SW4566 misfiring

kreiderm · September 7, 2009, 01:53 PM

I just bought a used SW4566 from a local shop. The exterior is in perfect shape - not a scratch on it. It is set up like a LE issue with decock only lever. I fired a box of 50 and it misfired on 6! I took it back to the shop and they told me to clean it well and try again. I told them to keep it and have the gunsmith check it out before I fire it again. Should I be concerned over this malfunction or is it soimething the gunsmith should be able to correct? The pin marks on the misfires were slightly off center.

**JohnKSa** · September 7, 2009, 08:08 PM

It's not unusual for firing pin strikes to be off center a little. The problem could be:

1. Broken firing pin.
2. Gunked up firing pin channel.
3. Something preventing the pistol from going 100% into battery.

The latter two can probably be fixed by a thorough cleaning, the former will take some remedial gunsmithing.

Sevens · September 7, 2009, 08:31 PM

I have a 3rd Gen S&W 1006. Not the same caliber as your pistol, but very similar build. Not a gunsmith, so I can't tell you what is wrong with yours.

But I did want to say that it nails all my primers off-center. It just does... it's in the design of this pistol. It's not wrong or malfunctioning, it's just built that way.

kreiderm · September 7, 2009, 08:45 PM

Have you ever had a misfire in your 1006?

David the Gnome · September 7, 2009, 08:47 PM

Depending on whether or not it was tinkered with by the previous owner I'd say replacing the mainspring with a factory unit would probably do wonders.

Sevens · September 7, 2009, 10:16 PM

I can't say that I have had any misfires in my 1006. This is since 1992.

If I have had any misfires, it's been a hellish long time and it wasn't memorable.

Tom2 · September 8, 2009, 08:59 AM

So the question arises-what ammo!? I had a 4506 that would sometimes not go fully into battery with alum. Blazers. I have seen misfires with some Wolf .45 ammo at the range, something I have never been tempted to use. Are you seeing light strikes on the misfired rounds or what?

.357SIG · September 8, 2009, 09:43 AM

Depending on what you mean by "misfire", I'd say it was probably dirty or oiled in the firing pin hole. I doubt it has a broken firing pin. This is going on the assumption you have light strikes.

If you get light strikes, clean out firing pin channel.

If rounds are not allowing the slide to go into battery, and the trigger just can't be pulled (as if slide was back), it's probably the recoil spring.

Beyond that, I'd try the firing pin spring.

I have a 1006, and I can't imagine being able to beat this thing up very easily. under normal use...even harsh use.

Are the 50 rounds factory or reloads? Could be the ammo, but not likely, unless you just got a really bad batch.

kreiderm · September 8, 2009, 02:41 PM

The ammo was factory Fiocchi. The trigger pulled each time and went click. It happened from both single and double action. I released the slide with the slide release each time.

.357SIG · September 8, 2009, 02:43 PM

Hmmmm....

dirty, bad spring, or bad ammo. I had a box of 357 SIG rounds by S&B that did the same thing. It was a bad box, because it never happened again.

SouthpawShootr · September 8, 2009, 05:02 PM

I suspect the pistol need a detail strip and clean. As John already pointed out, Most likely it is a gunked up firing pin channel. A certified S&W armorer will find the problem quickly. It'll be a simple fix.

Icopy1 · September 8, 2009, 05:24 PM

Try this. Stick a pencil with a rubber eraser inside the barrel with the eraser going in first. Your gun is unloaded goes without saying. Point in a safe direction with a hard backstop. Pull the trigger. The pencil should shoot out the barrel. If it doesn't, it could be a busted firing pin or clogged firing pin channel. My 4566 will shoot the pencil across the room.

It also a good way to see if your decocker is working. When you decock the pistol, the pencil shouldn't move at all.

kreiderm · September 8, 2009, 06:56 PM

I just picked up the pistol from the gunsmith. He felt the misfires (I brought them in with the pistol) were light strikes and he replaced the hammer spring along with a thorough cleaning of the firing pin area. He said it test fired OK with a assortment of ammo. I will probably still replace the recoil spring. Thanks for all the suggestions. I was able to intelligently talk about the repair as a result and am confident the gun was a good buy.

SouthpawShootr · September 8, 2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

am confident the gun was a good buy.

You should be. 3rd generation S&W autos were the premium of the line. The only reason they're gone (not completely) from the lineup is that 1- Plastic has become stylish. If the FBI adopts it, everybody else is gonna want one. I've seen this before. 2- Polymer frames are much lighter and LEOs appreciate the weight savings with all the other junk they have to carry. 3- Cost savings. S&W sells the Sigma E-series guns now for roughly half the price of a 3rd generation S&W back in days of yesteryear and they're making a good profit off each Sigma they sell. New 3rd generation (TSW) metal Smiths would likely go for $700 or $800 now on the civilian market. Also, this is subjective, I've come to regard the large frame (4500 and 1000 series) Smith as having even better fit and finish than smaller frame (5900, 4000, 6900, 3900 series). I have several examples of each purchased both used and NIB and, to me, it looks like a little extra effort was made in production of the large frame guns.

Your problem was a bump in the road. I think you'll be very satisfied with your gun. Wouldn't mind picking one up myself.

kreiderm · September 8, 2009, 09:23 PM

I can't bring myself to buy a plastic/polymer handgun. I like the weight and recoil dampning of the heavy metal versions.

Tom2 · September 9, 2009, 06:09 PM

Well fine on no plastic now, but you should at least rent if not buy a Glock to see what the hubbub is all about on them. I doubt it would change your mind, I have owned a couple in the past but have been able to resist any more for the time being. But who knows, maybe someday someone will tempt me with a steal price on a Glockster, and if I am in the right frame of mind at that moment somehow(stoned, drunk, inexplicable euphoria) I might go ahead and grab another. Then later on feel like the guy waking up in the strange bedroom and then looking over....

varoadking · September 9, 2009, 07:20 PM

May need a new factory power mainspring. Check out Wolff Gunsprings...

