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Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins (Read 3248 times)

Smoke Oldtimer Offline Posts: 881 Location: San Diego Joined: Feb 24^th, 2013	Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Sep 9^th, 2023 at 6:55pm	Print Post
	I have a Stevens 44 1/2 that regularly breaks firing pins. I've broken 5 or 6 in the past 10 years, and frequently at matches, discovered that they were broken. The last one was at the Iron Sight Offhand match in Raton last month. This can't be normal (can it?). Two respectable smiths, Russ Gent and Doug Knoell, have looked at the breeech block and didn't think it was the problem. I have plenty of spares and am well practiced at swapping them out in plenty of time to finish a match, but would like to know why they break so frequently. Any suggestions as to what I might look for?

	Inside every bright idea is the 50% probability of a disaster waiting to happen.
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ledball Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1021 Location: syracuse, ohio Joined: Nov 20^th, 2009	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #1 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 8:59pm	Print Post
	Is this an original 44 1/2 or a CPA. Ledball


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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1338 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #2 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 9:15pm	Print Post
	One piece firing pin, or has the tip been replaced with piano wire or drill rod?

	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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Smoke Oldtimer Offline Posts: 881 Location: San Diego Joined: Feb 24^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #3 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 9:54pm	Print Post
	Original Stevens. One piece firing pins. Replacements from CPA and Dougie.

	Inside every bright idea is the 50% probability of a disaster waiting to happen.
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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1338 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #4 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 11:24pm	Print Post
	Face off the broken tip in a lathe. Drill and install the correct diameter piano wire or drill rod. (I like drill rod.) Cut to length and round/profile tip. They will never break again.

	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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Smoke Oldtimer Offline Posts: 881 Location: San Diego Joined: Feb 24^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #5 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 12:08am	Print Post
	I'll give that a try. Thanks!

	Inside every bright idea is the 50% probability of a disaster waiting to happen.
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rgchristensen Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 1199 Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #6 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 12:14am	Print Post
	44 1/2 rifles have long been noted for breaking firing pins. This is owing the steep "attack angle" of the firing pin. If the lower part of the tip is not relieved, a cylindrical portion of it will engage the primer dent, and the tip will not be pushed back, but broken off. The ODG's shooting 44 1/2's often kept several firing pins on hand. Proper grinding of the FP tip will solve all the problems. CHRIS


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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1338 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #7 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 12:14am	Print Post
	A press fit with a tiny drop of red LockTite will prevent the two pieces from ever coming apart. As Chris pointed out, the tip does need to be profiled correctly.

	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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Smoke Oldtimer Offline Posts: 881 Location: San Diego Joined: Feb 24^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #8 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 12:37am	Print Post
	I understand the profiling of the tip. What angle to the centerline of the firing pin and how far up into the actual tip would I be doing this?

	Inside every bright idea is the 50% probability of a disaster waiting to happen.
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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2219 Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #9 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 12:23pm	Print Post
	These may answer your question. See "F" in particular Bob.


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Smoke Oldtimer Offline Posts: 881 Location: San Diego Joined: Feb 24^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #10 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 2:59pm	Print Post
	Wow, thank you!

	Inside every bright idea is the 50% probability of a disaster waiting to happen.
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rgchristensen Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 1199 Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #11 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 3:06pm	Print Post
	Smoke wrote on Sep 10^th, 2023 at 12:37am: I understand the profiling of the tip. What angle to the centerline of the firing pin and how far up into the actual tip would I be doing this? You have good info, now. ALL of the tip of the FP that protrudes from the block needs to be appropriately contoured, so that any upward forces on the tip tend to push it back into the block. CHRIS


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broken_arrow Full Member Offline Posts: 204 Location: Lancaster County Joined: Aug 12^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #12 - Sep 22^nd, 2023 at 6:51pm	Print Post
	What book are those 2 pages from?

	ASSRA #10186 (10-25-2021) Every Mighty Oak Was Once A Little Nut That Held Its Ground
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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2219 Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #13 - Sep 22^nd, 2023 at 6:57pm	Print Post
	I had filed these pictures on my computer and don’t remember what book I took them from. I will look tomorrow if no one else chimes in with the answer. Bob


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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2327 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 44 1/2 eats firing pins Reply #14 - Sep 22^nd, 2023 at 10:36pm	Print Post
	Pages are from "Gunsmithing" by Dunlap. One of the better reference books. Chuck


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