I have an FN 16ga SxS in the shop with a broken firing pin. The pin appears to be integral with the hammer, it is the left hammer. any help locating one?

Jim

Odds of finding one are gonna be slim-to-nil Jim. You can't put the hammer in the mill and drill a hole, following the angle of the old pin and soft solder in a new pin?

This might sound a bit silly. But when I solder in the new pins I gut the receiver and then install the hammer with the busted firing pin and it's retaining pin. Then with the hammer fully forward, I pick a close fitting drill bit and push it into the firing pin port hole. Then I take a photo with my digital camera or cell phone from the top and side. After that I either print both pictures on putor paper or bring the images up on the screen and use a kiddies, machinist protractor to find both of the angles against the hammer face. Then I mirror the angles in the mill and poke the hole in the center of the broken off pin. 90% of the time it's almost nuts on. Sometimes I will have to heat and bend the pin a touch.

I just drill the hammer with it positioned in the frame, through the FP hole. Or at least mark it. No protractors or mirrors needed.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
I just drill the hammer with it positioned in the frame, through the FP hole. Or at least mark it. No protractors or mirrors needed.

I'm to scared of out-sizing the hole if the drill wanders or does a dance. I'm a chikin-chit !

Yup, drill it and fit a handmade pin; done it a bunch of times.

thanks guys, was thinking of making one and this gives me a go. Never thought of drilling through the firing pin hole though.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
thanks guys, was thinking of making one and this gives me a go. Never thought of drilling through the firing pin hole though.

Jim

Most likely a lot faster than trying to find one.

Soldering in pins in those old hammers has been DONE TO DEATH Jim. I start by drilling with a #31 carbide drill. Then I prep the shank of a 1/8ths HSS or carbon drill bit. HSS seems to be the nicest because even if you overheat them they are still PLENTY TOUGH for firing pin use. They are cheap and everyone has a box of burned out ones and 1/8th is .006 larger than #31 so if the hole you drilled is a bit oversized you can custom fit it. Plus, the largest diameter shotgun firing pin you can find is usually 1/8th. You can also use drill rod if you wish and harden it.

I drilled the hammer like you said and made a pin to fit. The pin itself is shaped like a small upside down ice cream cone so I made it oversize and fitted it to the hole. Neat!

Thanks

Jim

And you were telling everyone that the internet was only good for finding porn, cat pictures and cake recipes ? tisk tisk tisk

Love it when you guys get on a roll. I learn a lot. About gunsmithing too.

Didja see the one about the guy that went to the gym for his sore back?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
Didja see the one about the guy that went to the gym for his sore back?

I'm not overly concerned about that right now Jim. What worry's me is Taylor hacking into my putor and stealing all of my cat pictures and cake recipes.