September 7, 2009, 01:53 PM	#1
kreiderm Member Join Date: September 5, 2009 Posts: 24	SW4566 misfiring I just bought a used SW4566 from a local shop. The exterior is in perfect shape - not a scratch on it. It is set up like a LE issue with decock only lever. I fired a box of 50 and it misfired on 6! I took it back to the shop and they told me to clean it well and try again. I told them to keep it and have the gunsmith check it out before I fire it again. Should I be concerned over this malfunction or is it soimething the gunsmith should be able to correct? The pin marks on the misfires were slightly off center.

September 7, 2009, 08:08 PM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,990	It's not unusual for firing pin strikes to be off center a little. The problem could be: 1. Broken firing pin. 2. Gunked up firing pin channel. 3. Something preventing the pistol from going 100% into battery. The latter two can probably be fixed by a thorough cleaning, the former will take some remedial gunsmithing. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

September 7, 2009, 08:31 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I have a 3rd Gen S&W 1006. Not the same caliber as your pistol, but very similar build. Not a gunsmith, so I can't tell you what is wrong with yours. But I did want to say that it nails all my primers off-center. It just does... it's in the design of this pistol. It's not wrong or malfunctioning, it's just built that way. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

September 7, 2009, 08:47 PM	#5
David the Gnome Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,092	Depending on whether or not it was tinkered with by the previous owner I'd say replacing the mainspring with a factory unit would probably do wonders. __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum.

September 7, 2009, 10:16 PM	#6
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I can't say that I have had any misfires in my 1006. This is since 1992. If I have had any misfires, it's been a hellish long time and it wasn't memorable. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

September 7, 2009, 08:45 PM	#4
kreiderm Member Join Date: September 5, 2009 Posts: 24	Have you ever had a misfire in your 1006?

September 8, 2009, 08:59 AM	#7
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	So the question arises-what ammo!? I had a 4506 that would sometimes not go fully into battery with alum. Blazers. I have seen misfires with some Wolf .45 ammo at the range, something I have never been tempted to use. Are you seeing light strikes on the misfired rounds or what? __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

September 8, 2009, 09:43 AM	#8
.357SIG Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Posts: 1,023	Depending on what you mean by "misfire", I'd say it was probably dirty or oiled in the firing pin hole. I doubt it has a broken firing pin. This is going on the assumption you have light strikes. If you get light strikes, clean out firing pin channel. If rounds are not allowing the slide to go into battery, and the trigger just can't be pulled (as if slide was back), it's probably the recoil spring. Beyond that, I'd try the firing pin spring. I have a 1006, and I can't imagine being able to beat this thing up very easily. under normal use...even harsh use. Are the 50 rounds factory or reloads? Could be the ammo, but not likely, unless you just got a really bad batch.

September 8, 2009, 02:41 PM	#9
kreiderm Member Join Date: September 5, 2009 Posts: 24	The ammo was factory Fiocchi. The trigger pulled each time and went click. It happened from both single and double action. I released the slide with the slide release each time.

September 8, 2009, 02:43 PM	#10
.357SIG Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Posts: 1,023	Hmmmm.... dirty, bad spring, or bad ammo. I had a box of 357 SIG rounds by S&B that did the same thing. It was a bad box, because it never happened again.

September 8, 2009, 05:02 PM	#11
SouthpawShootr Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2002 Location: Chesapeake, Va Posts: 887	I suspect the pistol need a detail strip and clean. As John already pointed out, Most likely it is a gunked up firing pin channel. A certified S&W armorer will find the problem quickly. It'll be a simple fix.

September 8, 2009, 05:24 PM	#12
Icopy1 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 415	Try this. Stick a pencil with a rubber eraser inside the barrel with the eraser going in first. Your gun is unloaded goes without saying. Point in a safe direction with a hard backstop. Pull the trigger. The pencil should shoot out the barrel. If it doesn't, it could be a busted firing pin or clogged firing pin channel. My 4566 will shoot the pencil across the room. It also a good way to see if your decocker is working. When you decock the pistol, the pencil shouldn't move at all.

September 8, 2009, 06:56 PM	#13
kreiderm Member Join Date: September 5, 2009 Posts: 24	I just picked up the pistol from the gunsmith. He felt the misfires (I brought them in with the pistol) were light strikes and he replaced the hammer spring along with a thorough cleaning of the firing pin area. He said it test fired OK with a assortment of ammo. I will probably still replace the recoil spring. Thanks for all the suggestions. I was able to intelligently talk about the repair as a result and am confident the gun was a good buy.

September 8, 2009, 09:23 PM	#15
kreiderm Member Join Date: September 5, 2009 Posts: 24	I can't bring myself to buy a plastic/polymer handgun. I like the weight and recoil dampning of the heavy metal versions.

September 9, 2009, 06:09 PM	#16
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	Well fine on no plastic now, but you should at least rent if not buy a Glock to see what the hubbub is all about on them. I doubt it would change your mind, I have owned a couple in the past but have been able to resist any more for the time being. But who knows, maybe someday someone will tempt me with a steal price on a Glockster, and if I am in the right frame of mind at that moment somehow(stoned, drunk, inexplicable euphoria) I might go ahead and grab another. Then later on feel like the guy waking up in the strange bedroom and then looking over.... __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

September 9, 2009, 07:20 PM	#17
varoadking Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2004 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,315	May need a new factory power mainspring. Check out Wolff Gunsprings...