Sharps light hammer falls

[PJ Hardtack]

A while back, I had two Farmingdale original-type 'dog leg' large pin firing pin blocks replaced with Shiloh's new 'small pin' blocks. I asked for and received my original blocks back from Shiloh, and I'm glad I did.

I first swapped pin assemblies with another Farmingdale rifle, but the problem persisted. In my 50-70 Military Rifle I experienced several light hammer falls, the primer barely touched. Yesterday, it quit firing at all. This NEVER happened with the original large pin blocks. Last night I replaced the block with the original. I've yet to fire my Business Rifle with the replacement small pin block. Test firing will tell the tale.

More recently, I had the locks of both rifles upgraded to current standard. That may be part of the problem. My new 50-70 carbine has the small pin block and has never failed. 

[Roosterman]

I'd contact shiloh. I had a percussion Farmingdale shiloh that was suffereing from light hammer falls....no boom boom with the musket cap. Sent it to shiloh and they fixed it up. Hammer was rubbing on the lock plate and they straightened everything out.

[PJ Hardtack]

Roosterman

I popped a few caps today after installing the old large pin block, using three different cases brands - no misfires and dead centre on the primers! So that rules out any issues with the lock. At least I'll presume so until I fire it for real.

I'll keep working with the small pin blocks, maybe do a little polishing here and there. In the meantime, my Farmingdale Military Rifle is back to original spec and will stay that way. It's taken me two 400+ lb black bears and a nice four point muley in that configuration.
Sharps got it right the first time.

[PJ Hardtack]

Well, today I did some live firing with my 50-70 MR with the large pin block installed. I had three light hammer falls in five rounds fired.

That pretty well eliminates both the large and small firing pins as the problem. It would appear to be the lock, and I will pursue this with Kirk at Shiloh.

[Roosterman]

Could be internal rubbing on the wood from over tightening the lock screws, back them off a bit and see what happens. Also the hammer may be rubbing on the lock plate.

[PJ Hardtack]

No obvious contact with wood or metal internally or externally.

It has been suggested to me that it may simply be a matter of primers - Federal vs Winchester. I'll prove that later today.