Primers flowing back into firing pin hole

[Graycg]

Greetings Gents,
   I have a Blued frame in the 400,000 range that has a perfect trigger and recently I've started having some problems with the primers flowing back into the firing pin hole, in many calibers including 22 Khornet, 221 fireball, 357 max and 357 mag....now this is happening with both reloads hot and mild and even factory ammo.  Looking at the firing pin and hole looks pretty normal like my other frames, this only happens on this frame, same barrels, same loads on my other frame and all is well.  Could this possibly be a sign that the hammer spring is getting weak?  Has anyone ever replaced the springs that retract the firing pin?  If anyone has an idea, let me know....thanks in advance.

regards,
 graycg

[Jerry J]

I'd check the firing pin, it may have a burr or rough edge on it that could possibly be your problem. I doubt the hammer spring because when the hammer falls the pressure rearward from the primer is on the hammer spring. Firing pin could be worn from so many rounds and just need to be replaced.   Jerry J

[Petey_Dog]

I once had the primer extrude so far back into the firing pin hole that I couldn't open the action. I had to tap out the barrel pin. The problem was with the centerfire-safe-rimfire selector on the contender hammer. Sometimes the selector would switch to the 'safe' position as the hammer fell and the gun would not fire. That one time, though, somehow the hammer did contact the firing pin and then switched to the 'safe' position - in this position the hammer does not support the firing pin to hold it forward onto the primer and it can extrude back. Very odd and disconcerting! TC replace the hammer and now all is well. As a bonus, group size has shrunk considerably - apparently I was getting very uneven primer strikes.

Anyway, the easy way to tell if this is your issue is to look at the selector position after each shot.  If the gun fires and the selector ends up in the 'safe' position, I'd send it off to TC.

Let us know what you find. Hope this helps.
Rich

[Hopalong7]

I've got one in the same serial number range and the selector switch has just started doing the same thing.  Haven't noticed the primers flowing, but I'll be looking.  GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt  

[grodon of the north]

My frame (stainless) does that also with the 223 barrel. A little ridge around the firing pin dent. Most starting loads and factory loads too.
Also a little pimple in the middle of the indent like the firing pin was hollow. Are they supposed to be like that? Only the 223 has the ridge around the primer indent but they all (centerfire) have the funny looking pimple in the middle.

[Graycg]

Gents,
  Found out what the cause was to all of this....And thanks to Don Shearer for pointing me to the right direction!  What the cause was that erosion around the firing pin hole, from some old indescretions with pierced primers caused the erosion and that is what the cause was.  I am going to send the frame back to have it fixed unless someone knows where I can get one of the breech face blocks so I can do it myself.  I'd like to as when you send them back to TC, they always monkey with the trigger.

thanks and regards,
 graycg

[tnwill]

Call Thompson and order one. They will usually sell you the parts. A few of the guys I shoot with keep a good selection of contender parts on hand and have never had any problems ordering them.

[cbagman]

Well. I had an old frame like that and sent it back to T/C. They replaced the firing pin and the bushing  and the hammer. It came back converted to the top selector hammer.. Good for another 20 years..Some folks don't like that much work done to one, but the whole thing cost me postage to T/C and that is all. . :eek: cbagman