doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Model 21

My go to gun is an early-3 digit serial #- Win. She is going to have to have new firing pins soon. Can anyone rec. a gunsmith in TX who can be trusted with this repair? Sending the gun to Galzan is a last resort.

tks.
jc

The firing pins in the 21 are one piece with the hammer.
The hammer(s) itself are usually replaced if the firing pin portion of the part is damaged for some reason.

21's are not a particularly difficult gun to work on,,the parts not needing much fitting,if any most times.

But it can be a difficult one to dissassemble and re-assemble if you're not familiar with them. Not a good one for an unexperienced person to try out on.

Briley in Houston comes to mind.
http://www.briley.com/index.aspx
I'm sure others will give references.

What indications are there that the gun would need 'new firing pins'.Just wondering..

Yup, never heard of a Model 21 "wearing out the firing pins". Can you tell us who told you they need replacing?

Don't know anything about Model 21's but Kirk Merrington in Kerrville Texas is one of the best Double Gunsmith around. I found him on this old thread, photos of the shop sold me, since has done two jobs to complete satisfaction

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=26314&PHPSESSID=

Boats

This gun will have a ftf about one/box of shells. I can switch the shell to the left barrel and it will fire every time. I don/t know what else it could be. Am I missing something? Wouldn't be the first time that has happened.

When if fails to fire, it appears to have a light strike on the primer. If I put the shell in the other barrel, it will fire every time. There are other possible causes?

tks,
jcn

Dirty ? Few doubles get a thorough cleaning. Might have been years.

Boats

I'll look into that matter.


tks,
jcn

Weak main spring on the right hammer could also be a possibility.
You should be able to compare the protrusion of the right pin with the left one to see if it is the pin. Several possibilities. Even if the right pin is shy on protrusion, you still need to check it for some Gunk build up which may be blocking the hammer's fall.

?? are you using factory new shells, or reloads when this happens. I suspect either dirt and crud in the action, or perhaps a slightly deeper rim cut in the right side barrel breech than in the left one-- also, many shells vary from a few thousands in rim diameter and depth of the rim-- But as to what "Der Murph-Meister" wrote here, he is on the right path (much as I hate to give the "Devil his due")- page 40 of the 1938 WRA Salesman's catalogue- the page dealing with the Model 21--

quote: "There is no objection whatsoever to snapping a Winchester double gun and we have yet to have our first breakage of the firing pin or hammer nose from such snapping".. Let's go further- metallurgy 101 here, if you will. The firing pin is part of the hammer nose, and the entire hammer itself- it is not a free floating "striker" as the Limeys like to call the firing pin, as found mainly on sidelock shotguns-- including the American L. C. Smiths--

Winchester spec sheets for the Model 21 double would, no doubt, show that the hammers would be- as stated on page 38- quote: "Here again our chrome molybdenum alloy steel was made to play a prominent part in the design-----"!

I would test your M21 for depth of firing pin penetration by having the gun cocked, removing the forearm and barrels, and place a suitable sized block of clean soft pine against the standing breech, and then dry fire the gun, and then examine the depth of each hole made by the respective firing pin- then go from there.

If you are in TX-- Briley's or Kirk Merrington- like deciding between a BMW or a Mercedes--either choice is first class.