 .22 to the range last week. Experience Failure to Fire virtually every other round no matter what ammo I tried. Winchester, CCI, Federal made no difference. Could it be a weak firing pin and if so what would be the fix. Or suggestions as to other causes.

Thanks kindly.

There is no such thing as a "weak firing pin", it is struck by the hammer driven by the mainspring. The first thing to try is tightening the "strain screw". This is located on the front strap of the grip frame near the toe of the grip frame. You may have to remove the stocks if the gun has target stocks. Tighten the strain screw firmly, if this doesn't solve the problem come back and we will make other suggestions, but odds are this will be the cure.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

The other potential culprit is if the recesses in each chamber of the cylinder have considerable amount of dirt/oil etc the cartridge will compress that slightly when the pin strikes. That cushioning of the cartridge will cause a FTF. More likely it's the strain screw being loosened by someone thinking that will give a smother trigger pull.

Just a hunch--------------

If the strain screw is already tight---or if snugging it up doesn't produce the desired results, you may be the victim of an overly enthusiastic installation of a "spring kit". Some kits prescribe shortening the strain screw. The overall length of an "unfooledaroundwith" strain screw on a 17 is .608"-----thereabouts. If yours is somewhat less----------the possible culprit.

Ralph Tremaine

And the thought of an accumulation of crud, as noted above, is more than worth having a look at----life is too short to live with a dirty gun.

I had the same problem with my K22, serial number K15XXX. It was giving a light firing pin impression on the cartridge case. All the screws and springs were correct. I compared the protrusion of the firing pin to a new Model 17. Mine was visibly shorter. I bought a new firing pin, removed the original firing pin, and miked both. Over the years of shooting, the firing pin in my gun had shortened. I installed the new firing pin, and no more problems.

One thing I should add; removing the firing pin is easy. Installing the firing pin is not.

jag312,

Good information. Do you have dimensions our newer member, littlesonny, can use to check his firing pin, before just buying a new part; like from the tip of the firing pin to the back end of the pin? Or the amount of pin protrusion thru the recoil shield?

My gun fires reliably with any ammo and measures .386" from end to end. Remove the hammer to measure. Measure the firing in the gun with a 1" micrometer from the side of the frame, with mic 'barrel' (handle) to the rear.

My pin protrudes 1/32".

By the way, the "light firing pin impression" is caused because the round did not fire. When I drop my hammer on previously fired empty cases, indentations from my gun will look exactly like the impressions on your FTF rounds.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

"One thing I should add; removing the firing pin is easy. Installing the firing pin is not."

Did you use a slave pin? That usually makes things easier.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

If the strain screw is tight, check for cylinder end-shake. if it moves forward or backward, it can cause misfires. Not hard to correct, but it can easily cause misfires.