Question for gunsmith. Restoring older firearms.

[joefreas]

In the process of trying to help friends get their older guns back into service.

Here is the question: have you ever dealt with an older gun that fired when it was put into storage but now appears that it could never have worked in that configuration? What I am saying in this case the firing pin is too short and will not pass the bolt face. Could it have shrunk? Also the extractor sits tight to the bolt and instead of grabbing the cartridge it actually strikes the rim and sets off the (rimfire) round. The gun is an old Mossberg 380.

The second gun I am dealing with is a Remington 20ga semi. It is a smaller version of the 1100. The way the bolt is positioned in the body the lug does not line up with the slot in the top of the receiver so it will not allow the firing pin to strike the primer. It appears to me and a gunsmith that this gun could never have fired in that configuration but I know for a fact it did shoot when it was stored away. What could cause a misalignment over time?
We had to grind the receiver 1/16" back so the lug would line up and got that gun to shoot without any problems. I just find it odd that with no changes other than sitting in a safe over time caused the bolt to misalign??

As far as the Mossberg 380 goes I am going to try a new firing pin and extractor. If possible I may have to order a complete bolt or mill the bolt face.

Any information on this (or similar stories) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Joe-

[G-forceJunkie]

Not sure about the shotgun, but have you cleaned...really cleaned out the bolt of the .22? Years or decades turns some lubes into varnish, goo, or nearly solid mass. I've rehabbed a few old guns that took soaking in laquer thinner followed by chipping/scraping with dental tools to remove the dried lube.

[cappaletti]

could be GREMLINS !!!

[joefreas]

Not sure about the shotgun, but have you cleaned...really cleaned out the bolt of the .22? Years or decades turns some lubes into varnish, goo, or nearly solid mass. I've rehabbed a few old guns that took soaking in laquer thinner followed by chipping/scraping with dental tools to remove the dried lube.

Hi,

Yes I have cleaned it thoroughly and it was a pain to get the gunk off. Here are a couple of pics of the bolt. If you look closely you can see that the extractor is sitting flush against the bolt face and the firing pin appears to be too short to hit the casing.

DSCN0738.jpg
DSCN0739.jpg

[guns4life]

Nice 30,000 dollar table you have there.

[joefreas]

Nice 30,000 dollar table you have there.

Thanks, when I went for the real close in shots the camera got blury.

[9mmepiphany]

I've been wrong before, but the firing pin looks fine.

You don't have enough background contrast behind the bolt to give a good view of the extractor clearance

[joefreas]

I've been wrong before, but the firing pin looks fine.

You don't have enough background contrast behind the bolt to give a good view of the extractor clearance

I will take another pic. There is no clearance. The extractor sits tight to the bolt and will not grab the rim of the brass.

DSCN0741.jpg
DSCN0743.jpg

[9mmepiphany]

Thanks for the better picture...I see what you mean, I don't see any clearance either.

That firing pin seems plenty long, am I looking at the wrong piece?

[joefreas]

The firing pin comes up the center. It is attached to a sliding weight(hammer) that is at the rear of the bolt. It is easiest to see in the first picture.

[9mmepiphany]

isn't that the tip of it protruding out the front of the breach face. Looks like the side of it has been slightly dressed with a stone or sand paper?

[1911su16b870]

...or maybe the tip of the firing pin has broken off and that is why it doesn't work!

I experienced the above with an old Mauser 22 firing pin.

[ojisan]

I'm wondering if someone made a replacement extractor but made it wrong.

[lgm118icbm]

Which old Remington is it?

I have an 20ga 11-47 and a 20ga Sportsman 58 I could take pictures of if it would help. Both are significantly older than I am and run flawlessly.

[Cali-V]

Did you remove the extractor during cleaning and if so was condition of the spring checked?