DARN!! My first ever K frame failure...

[Spotteddog]

Two thoughts.
Preventative maintenance (loose strain screw) is required on any machine regardless of how simple and reliable the design may be. Even a hack saw needs a blade change? Second then, is that if it has a moving part of any kind, it will suffer a failure to perform sooner or later. The failure of the part you suffered is one that can logically be expected due to the hardness of the part. And God only knows how many dry fire cycles she had on that pin, perhaps W/O even the aid of a snap cap or spent cartridge's primer to fall on? FTF/F due to magazine, feed ramp, recoil spring, and extractor issues are far more common. Durable and "problem free in perpetuity" are two different things!

 

[Chuck Jones]

In 30 years I've had one break, on a colt cobra while dry firing it. It's rare, but rare isn't never.

Heck, Ray Chapman once told me he'd lost a match because a of a factory .45 ACP cartridge that didn't have a flash-hole. The story was prompted by a question about the reliability of handloads.

/c

 

[Jeepster]

Maybe this will make you feel better. I have a Springfield Armory 1911, "Trophy Match" (one of their top of the line 1911s)that is about 15 years old. It has, maybe, 3000 rounds through it, max. Last spring I was at the local indoor range when it fired, then locked up, 100%! I had to take it apart to find out what was wrong and the barrel link lug, integral to the barrel, had broken off, thereby rendering the 1911 completely disabled. Springfield Armory replaced the barrel and lug for free so now it is back to 100%. I had this notion that the 1911 was about as fool proof as any handgun ever made. NOT! Barrel link lugs break. A guy I know just had the firing pin break on a fairly young Beretta 92fs (U.S. M-9). So, my 2 cents worth, is that if you like your revolver, fix it, and use it with confidence. If my life were on the line, short a mass Banzai charge, give me the revolver any day!

 

[ColbyBruce]

stiab, I bought a used two-tone Sig P225 DAO from a shop in FL yesterday, it will be here Thursday. If I like the Sig, something else will have to go as I have just about run out of room. The Astra A75L and Ruger P95dc are the lowest on the seniority list, S&W's usually do not get sold.

The RH side of the slide of the Astra is cosmetically challenged. It likes long ammo (123/124 gr.) and will feed Federal HST hollowpoints.

I will be in Franklin, N.C. tomorrow around lunch time if you live close, you can look at it.

 

[Red Rover]

Seems as if we've heard of more hammer mounted firing pins breaking in this thread than all the "confirmed" internal lock failures and the emotion the IL raises. There are 20 broken firing pins discussed in this thread alone.

How come there aren't any "I'd never by a gun with a hammer mounted firing pin" comments taking over nearly every thread? Why aren't we hearing "I'll only buy a revolver with a frame mounted firing pin" comments?

I only bring this up to raise the point. It is interesting. I am not a fan of the lock either. Thanks to those who posted about breaking firing pins.

 

[jimmyj]

A great reason to carry two CCW.

 

[GB]

I have a broken firing pin (and hammer) here on my computer desk as we speak. Broke on a Model 10HB that I brought a couple of years ago.. don't know when it happened except that it was during dry fire. First one for me in over 45 years of Smith ownership. Carried a wheelgun for about 15 of those years as a LEO. Stuff breaks. If positive 100% reliablilty is required, the only thing that I know that will fill the bill is a rock. Put in (or send in to have repaired) a new pin. Shoot a couple boxes of ammo to make sure it is right and move on to the next rough spot in the road..

 

[Practical]

Originally posted by David Sinko:
As I see it, a broken firing pin really has nothing to do with "reliability."
Dave Sinko

Parts breakage is a FUNDEMENTAL aspect of reliability.

The Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is a critical function of reliability.

All GUNS need servicing. If the recommended inspection and maintenance interval of the firing pin were known you could think about the reliability.

Civilians buy a gun and expect it to last forever with no maintenance and no parts replacement and ZERO inspection and NO full breakdown cleanings.

I believe this because for YEARS I treated my guns with benign neglect. After some number 5-20years MANY of my guns after some moderate and others frequent use began to fail.

I believe the this was the result of NO regular maintenance other than basic cleaning.

Glocks failed, 1911's, and Smith revolvers acted up.

If you don't take care of your tools
S&W armorers for Police Departments MUST have a inspection cycle and maintenence schedule. Folliwing it probably tells you HOW reliable a pistol is.

 

[stiab]

I will be in Franklin, N.C.

Colby, thanks, I'm a few hours from there. I'll be in touch with you in a couple weeks about the 75L, thanks again...

 

[BillA]

I have broken a couple firing pins over the years myself. It's an easy, quick replacement for any gunsmith. Get it fixed and don't worry about it.

 

[chillypepper]

have owned a couple dozen and put untold thousands of rounds thru them, all without a failure. After 40 years of issue free use, I surely did not expect this to happen.

and only one breakdown. sure wish GM and Ford had a track record like that. how much do you depend on car or truck on a day to day basis. I'd just fix it and keep on shootin'. at least it broke target shooting, and not in a need type situatuation.

