Rusty caught my attention with his comment on the Hollis in the shop for the above condition.

Is this normally a case of the return springs (if any) or gunk built up around the pins? What is the cause, and what is a cure?

Thanks

D

Usually is a case of modern primers being softer than the original Kynoch primers. My Jeffery had the issue and JJ fixed them.

As 470Evans said, I have found Fed215's the worst
as they seem to be soft.

Easily fixed by a gunsmith who can shape the end of the firing pins.

Also, alot of guns may never have been serviced and so the firing in ends will be slightly worn from use.

Mine are just "gunked up" and not retracting into the standing breech! Hopefully Dustin will take care fo this.

What was the original post on the firing pin problem?? I have a 470 Chapuis that I just sent to JJ because the pins don't always retract after firing.

Would appreciate any advice, and will share on this forum what JJ has to say as well.

It can happen with any double rifle that sits long enough without use or servicing to clean away the thickened lubricant in the lock mechanism. It may first become apparent when the neglected double is taken out in cold weather for some shooting. After the first two shots there may be disappointment on finding that one or both firing pins remain protruded into the primers and prevent the DR from being opened. This may happen regardless of the primer make, but softness of the primer cup would not be a help in preventing it.

The lock mechanism should be cleaned and freshened with new lubricant in sparing amount, of course, to prevent this. All critical surfaces should also be smoothly finished too, to make it less likely to happen.

Firing pin tip shaping and primer cup hardness/softness may have something to do with it too, but not as much as the lock mechanism that is or is not polished, cleaned, and sparingly, freshly lubricated.

Firing pin return springs or no? That is another can of worms. Apparently some mechanisms have them and some do not.

My issue wasn't sludge in the action. Our local gunsmith - who trained in either Austria or Hungary - took it apart and dressed the firing pins, which had peened due to either hard primers or lots of firing, or both. I use A-Zoom snap caps and that may be part of the problem if they're actually harder than a primer.

After he worked on it, the gun shot well for about 25 rounds, then started sticking again. While starting a safari for elephant and buffalo. Oh joy.

So I was asking if others have had similar problems, like with either double rifle firing pins, or Chapuis firing pins.

Thanks for any advice.