Firing pin sticking on old K22

[Nightowl]

I have an old K22 serial in the K49000 range. The firing pin is sticking forward locking up the cylinder. I cannot get the firing pin out. I drove out the pin, but the pin feels like is is hitting a steel wall when I push on it. There much be something I am missing. I have never needed to take one of these apart before.

I have sprayed it with gun cleaner, and Kroiled it, but it still sticks forward, like the back of the pin has been peened just enough that the spring will not always push it back.

What is the secret of removing the firing pin?

 

[USBP SW]

The firing pin is housed in a bushing with the spring, visible when you open the cylinder. There should be a pin, located near the rear sight. It's something I would recommend caution because you don't want to mar the finish when you remove it. Once the pin is removed the firing pin, spring and bushing can be removed through the cylinder opening by carefully tapping on the firing pin.

 

[USBP SW]

I forgot to mention that I marked the bushing and recoil shield with a pencil so I could orient the pin cutout on the bushing, to replace the pin. I did the work on a model 63 but the process should be the same.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Tap the back of the firing pin with a pin punch. The bushing, spring and pin come out the front.

 

[Nightowl]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. I did not know that it came out the front. I tried tapping on the back of the firing pin and it did not move. So, decided to leave it alone for awhile, then try again. Later, I got the idea that it might work ok when shooting, so took it to the range today and it shot fine without any malfunctions. It looks like it only sticks when there is no cartridges to limit forward movement. It appears that the back of the firing pin sticks at the back of the frame when the firing pin is pushed forward to the limit.
I'm uncertain whether I want to continue to try to remove the unit or to just go with it as is. ?

 

[Marylander]

Hmmmm so I will not address removing the pin as it has been covered.
What I am about to say comes in two or more versions, but I adhere to
only one. Do Not Dry Fire a S&W Revolver, if at all possible. I always use snap caps of some sort to check mechanical action of the piece.
Your comment about OK at the range with cartridges indicates to me the piece was dry fired resulting in the "stuck" pin. If you have some snap caps of some variety, use them and see if it still sticks. Just 2 cents worth, and it may draw other comments about dry fire.

 

[Hondo44]

The firing pin aperture in the retaining bushing may be burred and/or out of round which can cause the pin to hang up. If so clean it up from the front with pin installed.

Also when you dry fire w/o anything in the chamber to limit the pin travel, it can move forward so far that the larger tapered diameter at the back of the pin can wedge in the hole.

 

[H Richard]

One other thing it could possibly be is a old weak firing pin spring, or a broken spring. Lets the pin go too far (empty chamber) and gets stuck in the bushing.