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February 23, 2015
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I have a 15-2 where the firing pin hits the primer seriously off center , any thoughts as to the cause ?
February 16, 2016
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Well, since the firing pin location is machined and drilled into the frame, I'd guess that the cylinder alignment is the cause.
February 16, 2016
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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If it is to the left or right it could be timing. High or low might be a bent crane. Are you having FUN or spitting of powder or projectile?
February 23, 2015
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I shot it yesterday and didn't note the primer strike indexing at the range, so I'll have to wait and check them at my next range visit. I'll do some photos of the primers and the firing pin in the pistol . The offset strikes prolly contribute to the weak *ss FTF's that i get double action . Trying to find a new DW hammer spring to replace the original and have adjusted the spring nut all the way in to get primers to light . I'll get 2 FTF in every 5 ..... I think the offset strikes may well contribute for the failures . I get better ignition with Federal 100's but still get failures . This pistol has to be fully functional for DA shooting or it's a different revolver coming up .. On the other hand my 357 Super Mag has no issues
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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If you have already checked the grip screw and it's not a problem, then check the front to back movement of the cylinder in lockup. There should not be much if any play. If there is, then you may need shims that will be placed in front of the cylinder. Also check to see that the screw holding the detent ball spring is not loose. This can also cause cylinder play. If cylinder play is present and you fix that, it should cure the FTF issue.
The firing pin off center may not be a problem if the cylinder is tight. However, if the point of impact is seriously off, then you have a timing issue and may need a new hand, or modification of your existing hand. Check each chamber of the cylinder in lockup to see if they are lined up on the barrel. If not then you do have a timing problem.
Firing pin strikes off center are not necessarily a problem. Many guns show slightly off center strikes even when functioning properly.
Your photos will help.
Good luck.
February 23, 2015
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February 23, 2015
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Firing pin with hammer down .... Ball is tight , With cylinder closed , I can barely fit a .009 feeler guage in between cylinder and cylinder rod/pin , so the cylinder has .009 movement in battery. I remember that someone had made a longer firing pin or had bought it from a source that I don't recall , any info on these firing pins? Maybe a longer pin may help with the primer ignition . My primer hits look deep enough but have to question the offset hits . I'm sure the primer design is to get center hits to ensure ignition, just a guess
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Those hits look deep enough for good ignition but they are off center. Looks to me like the timing is off a bit. Give it a good Average Joe tune up and maybe a set of springs and see if it helps. If not, it may need some work to the hand and a retiming.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
February 23, 2015
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Do you or someone you know that has a new original DW hammer spring that will sell to me ? The USA dealers wont sell or export to me as I am in another country ( canada ) 🙂
thanks for your help with my DW issues
February 29, 2012
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sideoiler said
Firing pin with hammer down .... Ball is tight , With cylinder closed , I can barely fit a .009 feeler guage in between cylinder and cylinder rod/pin , so the cylinder has .009 movement in battery. I remember that someone had made a longer firing pin or had bought it from a source that I don't recall , any info on these firing pins? Maybe a longer pin may help with the primer ignition . My primer hits look deep enough but have to question the offset hits . I'm sure the primer design is to get center hits to ensure ignition, just a guess
I also experienced problems with light strikes in double action with my Dan Wesson revolver. Not sure if I am the one you were talking about who made a longer firing pin, but I did try doing that as well in a different post.
Replacement Firing Pin for 15-2 Revolver
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/revolvers/replacement-firing-pin-for-15-2/
Light strikes in double action
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/reloading/light-strikes-in-double-action/
In the "Light strikes in double action" thread, I tested out a longer reaching firing pin that I made from one of my spare firing pins from Numrich.
For the record the longer firing pin did not help me at all with my problem. I didn't know it at the time though, and wanted to rule out a lack of firing pin protrusion.
Also, when you run a longer, or even a sharp pointy firing pin, you run the risk of piercing primers, and gas leaks towards your face, and possibly gas cutting the firing pin bushing.
All that being said, my problem with light strikes in double action mode were created by a cut main/hammer spring, and I solved them entirely with a new factory weight 9lb spring.