 

[jeffrey]

It's not a K frame failure, but I broke the hammernose of my 29-4 a couple of months ago while dryfiring. It happens. Problem was that I could not get the right parts at Brownells. Had to send it back to Smith (under warranty) and they fixed it just fine. This was a "new to me" gun that looked like it had never been fired by its previous owner. I had fewer than 100 rounds of factory .44 Special through it when it failed.

Weird stuff breaks. A few years ago, the hand snapped off my brand new 37-2 after about 200 rounds of WWB. Smith fixed it just fine under warranty, but I was really unhappy about that one -- as this is my carry gun.

 

[Pulicords]

Originally posted by stiab: I was issued my first S&W revolver in 1969, bought my first one in 1970 (which I still have), and since then have owned a couple dozen and put untold thousands of rounds thru them, all without a failure. After 40 years of issue free use, I surely did not expect this to happen.

When I went through the (Sheriff's) academy, I was told to "expect the unexpected" when it came to firearms failures. Since then (1976), I've seen parts or ammunition failures involving various products. That's why I always carried a backup gun. Don't let the fact that your revolver was the "one in a million" S&W revolver to break, the odds were a lot less than that to begin with!

 

[BUFF]

Hmmm... maybe it is a bigger problem than I thought...

Thinking about it, I remember that I have had TWO broken firing pins on K frame revolvers. The first one I mentioned on my M-14, and the second one on a .32/20 Hand Ejector Target in .32 Long that was broken when I bought it.

Of course, the .32 shipped in 1910, had been dropped hard several times (hard enough to dent the frame, I mean DENT it) and who knows how much it had been shot in those 95 years!

Maybe it's a trend. If I am still here in another 33 years, and any more of my frame mounted firing pins, like in my K frame .22's, has broken, then I'll start to worry a bit.

Or not...

 

[stiab]

I was really unhappy about that one -- as this is my carry gun

I know what you mean! If this gun were just for the range, or hunting, or spent much of its time in the safe it would be different. But when it is your main CCW gun used on a daily basis, then it takes on a whole different perspective.

 

[Smooothpull]

Yessir, I've had 3 or 4 break over the last 20+ years. K and N frames. Carbon and stainless. I dry fire a lot on empty chambers and always wondered if that was a factor.

When it happens, I just remove the hammer and send it to the S&W factory with a note. All have been fixed and returned pronto at no charge.

By the way, when I had to send in a hammer for a problem unrelated to the firing pin, I noticed the factory replaced the firing pin anyway.

Regards, Smooothpull

 

[minconrevo]

I had the exact same "snap off firing pin tip" failure on an early vintage 66 a few years ago. Yes, it had been shot a bunch and dry fired a bit. It went back to Springfield for a one week turn around with some other LE guns.

I've also seen the flat mainsprings (SS only) snap in two. I think I recall that S&W quit using stainless for mainsprings, possibly for this reason. I've never seen a blue steel mainspring snap.

 

[M28]

Originally posted by stiab:
....but no longer will I be able to proclaim on those other forums that the typical S&W revolver is much more reliable than the typical bottom feeder.

I know the feeling. One of my best Buds is LAPD and a die-hard Berreta fan. Before the LAPD went semi-auto, he had an M15 break a firing pin at the range. He claims to have never had a failure with his current ride, a Beretta .45, or the ride before that, a Berreta 9mm.

He's big on staying proficient, the LAPD has a pay premium at some proficiency level above merely qualifying and at least in the past he instructed at the academy, so he's got a lot of rounds down range.

I can't even have the wheel gun vs. bottom-feeder discussion with him.

Brian~

 

[Noah Zark]

Originally posted by stiab:

I was issued my first S&W revolver in 1969, bought my first one in 1970 (which I still have), and since then have owned a couple dozen and put untold thousands of rounds thru them, all without a failure. After 40 years of issue free use, I surely did not expect this to happen.

You were overdue then, IMO and experience. Nobody expects a S&W hammernose FP to break, and nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition . . .

I bought my first S&W in 1970 and have owned dozens more since. I've also redistributed many dozens of pounds lead deposits from one geographic area to another using those S&W revolvers in the almost 40 years since that first purchase.

I've had three (3) hammernose firing pins break in those 39 years, averaging one in 13 years. They didn't come that regularly, and they were not on the same gun. In fact all three FPs were on three different guns.

Yes, it is a surprise when it happens because we S&W owners come to expect "bang" instead of "click," but Brownells has a nice kit of FPs, rivets, and a rivet tool, and it is simple to use.

Replace the FP, and life will go on.

But don't expect it to break again any time soon.

Noah

 

[Joed49]

I've had one firing pin break on a gun and the cylinder quit turning on another while out shooting. Both were K frame model 19's.

Gee, never had a lock go bad on a newer gun.