442 Firing Pin (length?)

[wolverine]

Can anybody shed some light on the firing pin length on the newer S&W 442 (built Jul/09)..

My 442 seems to fire the factory ammo OK (about 2 FTF on 500 rounds) but I get a more frequent or occasional FTF using reloads (about 1 FTF per cylinder full)
I have been using Federal magnum pistol primers as I just can't find any small pistol primers in my area at this time.
I have been very careful to make sure the primers are fully seated in the primer pocket & I do a get a pretty decent dent in the unfired primers.
The reason "I think" it might be attributed to firing pin length is I have some cases that have slightly thicker bases (about .010" thicker) & those set the primers closer to the firing pin & those have had a 100% always firing history using the same primers.


Ordinarily I wouldn't worry too much on an occasional FTF using reloads (especially using magnum primers) but my friend using a similar 442 (built about the same time) has absolutely no FTF using the same reloads.

I miked the firing pin for length & it is .4855 from striker end to pin end..

Any info on this or suggestions what to do about it?


Wolverine

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I would take the side plate off and give it a good
cleaning then oil. Dried oil or some grit could be slowing
your hammer down. This has happened to me before. Don

 

[wolverine]

Don, clean as a whistle & nothing out of order under the side plate, plenty of lube. I had to take it apart to measure the firing pin length so have already been there. Hammer spring seems strong & trigger pull is fairly high.

Wolverine

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I would post this in the gun smithing section of this
forum and if you don't get any good answers there I
would send it to S&W. Two things I just thought of;
One is WD40, if it gets on your bullets it will kill
your primers. Two, has lighter springs been put in
your gun. Just some long shots. Good luck. Don

 

[pinkymingeo]

That pin is extremely short. Reliable factory pins measure approx. .495. Apex pins are about .500 and C&S about .505. I'd replace it.

 

[cocojo]

Had the same problem with my 442 built around 08. Send it in to S&W. Three days later new longer pin and no more problems. They picked up the whole tab on shipping. They used smaller pins for communist states like California and Massachusetts for their informous drop testing. Call them, tell them your getting miss fires and the pin is too small. They will send you a paid postage slip via e-mail for fedex. Either pickup at house or taken to fedex. I took mine right to fedex it's whole lot faster. Three days later I had my gun back.

 

[wolverine]

That pin is extremely short. Reliable factory pins measure approx. .495. Apex pins are about .500 and C&S about .505. I'd replace it.

Pinkymingeo, thank you, that sort of confirms what I thought..

If the (Reliable) factory pins are .495 should I opt for the Apex .495" pin or just use the Apex carry .500 pin?
Are there any problems with going with the longer pin over the Apex .595" pin?

Wolverine

 

[James_Joshua]

I bought a 442-2 a couple of months ago. I decided to get a spring kit from wolf (lighter hammer and lighter trigger return springs). Had some really light primer strikes but no failure to fire. Since this was a possible concealed carry gun I decided to get an extended firing pin from Cylinder and Slide. It was about 0.035" longer than the stock firing pin. Good hard hits with the light springs installed and an already great trigger made better. Really isn't a bad job, but you just have to take your time.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I used C&S pins for a long time with no problems, but so many guys badmouth them that I switched to Apex, currently on six revolvers. The Apex pins measure approx. .502 and have gone thousands of rounds without a hiccup. I use them with lightened springs and get 100% reliability with Federal primers. I load all my ammo, and haven't tried any other primer brand with them.

 

[bbauman]

Recently got a 360 M&P that occasionally wouldn't fire factory ammo on the first strike. Reloads some wouldn't fire after 4-6 hits even. Instead of returning to S&W I put in a C&S extended firing pin. Would have gotten the Apex if I had known the C&S you can't dry fire without snap caps.

Oh, be careful, the lanyard pin is the same color and diameter as the firing pin retaining pin but it is shorter. Not good when you get them turned around!