R&D Cylinder Firing Pins

wieremablaster · March 06, 2009, 10:45:36 AM

Hi, I have a Pietta '51-.44caliber with a 1860 R&D Cylinder (5-shot,.45 caliber). I shoot wax bullets using large pistol primers or shotgun primers. The R&D dropped right in with just a few file strokes and I've put at least 10,000 rounds thru it with no problems. Now one chamber is failing to fire. Put the same round that didn't fire into another chamber and it will work fine. So, I think the firing pin/pins need replacing. Tried contacting R&D gunshop no luck. Is there a place to get replacement firing pins? I don't have to replace the whole back plate do I? Anybody ever take a firing pin out of one? How do they come out? Anybody been thru this problem already? If you can get replacement pins do you need a special tool? I forgot to mention the chambers that do fire make a nice dimple on the primer and the one that doesn't barely does at all. The pins are not stuck and I don't dry fire seems like something's up with that one firing pin. If anyone can help Thanks!!!!

Sgt. Jake · March 06, 2009, 11:33:41 AM

Yup Been there done that,when my R&D s were first installed ,i was only able to get less than 50 rds. thru mine before they started missfiring.The firing pins if heat treated ,were not done properly,the firing pins were mushroomed and upon latter inspection by Happy Trails had compressed in length. I had Happy Trails/ Bill English, make me up some properly heat treated,firing pins http://thesmithshop.com/aboutus.html Hap dosnt have them listed on his web site,just give him a call and tell him you need the R&D replacement firing pins. The replacements he made up,are what should have been in the cylinders from the get go.I have used Haps pins in my cylinders from June of last year thru this late fall ,with no deformation or peaning of the hammer face.perfect. Now as to removing the little devils. I found the correct thickness magna tip bit for the slot width in the retaining collar at the back plate of the cylinder,then I ground a slot in the middle of the blade,so it sort of looks like the bit used for the Ruger crosspin removal bit. Just so the removed center portion clears thr pin. Then just unscrew the retaining collars,remove the old soft firing pins. That said my pins were so badly deformed,I had to take the backplate off and on the inside,tip portion on the pin ,chuck it in a drill motor,and with a small fine file ,turn off some of the most mushroomed part of the ,hammer side of the pin.What a PITA for something that for the price paid should have been ,correct from the get go.I talked to the supplier that I purchased them from ,about this time last year,he told me he no longer carried the R&D cylinders,NOOO kiding. Give Happy a call he can fix ya up. Adios Sgt.Jake

wieremablaster · March 07, 2009, 01:23:44 AM

Sgt. Jake! Thank you for the info. I had a bad feeling that was the problem. I have put a lot of rounds thru it though. At least I got more than 50 rounds. I will contact Happy Trails/Bill English but I guess it will have to wait till I can afford it. Tight times at the moment. The R&D has worked great for me till this problem came up. I have a "shooting gallery" set up in the basement so I can shoot anytime without bothering anyone. Thank you much for the help! Very good explanation. I understand and can do! Always love a new single action project. Thanks and have a good one.

warbucks16 · March 07, 2009, 07:58:28 PM

wieremablaster:

Read your post about the R&D Firing Pins. I had the same problem but found two simple solutions.

You can buy a set of Steel Hardened pins from the "Smith Shop" to replace your old ones. I replaced mine and the only problem was that they were to sharp and I had to stone the tips slightly to avoid puncturing the primer.

Their E-mail is "HappyTrails@the smithshop.com"

Phone is: 401-921-0147

The other solution is to send the Cylinder to "Taylors & C0., Winchester, Va.

Their E-mail is: "info&taylorsfirearms.com"

Phone is 540-722-2018

They will replaced any of the bent firing pins but they will do it with the R&D pins which will probably mushroom again.

Personally I would go with the Steel pins.

Contact me if you need more info.

Regards,

Warbucks16

Sgt. Jake · March 07, 2009, 08:38:40 PM

You, Sir are welcome,the final solutition is to call Hap and be done with messin around with the darn R&D pins,once and for all. I hear you about tight times,when you are able,Haps the Man. Adios Sgt.Jake

wieremablaster · March 24, 2009, 02:39:10 AM

To Sgt. Jake and Warbucks16, many thanks I took your advice and contacted Happy Trails at The Smith Shop. He set me up with some steel pins no problem. His help and quick service were awesome. Sgt Jake's advice on removing the pins was a big help. I already had a tool I fashioned for another project and it fit the collars with just a few minutes filing. Collars came out easy and once they're out you can see how the pins come out. All I had was hand tools so I made some holes in old broken guitar picks I had laying around and used that as a shield to protect the collar from getting buggered up. Just file down the hammer side and the pins dropped right out, new ones dropped right in. Haven't got to actually shoot yet because I'm out of primers at the moment. Hopefully I'll get to test 'em out soon. Thanks you guys for all the help and wisdom. You turned an UH-OH into a Well geez I can do that. Thanks to you it was fun and easy.
wieremablaster

Sgt. Jake · March 24, 2009, 04:37:25 PM

Wieremablaster You are welcome,the real thanks has to go to Happy Trails.If it wernt for him and his willingness to mess with the unuasual,small projects ,we would all be in a pickle. Adios Sgt.Jake

Deadeye Dick · March 25, 2009, 09:48:06 AM

[ Wieremablaster You are welcome,the real thanks has to go to Happy Trails.If it wernt for him and his willingness to mess with the unuasual,small projects ,we would all be in a pickle. ]

Sgt. Jake,
Ditto that. Can't get them any better than Happy Trails.