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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 10-11-2018, 09:14 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Default Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?

As the title says... Is it possible to take the frame mounted firing pin and spring along with the MIM hammer... out of a 1999-2001 era "N-Frame" and swap in a case hardened, non-MIM, firing pin equipped hammer, on an M629-5??? The M629-5 in question is a Mountain Back Packer I recently acquired and after running approx 325 rounds thru her I'm carrying it as our "Woods-Gun" in place of an M29-3; and simply would like to have the same style hammer and trigger as our M29-3 has, nothing more.

If the swap can be done..., does anything need to be done to the associated firing pin bushing inside the frame? I want to make no assumptions...

I can properly fit a hammer, trigger, and sear engagements... I've just never tried the swap I'm asking about above. I appreciate all first hand experience or knowledge of those that have in fact done this, second hand news as well.

-Thanks,
Ham
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Old 10-11-2018, 09:20 PM
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CAJUNLAWYER CAJUNLAWYER is offline
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Can't do it pure and simple. Well, you could but you better hace a pretty good machine shop set up as you will have to completely re-mill the inside of the\ frame to remove the captured firing pin and make the slot within........no never mind. It can't be done. At least be mortal man without access to a gun factory
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Old 10-11-2018, 09:39 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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It can probably be done, but not with drop in parts.

I agree that a Bridgeport milling machine would be required at the very least. I can see many man hours of machining time to make that work.

Why do you want to do the swap? If it is for cosmetic reasons, you can have the existing hammer color case hardened.

If we were talking about a K-frame, you could probably use one of the 20+ year old color case hardened hammers from the guns with frame mounted firing pins.
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Old 10-12-2018, 08:57 AM
sodacan sodacan is offline
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Is this a trick question? LOL
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Old 10-12-2018, 08:18 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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I don't see why you would want to. The warranty would be toast and really what would you accomplish? Nothing really wrong with MIM parts.
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Old 10-12-2018, 10:38 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colt_saa View Post
If it is for cosmetic reasons, you can have the existing hammer color case hardened.
I don't know as I would suggest that. I'm sure other members will be in with more experience in MIM materials, but from what I understand they are molded, then baked for hardness at a very precise temperature. Case hardening wouldn't be the same process and temps may be different,which may induce part failure.

As far as doing the swap, much machining involved for no gain. As long as the gun works as it's supposed to I wouldn't even consider going that far for a small cosmetic change.
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Old 10-13-2018, 01:04 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Thanks fellas. I have access to a great shop and 6-7 years of gunsmith experience on the side of my day job, commercial real-estate. It sounds like it absolutely can be done, IF, I was to spend a tremendous amount of time in the family shop. I've got a 7 year old daughter/soccer star on a traveling team, a wife, a job, and too much to do on our house to take up this endeavor. And it's getting down to the meat and potatoes of the college football season. Thanks for the headache warning! I'll put another couple or three hundred rounds thru her before we go back for Thanksgiving to the shared family mountain home again of where I carry the MBP for our "Woods-Gun."
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Old 10-14-2018, 04:04 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Groo here
You could change the hammer for a steel one and have it case hardened.
but the change to a hammer with the fireing pin on it,,, WHY??????
The frame mount is less likely to get damaged and the firing pin
fit and length fitable...
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Old 10-14-2018, 06:37 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Groo01 View Post
Groo here
You could change the hammer for a steel one and have it case hardened.
but the change to a hammer with the fireing pin on it,,, WHY??????
The frame mount is less likely to get damaged and the firing pin
fit and length fitable...
I'll answer that if I have any hammer related problems in the next 250-300 rounds...
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Old 10-14-2018, 07:46 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is offline
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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No one, and I mean no one, could find the weak point of a gun faster than Kent Lomont (may he rest in peace), and he said the new design was superior to the hammer mounted firing pin.

If he couldn't destroy it, then I am impressed.
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Old 10-14-2018, 07:48 PM
Green Frog Green Frog is offline
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Just spitballing here, but since the rimfire guns always had frame mounted firing pins, would it work to use an early, forged rimfire hammer in a gun that was built with in-frame cf firing pin and MIM hammer? Haven't tried it myself, but it sounds like a place to start...

Froggie
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Old 10-19-2018, 08:09 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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just source a gun with a firing pin on the hammer.
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Old 10-19-2018, 08:33 PM
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Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer? Going from a MIM, non-firing pin hammer to a Case Hardened, firing pin hammer?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shawn mccarver View Post
No one, and I mean no one, could find the weak point of a gun faster than Kent Lomont (may he rest in peace), and he said the new design was superior to the hammer mounted firing pin.

If he couldn't destroy it, then I am impressed.
I don't know of Kent Lomont but I'll certainly research him on my laptop since I'm mid-cycle of the damned flu (my whole house is) and we are self quarantined to the house. I ordered a Patrick Sweeney "Gunsmithing, Pistols and Revolvers" at the direction of another nice member here to read myself distractedly from the misery! It should be here soon...

My plan was to run 150 more tomorrow and then another 150 the following Saturday of, "The-Thumpers", the 300 grain Prvi-Partizan and the 240 grain S&B's thru this M629-5 "MBP" to see/make her a true and confident "Woods-Gun" with no worries. Those plans are put on hold for now that me and the girls are influenza infected. Truth be told, I'm 95% confident as of right now with the 350-400 rounds thru her already. But...

I've been in a couple situations in years past; being both in Commercial/Industrial Real Estate and an Outdoorsman... I've had exactly (1) situation in each of the respective so called, "Fields" of where I needed my hardware, wits, and perseverance to perform. Both times, all did,,, that and the fact, (The Big Guy) was with me most importantly... or you would not be reading this. I like to know when something is called upon whether its our Jeep Rubicon, a firearm, computer, true friend, cell phone, etc. can be counted on 100% or to flake out. So I'm a little harder on the break-in/testing stage than most are.

And I fully agree, properly done "MIM" parts are solid but I like to verify just in case! I'll report back the findings when I feel better on the "weather testing" with the hot loads but I expect it to be an uneventful but yet (2) very fun afternoons popping steel and paper. Thanks for reading/looking and all the advice guys. I mean that! 3 table spoons of Cherry Nyquel an hour ago. Goodnight boys!
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