12 Gauge Shotgun Firing Pin Question

Sorry just a quick question. The firing pin on my browning 425 o/u shotgun (top barrel only, the bottom barrel pin is not moving) seems to move by itself if I tilt the gun upside down. It can pretrude out if you understand my I mean. The gun is firing perfect. Just wan't to be sure that theres nothing else wrong. Is this normal?

FOXHUNTER1

That's perfectly normal for a Browning nothing to worry about.

kemen

the pin maybe broken but just has nowher to go and fires normally! why not take the stock off and have a look at the action to see evrythings ok!

tac foley

Sounds like the usual inertia firing pin design.

However, to put your mind at rest - if in doubt with ANY gun- take it to a specialist.

tac

blackstairsboy

I have a lanber that seems to be similar to what your browning is like. The bottom pin is out a little and dents the rim of the cartridge when the gun is closed. Again it fires normally but does anyone know if it is normal I asked a dealer and he seemed to think it was normal for some models of shotguns?

blackstairsboy

blackstairsboy wrote: »

I have a lanber that seems to be similar to what your browning is like. The bottom pin is out a little and dents the rim of the cartridge when the gun is closed. Again it fires normally but does anyone know if it is normal I asked a dealer and he seemed to think it was normal for some models of shotguns?

I see no denting of the cartridges. I will bring it too a gunsmith just to be sure. is there anyone near athlone?

Tackleberrywho

M!Ck^ wrote: »

I see no denting of the cartridges. I will bring it too a gunsmith just to be sure. is there anyone near athlone?

I had a similar problem with my Semi Auto.

Turned out firing pin was broken. I replaced it in a relatively simple operation

Glensman

The bottom one went on my brother's O/U Laurona.

I took it out and had a machinist make me a new one. I don't know the exact cost but it wasn't dear- with a Browning you'll be able to get one off-the-shelf.

mrhd

I replaced the bottom firing pin on my 525 o/u recently and from memory the bottom pin has a return spring on it but the top one doesnt. I think it is because of the angle of the pins the bottom pin sits tail-high so to speak so needs a small spring to return it out of the way after firing, whereas the top one is tail-low and relies on gravity to return it into position.

If you feel like it could take off the stock for a quick look around, remove the recoil pad and there should be one large slot-head screw to remove the stock. With the stock removed you can see the pins, springs, hammers, sears etc and if the pin is broken you should be able to see it. If you grab the back end of the pin and retract it but the front end doesn't move you have a broken pin.

In my case I was getting lots of bottom barrel misfires. the new pin didnt look any longer than the old one but it looks like 1/10ths of a mm can make the difference between reliability and misfires

Croppy Boy

blackstairsboy wrote: »

I have a lanber that seems to be similar to what your browning is like. The bottom pin is out a little and dents the rim of the cartridge when the gun is closed. Again it fires normally but does anyone know if it is normal I asked a dealer and he seemed to think it was normal for some models of shotguns?

If the pin is denting the cap of the cartridge, this could indeed be dangerous. If you were to slam the gun shut, there's a possibility it could go off. You should have it seen to by a gunsmith, Walter Blacklaw would be your man, he's in south Wexford. His number is 086 3719609.

Double Barrel

Croppy Boy wrote: »

If the pin is denting the cap of the cartridge, this could indeed be dangerous. If you were to slam the gun shut, there's a possibility it could go off. You should have it seen to by a gunsmith, Walter Blacklaw would be your man, he's in south Wexford. His number is 086 3719609.

Plus 1 on Croppy's advice.

As Tac wrote it is more than likely a broken firing pin. Easy Gunsmith fix.

blackstairsboy

Croppy Boy wrote: »

If the pin is denting the cap of the cartridge, this could indeed be dangerous. If you were to slam the gun shut, there's a possibility it could go off. You should have it seen to by a gunsmith, Walter Blacklaw would be your man, he's in south Wexford. His number is 086 3719609.

Thanks I'll have to get it looked at all right I'm not using it a whole pile but as a precaution I won't use it till it's fixed. I know about Walter but I wont go there I will go to Gerry Gearon in Clonmel always excellent service and a sound man as well.