H&R 923 firing pin ?

[MGTOM]

I am suspicious of the firing pin in the new to me H&R 923. It was born in 1955. The question is - how does one replace the firing pin?

Tom

[cbsmith111]

Well, first of all, it depends on what variation it is. Depending on its age it could have either a hammer mounted firing pin or a floating firing pin and/or a transfer bar. I'm assuming it isn't hammer mounted from the phrasing of your question. I've never done it myself, but I have heard these revolvers are horrible to reassemble. They are solid frame, so everything is held inside the frame with pins. It's not complicated, but you have to keep a lot of things lined up and engaged with each other when you install the pins. Look at a schematic for the gun (at numrich if nowhere else). It looks to me like you MIGHT be able to replace the pin without complete disassembly. I would start by removing the grips and popping out the mainspring assembly. After that I would remove the pin that holds the hammer in and see if it can be pulled out with everything else still in. If so you might be able to remove the pin that retains the firing pin/spring and see if you can get it out. The transfer bar may or may not prevent this. Worst case scenario you end up having to take everything out after all. Like I said, I've never done it before, but if it were me this is how I would approach it. If your set on changing it now it would be worth a try in my opinion to possibly save some headache. What makes you "suspicious" of the firing pin, though? If it is firing okay I would just leave it alone. Get the spare parts now and put them away, and just shoot it like it is until you have a problem. Someone surely knows more than I do about it, but that's how I would proceed.

[cbsmith111]

After typing this, I went home and looked at mine a little closer. It acutally looks like you might be able to change it without taking anything else apart. There is a pin in front of the hammer that retains the firing pin and its return spring. Looks like there is probably enough room behind the transfer bar that you can just drive the pin out and slide the firing pin in and out. Definately worth a try that way. Sorry for the confusion.

[MGTOM]

CB,
Thanks for your reply.
My 923 firing pin is on the hammer. I don't see any pin or anything holding the firing pin into the hammer. This may not be an issue as I found that the mainspring rod/shaft/thingy was bent and possibly preventing the full force required to hit the primer hard enough.
I fixed the spring but have not had a chance to fire the gun since. It should help get more consistent bangs. Thanks again for your input. I will try to let you know how it works out.
Tom