Broken hammer... what to do?

[Jorsche]

Hi All,

EDIT: Should have specified that this is a Performance Center rifle (parts are all stock).

Actually sold my 15-22 recently and as I was packaging it up to ship, I noticed a rattle. Opened up the gun and found that a piece had broken off of the hammer.

I'm sure the buyer is not going to be thrilled, I've offered him a refund.

In any case, what's the best course of action? The hammer seems like a relatively easy install, how would I go about getting a replacement? Or would I be better off sending them the gun? Would they need the whole gun or just the lower?

I'll contact S&W after this, but looking for advice you guys may have.

Pics:

Broken Piece

Hammer still cocks (at least partially) and trigger releases it

Broken piece held in place where it should be

 

[Majorlk]

Call S&W Customer service. Do not shoot it in that condition.

 

[Irishtom]

How old is this weapon? Here is a photo of the hammer in my 15-22. Its about five months old. It appears to be completely different hammer.

 

[Irishtom]

Sorry about the double pic!

 

[Gunslinger808]

Huh, that looks like a hammer off of a Two stage trigger assembly and not a regular one like the pic Irishtom posted..

 

[Majorlk]

Huh, that looks like a hammer off of a Two stage trigger assembly and not a regular one like the pic Irishtom posted..

Yes, that is not a stock S&W hammer. I wasn't paying close attention to the photo the first time around. And if the whole FCG is aftermarket, a stock hammer may or may not mate with the trigger and disconnector.

I'm curious as to what would make the hook break.

 

[PortRoyalDad]

JORSCHE, Your "Hammer" is A LOT different than what's in mine.

How old is this weapon? Here is a photo of the hammer in my 15-22. Its about five months old. It appears to be completely different hammer. View attachment 104763

The hammers in my two 15-22's look exactly like the ones posted by Irishtom. By the way, I did have to send one of my 15-22's back for warranty, (for a hammer related issue: J-Spring), but the replacement hammer was still of the same configuration as the one shown by Irishtom.

Call S&W customer service and ask to purchase a replacement...if it's still under warranty, send it back.

Regards, Mike

 

[Gunslinger808]

I'm curious as to what would make the hook break.

Cast metal.

 

[Majorlk]

Cast metal.

That's not an answer. Many internal firearms parts are MIM these days and hold up very nicely.

 

[grock]

Is their any new parts number lists? i think we should make this a top priority for the 15-22, i have the older parts number list, but it would be nice to have more parts numbers.

 

[Jorsche]

I should have mentioned that it's a Performance Center model. All parts are stock. I've emailed S&W CS with the pics.

 

[Majorlk]

I should have mentioned that it's a Performance Center model. All parts are stock. I've emailed S&W CS with the pics.

Then the FCG is probably a two-stage Rock-River, not stock S&W. Hopefully they'll just send you a new hammer. Takes five minutes to replace it.

 

[grock]

How old is this weapon? Here is a photo of the hammer in my 15-22. Its about five months old. It appears to be completely different hammer. View attachment 104763

yellow springs

 

[Irishtom]

yellow springs

Very observant!

 

[Jorsche]

Then the FCG is probably a two-stage Rock-River, not stock S&W. Hopefully they'll just send you a new hammer. Takes five minutes to replace it.

Good to know, thanks!

Do you simply punch out the pin that the hammer pivots on to get the hammer out?

 

[Irishtom]

Looks like a Rock River. If you look around you will find that quite a few other folks have had the same problem and apparently RRA does not recognize it as a warranty repair.

 

[Majorlk]

Good to know, thanks!

Do you simply punch out the pin that the hammer pivots on to get the hammer out?

Yes, basically.

 

[Jorsche]

Looks like a Rock River. If you look around you will find that quite a few other folks have had the same problem and apparently RRA does not recognize it as a warranty repair.

Yes I've read this after doing some research today, but the ridiculous thing is that this kit comes factory installed by S&W! If RRA is telling people "don't install our 2-stage trigger kit in a 15-22, we won't warranty it" then why the heck did S&W choose this trigger group for their top-of-the-line model??

I'm feeling an angry call to S&W customer service coming on...

 

[Gunslinger808]

That's not an answer. Many internal firearms parts are MIM these days and hold up very nicely.

OK, fine then.
Cast metal is easier to form with an internal structural defect than milled or forged.
Looks like it had a slight defect that fatigued on repeated strikes from the sear on every return causing failure at the stress point.
Better now?