My 625-8 locked up!!!

[m657]

Sent this doggie back to the factory about 18 months ago for a 'Master Tune'. Came back slick & proper.

Have put about 2000 mild-moderate rounds thru it, but have had increasing issue with light primer strikes the last 500 rounds.

This is one N frame I have not dug into myself, as all was proper. I did not introduce any 'shade tree smithery' errors into assembly.

So last week the dang cylinder & hammer locks up with only ONE fired down range. Unable to open cylinder or move hammer.

Took to my local smith, caught him as he was closing. Had to leave over weekend. His initial thought was maybe the evil extra locking apparatus was involved....

I've never inserted or turned one of those keys, but left one with him to use if needed.

Today he reports the cause of the lock up was the FIRING PIN!

The pin is held in the frame by another pin and spring. Both of those are missing.

New parts are on the way.

Odd? Yes?

 

[lougotzzz]

I dont like new generation smiths. Sorry. It could happen to old guns too but then new ones dont get me all fuzzy.

 

[M29since14]

...Odd? Yes?

Yes, odd!

 

[scooter123]

While it's distinctly odd, it's also a very simple mistake to make if the person assembling the gun is distracted by a phone call or someone stopping by to ask a question. Both the retaining pin and spring are quite small and would be easy to miss.

What surprizes me is that you hadn't lost hte firing pin at some point. All you would have had to do was cock the gun and point it straight up, then the firing pin would have slid right out of the frame.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Not really odd, at all. Properly assembled 610's will lock up that way, sometimes, due to primer flow around the firing pin. I've had it happen with both frame and hammer mounted pins. You have to pry the guilty case away from the pin with a screwdriver, or equivalent, to open the action. I'm told the culprit is an oversized firing pin bushing. It's never happened to me with a 625, but there's always a first time.

 

[Geroge Rodgers]

I have had this problem with my 625. My problem is caused by the ejection rod comming loose. I need to put a little bit of locktite on it, but have been to lazy to try.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Maybe your smith lost the pin and spring....

 

[batmann]

Odd the first 1500 or so rounds fired without a hitch and the the problem developed during the 500 or so. It sounds like something broke. I am thinking that if the parts were missing to begin with, the problem would have popped (pun) up much earlier.

 

[m657]

There were a *few* random light strikes in the first 1000 or so that I wrote off as "odd". There were a few more the next 500, which I attributed to loose strain screw....which did need tightening ....once....

The next 500 rounds, shot over the course of several months, 50-100 at a time, saw increasing PIA level of light primer strikes.

I don't normally point my pistols straight up while at the range, as the SASS 170 rule affects all my muzzle discipline, and I hadn't thought of the diagnostic possibilities resulting.

In any case, by the time there was Trouble in River City, the hammer was locked up as well as the cylinder, along with the thumb latch. I had to transport with 5 loaded rounds in place.

I'm not familiar with the firing pin mechanism and haven't undertaken to remove the side plate from the 625 that I remember.

There has been no primer migration into the firing pin hole. All loads have been in the moderate range per Hodgdon or Lee manuals.


Will give follow up Friday after parts are in.