Recent content by Sparks

Installing a slightly longer firing pin MIGHT make the gun work, but unless your firing pin is actually faulty (chipped, broken, melted, bent, etc.) then you are using a band-aid which does not actually fix a problem. If the cylinder can move too far forward, due to wear, factory misadjustment...

Long Rifle is the first here to use common sense on this issue. Arguing semantics does not move the discussion forward. Call it what you like, the firing pin does not strike the primer hard enough or fast enough to ignite the primer. It IS most likely that all the strikes are the same - a bit...

Perhaps you can attempt a more complete description of your timing problem and give the forum members a chance to help you to fix the actual problem? Photos of the ejector/ratchet and of the present hand would help. B/C gap and rear gauge numbers help, as well as other observations that might...

A couple of comments on the two papers cited above.. The first article is written from a forensics standpoint. It provides a simplistic description of what the process is, and how the machinery looks on the manufacturing floor. It appears that there may be concern that ECR or its relative EDM...

I have a box of assorted parts as described below and a couple of revolver tools also. Most of the parts are new in original bags. About half of them apply to K,L,N revolvers. The other half are for 3rd gen. semi-autos, especially full size such as the 4506 and compacts such as the 908.

Many of the comments indicate that people believe that finish reaming the chambers is some kind of modification to the gun. In fact, the reamer brings the chamber to the proper dimensions - which should have been done in the first place at the factory. Get the reamer which is less than the...

Yes, and that is exactly my original question. I believe that this motion is not widely understood. Of course the cylinder stop or bolt is what sets the registration between cylinder and barrel. The hand does not align anything, or hold anything in place. It is responsible for rotating the...

Thank you. This movement makes the most sense to me. Once the cylinder is locked in position, the ratchet pad stops moving. Yet, the hand continues to move in the majority of DA revolvers today. My opinion is that this extra upward movement is an excellent idea because machining tolerances...

That much is clear and is easily visualized. You have stated the purpose of the hand. No sir, the ratchet pad can not move out of touch with the hand because a very slight misalignment or slight tolerance error would result in no carrry-up. This situation holds true in a worn or mis-adjusted...

A question on the design of the S&W hand, please. As the hand rises, the cylinder rotates until it carries up. The hand rises until the hammer is cocked (single action) or until the hammer falls (in double action). To insure that the cylinder actually locks into position, sufficient extra...

Technical input needed on replacement of the hammer nose (firing pin) rivet please. Previously I have re-used the rivet, backing it out partially, then re-staking only one side. In that case, the rivet goes back to its original shape with both ends sitting below flush. I'm using a dedicated...

Looks great, but what is the actual run number - such as 617-X? Spring manufacturers love you. Just because they make these sets available, doesn't mean it is a good idea to put them in. Could it be that you just reduced the amount of hammer energy that strikes the firing pin??? Worse? Like...

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Referring to my previous comments, the above statement expresses my question exactly. When we focus on reliability, the ability to fire a particular round is not in question. That ability is related to accuracy. Getting the round out of the magazine and into the chamber, and back out of the...

I would like to ask a serious question on this topic, since everyone is reporting that the M&P .45 will feed any type of ammo. I'm thrilled to hear that the gun works so well, and plan to try one out myself. But as a gunsmith I have no reason whatsoever to expect a variety of ammo types to ALL...