22-4 questions

[hastings]

I have two questions regarding the 22-4 Thunder Ranch. Can anyone help.

First- The upper side-plate screw (the "4th" screw) fell out of my 22-4 while I was shooting it. I'm the second owner, and the screw felt stripped when I got it. After a string of twenty or more cylinders of ammo, I noticed the screw had come out and was not somewhere in the grass. I ordered a new one for a model 1917, from Numrich, but it doesn't fit. I could not locate a screw specifically for the the model 22, but I assumed the 1917 one would work. Can anyone point me to a source for these? I didn't try S&W, yet. How are they for small parts orders?

Second- If I put a longer firing pin in the 22, will it ignite primers reliably without the moon clips? I'd like to use the revolver without the moon clips, but with the standard length firing pin it does't ignite the rounds. Will a longer one break? Has anyone tried this, and tested it for reliability?

Thanks

 

[Alk8944]

Can't tell you about the firing pin, but a slightly longer one won't hurt. It's unfortunate that the current crop of engineers at S&W don't understand the cartridge is supposed to headspace on the mouth and the clip shouldn't even bear on the cylinder. S&W invented the clip, you would think they would know this, they used to do it right .

For the screw, call S&W customer service at 800-331-0852 and order one. Depending on who you get it may even be sent at no charge. The first place to start for parts for almost anything is the manufacturer! The new screw is different than on the older guns.

 

[MKT]

The Cylinder & Slide extended firing pins will improve ignition reliability. I had to install one in my 25-13 to get every round to fire. The engineers at S&W had to shorten the firing pin just a hair to get the guns to pass the CA drop test (or so I've been told) but it could also be they wanted a hair of extra assurance the guns would pass. My 21-4 did not need the extended firing pin...just throwing that out there for consideration.

The paper work that comes with the extended firing pin advises you not to dry fire the gun without snap caps. I believe this to to avoid the possibility of breaking the pin.