Finding out what's really true...

[LL617]

Took my well-traveled model 10-5, snub-nosed to shooting range other day. Starting talking with the proprietor about the revolver, and the bit of history that I know of it. Gentleman examined the revolver and then informed me I had a bad firing pin and should not shoot it until I had a gunsmith look at it.

Later went to a well-established shop for advice on a good smith. The guy behind the counter took a look at it and said the first guy was obviously unfamiliar with this older weapon; nothing wrong with it.

Well, I don't know enough to know who is right so I've got my snubbie in with a gunsmith now for a full evaluation. Can you direct me to some reading or online videos that can teach me more about spotting problems? I want to take good care of my revolver, but frankly there is still much for me to learn.

Thanks.

 

[A10]

If you post some pics of the gun and the firing pin, as well as the inside of the recoil shield, you might get some good opinions here. Probably post them in the gunsmithing section.....

 

[vytoland]

here's a "healthy" S&W model 10-5 snub nose firing pin.........

 

[Art Doc]

Um... Did the gun shoot? If yes, why are you worrying about it?

If the firing pin is defective, what's the worst thing that can happen? The gun won't shoot. At which point you know something is wrong.

 

[LL617]

Can't post pics; revolver not here.

Not worried about firing it now [been going to the range weekly]--more concerned about keeping it in tip-top shape. But it was this situation that made me realized that I want to learn more about proper maintenance and what to look out for that could lead to problems down the road.

 

[LL617]

Oh, I forgot to say, thanks for posting the picture of the hammer.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

If it ain't broke don't spend $$$ trying to fix it. Remember opinions are like exhaust pipes.......everybody has one.

 

[H Richard]

One simple test is to open the cylinder and pushing back on the cylinder release pull the trigger and hold it back. The firing pin will stay forward extended through the recoil shield and hammer nose bushing. Is the tip of the pin through the hammer nose bushing far enough to reliably set off the primers? Does the firing pin fill the hole in the hammer nose bushing? Then nothing is wrong with it.

 

[feralmerril]

Just what makes you think you even have a problem? Must be some unexplained reason.

 

[Stick895]

To the OP, just curious but did you ask the gent about what specifically was wrong, what he was seeing that made him say it was bad or just why he thought it was bad?

 

[tacreload]

Sounds to me like the proprietor should be the proprietor of something else,like maybe a miniature golf course.

 

[hotrod150]

I wonder if the proprietor was just trying to rattle your chain a bit? I don't know why but sometimes people who are (or think they are) savvy will do that sort of thing to newbies. And not just in the gun world...

 

[Oyeboteb]

The Firing Pin should 'wiggle' up and down a little...it is not a Foxed Firing Pin in the sense of it being rigid. It it supposed to pivot slightly on the Rivet which holds it to the Hammer.

Possibly the Gent thought it was 'loose', thought it was supposed to be completely rigid, like the old SAA Colts or others were.

 

[kdailey]

The Firing Pin should 'wiggle' up and down a little...it is not a Foxed Firing Pin in the sense of it being rigid. It it supposed to pivot slightly on the Rivet which holds it to the Hammer.

Possibly the Gent thought it was 'loose', thought it was supposed to be completely rigid, like the old SAA Colts or others were.

Exactly what I was thinking. Some mean well, but just don't have a clue.

 

[sw282]

Just as l dont let a car salesmen fix my brakes, neither do l allow range jockeys work on my guns

 

[310Pilot]

Well gosh, the darned firing pin came out of the frame, stuck to the hammer! Of course something is wrong with it, and it even wiggles up and down a little bit when the hammer is cocked! Heck, that is obviously dangerous, it's likely to be blasted right out the back of the frame, and you'll shoot your eye out! Even just cocking that thing could be dangerous, there must be a spring in there somewhere that could make that thing leap out of there and kill or wound at least five nearby innocent bystanders, and the Warren Commission will swear to it! Realistically, if the "expert" at the range didn't tell you exactly what was wrong with the firing pin, except to say it was "bad," and the gun was functioning and firing normally, I would tend to view that advice with a bit of skepticism. Obviously, you got a second opinion, which was completely opposite that of the range "expert," I expect the truth will come out after the current inspection.

 

[Srigs]

Nothing is wrong with your gun. Enjoy shooting it.

I have a Model 10-5 and the firing pin moves up and down a bit with no issues.

 

[CajunBass]

He was probably concerned that he couldn't get the slide back.

 

[williamlayton]

Well now!
I am a BIG proponent of proactive maintenance. Most of my guns are for self-defence & I think that something can't go wrong until the wrong time.
I try to eliminate Murphy as best I can.
I have a 586 that had the recall issued for it a long time ago---who knows how many owners or rounds thru it.
My personal experience was that it worked just fine.
That said---I reasoned that the boys at S&W must have had some rason to want to fix something that had never had a problem to that point---well, to the point that I had experience with it--and I sent it in for the fix.
I guess, I am just too anal.
Blessings

 

[BSA1]

I do not let strangers handled my guns.

I do not seek advice from range or gunshop "experts" or "gentlemen."

Firearms are tools made for tough use. They regularly survive 20 years of daily carry by LEO's and live a long life as a civilian gun.

Relax, use a drop of oil (and I do mean only a drop) here and there your gun will outlast you.