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View Full Version : Firing pin required for Force .22lr


Big Dog
04-05-2008, 04:36 AM
Hi guy. Not sure if this is the corrent forum or should it be rimfire guns but it a smity issue so here goes.
I have a wee problem. I recently bought a 2nd hand Tanfoglio Force pistol in .22lr. I have had some firing problems and took it back to my dealer. The smithy felt it was a firing pin issue. We had problem sourcing a new pin so he made one.

I have only tried it twice since getting it back:
- 30 rounds Winchester Lazer 22lr - 27 fired 3 needed the hamer re-cocked and then they fired.

- 30 CCI Velositor (???) about 22/23 fired and the others wouldn't work at all with re-cocking. I put them in my rifle and then they fired. So ammo ok.

What I would like to do is buy a factory made trigger for my pistol. Can't get them here (NI). Do any of you know where I could get them. My father in law lives in Arizona so he can get it for me.

You help would be appreciated. If I can't get this sorted I will have to get rid of the gun it really is disapointing. It breaks my concentration so I thinking "will it fire" instead of good zeroing, if you know what I mean.
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ribbonstone
04-05-2008, 06:39 AM
Thinking there are several things that a firing pin can do that would cause that problem (IF it is the firing pin that is the cause).

Pin can be too short. Either too short over all, or made with the wrong dimentions so that the tip part is too short.

Pin can bind or rub in it's hole, which robs it of power.

The return spring can be too strong, which also robs it of power. Back to the first one as well; if the dimentions are wrong, could be the spring is seated farther forward than it was.

Most pins are held in by a cross pin, set screw, or inerlocking part. If those are binding, can also reduce power.

IF the pin is made too soft, can bend and peen it's tip. If made too hard, can crack/break off.

Could be just not getting struck hard enough...which would be a hammer/striker spring issue.
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Her is some good news. IF the gun is dirty, with fouling crusing the recesses, that fouling can act as padding and be absorbing some of the force. Detail clean, using toothpicks to get every pit of fouling off the breech face and barrel face.
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Steps:
1. Detail clean the gun, inclinding the firing pin. If not comfortable taking it out, then the "soak-blow out" method.
2. Operate the firing pin by hand a few times. Can usually hold any safety "pin-block" out of play and run it in and out with a short punch. Looking for sticking, binding, tip damage, and how far the tip protrudes.
3. LIGHTLY lube the pin.
4. Try different ammo. Is a difference in rim hardness between ammo types (with most European ammo being softer).
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The rounds to look at closely are the ones that are duds...once they fire, the rim swells up and kind of backs up onto the pin's point, leaving what looks like a deep dent. The duds retain the real pin dent.

pisgah
04-05-2008, 09:40 AM
Rimfire handguns -- especially smaller ones -- can encounter real problems with hard or thick rims, and there is a tremendous variation in hardness and thickness among brands of ammo. Most rimfire handguns, even in perfect condition, don't impart a whole lot of "oomph" to the firing pin. I have a little Rossi .22 revolver built on a frame size similar to the old S&W "I" frame, and while it will reliably fire any ammo in single action firing, it will misfire at least once or twice out of every cylinder-full in double action fire unless I am using the cheapo Federal stuff. Before assuming any problem with the gun, I'd certainly give it a thorough cleaning and try as many brands of ammo as I could get my hands on.

kdub
04-05-2008, 12:44 PM
We're finding more reject Remington bulk pack 22LR ammo at the gunrange of late than any other brand.

Think you're right about the spring strength betwee handgun and rifles, pisgah. Lots of this reject ammo is saved and we let our grandchildren run it through their rifles and most of it will fire OK (the kids just like to hear the rifle go bang!)

pisgah
04-05-2008, 01:21 PM
>Think you're right about the spring strength betwee handgun and rifles, pisgah

When you think about it, it makes sense. Generally, a pistol (and again, especially a small one) has not only a smaller spring but a smaller/lighter hammer or striker that falls thru a smaller arc or shorter stroke. It's just physically impossible for them to generate as hard a strike as a rifle. Try a S&W Kit Gun, and you'll find a noticeably heavier trigger/stronger spring than a centerfire of the same size frame. Best examples I've had have been several of the excellent little Taurus "Kit Guns". They are notorious for a heavy trigger, and are hard to thumbcock, because the mainspring is downright brutal. But as a result I've found them about the most reliable of the smallframe rimfires. That reliability vanishes if you lighten the mainspring, so as with most J-frames trigger improvement is best limited to improving smoothness and crispness, leaving the weight of pull alone.

Another thing to check any time you suffer misfires in a rimfire handgun, particularly if a second strike usually fires the round -- is the chamber clean? If not, the cartridge may not be fully seated. This duplicates the problem you encounter when a centerfire primer is not fully seated -- the first firing pin blow seats the primer fully (or seats the cartridge fully in the chamber), and the second fires the round.

Big Dog
04-06-2008, 08:02 AM
Thanks guys for the info on rim hardness and checking the duds to see really penertration depth... I never thought of that.

Did any of you have any ideas were I could get a new pin??? I can't get one over here and if I can't get one at all I may be forced to sell this wee gun. I've only bought it and used it 4 times: 2 time with old pin and 2 time with new hand made one.

spoolerdog
08-06-2008, 04:51 PM
hi there. I'm a bit new to all this, so hello to all. Don't know if this thread is still being checked but if you are still looking for a new firing pin for this wee gun try Field and Stream - he is the main dealer in Ireland. I have had exactly the same probs with my 22l - misfiring on quite a few rounds. Tried all sorts but it seems to only like magtec. tokk it back to F&S and had the firing pin changed and the spring shortened. Tried it out this mring and is shotting a lot better - having the odd feeding probelm but i think this is a know problem with the mag - have to have a look at that now. Anyway good luck if you still have the 22l.

Al