My light strikes began to get progressively better with 7lb, and then 8lb Wolf springs, and went away completely with the addition of a factory Dan Wesson 9lb spring.
So a new replacement factory 9lb hammer/main spring from CZ-USA solved my light double action strikes problem, and the firing pin thing was just me chasing my tail.
This doesn't necessarily mean your problem is a weak main spring like mine was, but it's an easy place to start. Excessive end shake can also lead to light strikes, and can be addressed with cylinder shims.
From the pictures you provided, I also agree that your firing pin depth or protrusion appears to be adequate. I've seen guns with worse off center firing pin hits than yours (Taurus) that still functioned fine. While it's not something you really want to see, and it can indicate a timing problem, it's not absolutely horrible either.
Something else you could do is mark the top of your brass (with a permanent marker) to show orientation in the cylinder (position the cartridge with the mark on top then fire). That would show if the hits are off center left or right (timing issue) or up and down.
If it was my revolver, I'd tear it apart, give it a good average Joe tune up & cleaning, and replace the hammer spring, and firing pin spring in the process to see if it made a difference before I tried anything else.
- Bullwolf
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Do you have a wrench and have removed and adjusted the cylinder gap? Your firing pin extrusion looks more than adequate IMHO. As a matter of fact, I think the off center hits are not so off center. The gun looks like it hasn't had a lot of use by the appearance of the recoil shield. If you P M Snake-eye I am sure he will send you a hammerspring NOS.
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January 24, 2009
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That's good information right there Bullwolf, thanks for posting!
DWF Supporters
February 1, 2016
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I agree w/ole Dog, not that far off center. A good cleaning/tune up & spring, then see where you're at 1st.
SIZE DOES MATTER
February 23, 2015
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Wasn't able to find a solution to the offset primer strikes, probably doesn't matter a great deal , Snake-eye sent me a new hammer spring hopefully to correct FTF issues while firing double action . The new hammer spring worked perfect . Fired 50 rounds double action with no fail to fires , where previously it was at least one failure in every 3 rounds . That makes me a happy DW owner. Thanks everyone who replied to the posting
Dans Club
January 17, 2015
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Always such good info can be found here on the DWF. I'm intrigued by the cylinder shims, I am going to look into that a bit more, I'm thinking one of my 15-2's could benefit from some kind of shim in front of the cylinder.
February 29, 2012
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Zedbra said
Always such good info can be found here on the DWF. I'm intrigued by the cylinder shims, I am going to look into that a bit more, I'm thinking one of my 15-2's could benefit from some kind of shim in front of the cylinder.
Regarding cylinder shims.. I've dealt with Trigger Shims.com before. They are good people.
Link for DW small frame revolver, cylinder end shake shims.
http://triggershims.com/cylinder_shims.html#S14
Dan Wesson Cylinder / Endshake Shims
Our Shims will fit many Small Frame Dan Wesson RevolversMade from USA Full Temper 300 Series Stainless Steel
Nominal O.D. of .400" X I.D. of .314"Fits Many Small Frame Revolvers
2 Pak Comes in .002"
4 Pak Assortment comes with 2 each .002" and .003"
6 Pak Assortment comes with 2 each .002", .003" and .004"
12 Pak Assortment comes with 3 each .002", .003", .004" and .005"
24 Pak Assortment comes with 6 each .002", .003", .004" and .005"
30 Pak Gunsmith Special Assortment comes with 6 each .002", .003", .004", .005" and .006"
-OR- Choose any Pak and Specify your Thickness via Drop-Down Box,
e-mail or use "Note to Seller" in PayPalPrice includes Free Shipping
The Dan Wesson forum has a nice write up on small frame revolver cylinder end shake shims, in the thread below.
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/revolvers/cylinder-fore-and-aft-travel-on-model-15-wear/
- Bullwolf
May 22, 2016
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sideoiler said
Photo of primers, will do pin photo later . Thanks for the check list ......
What will be of more help is for you to shoot a pic of the pin strikes before you eject the empties. That will tell where the problem is.
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