Firing Pin Problem?

[oldgrappler]

I have a CZ 452 American .22LR. Great looking rifle, great reviews, very accurate. The accuracy is limited by my ability, not the gun. I bought it used off the rack in a gun store.

 

Problem: Every so often I have a misfire. Squeeze the trigger and nothing happens. The latest occasion I fired 45 rounds and two of the rounds did not fire. I examined the end of the ammo and there was no dent in the round so it appears to be a firing pin issue. I'm just guessing as I have no experience with this.

 

What do you suggest I do?

 

BTW, a new bolt for this rifle is $190 from CZ.

[spindoc]

I have a CZ 452 American .22LR. Great looking rifle, great reviews, very accurate. The accuracy is limited by my ability, not the gun. I bought it used off the rack in a gun store.

 

Problem: Every so often I have a misfire. Squeeze the trigger and nothing happens. The latest occasion I fired 45 rounds and two of the rounds did not fire. I examined the end of the ammo and there was no dent in the round so it appears to be a firing pin issue. I'm just guessing as I have no experience with this.

 

What do you suggest I do?

 

BTW, a new bolt for this rifle is $190 from CZ.

I'd take it to a gunsmith.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

If you're shooting cheap .22 rounds through it (like pretty much everyone, myself included, tends to do), they can be dirty as all get out, and can muck up the bolt assembly and the movement of the firing pin and firing pin spring. I would start off by disassembling the bolt and giving it a good cleaning, then running another 50 rounds or so through the rifle and seeing if it misfires on any rounds.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

A quick Google online, and it looks like there are quite a few folks who opt to replace the firing pin springs in CZ rimfire rifles. There's a video on

(similar to the CZ 452...except chambered for both .22LR and .17HMR), and the aftermarket spring is probably 3/8" longer than the original.

 

 

Assuming your CZ 452 is similar enough, that will make a definite difference in the action from your firing pin. I'd say take down the bolt, clean it, and probably even go with the new spring, and you'll have a good chance of eliminating your problem all together.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smw8224JjuY

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Not saying I disagree with doc about the gunsmith, because that will DEFINITELY solve your problem, but I'm generally too much of a curious mind and a tinkerer at heart to start off by taking it to the gunsmith right off the bat.

 

Let us know what you do, oldgrappler.

[spindoc]

Not saying I disagree with doc about the gunsmith, because that will DEFINITELY solve your problem, but I'm generally too much of a curious mind and a tinkerer at heart to start off by taking it to the gunsmith right off the bat.

 

Let us know what you do, oldgrappler.

Agreed, and the odds are that a gunsmith would replace the spring as well. Had an old Stevens side by side back in the day, same deal. Cost me 45 bucks for the gunsmith to fix it. New spring and I was back in the game.

[oldgrappler]

Not saying I disagree with doc about the gunsmith, because that will DEFINITELY solve your problem, but I'm generally too much of a curious mind and a tinkerer at heart to start off by taking it to the gunsmith right off the bat.

 

Let us know what you do, oldgrappler.

 

Here's what I've done so far.

 

I disassembled the bolt and cleaned the parts. In doing so I noticed the spring was slightly misshapen. Looked like it had been rubbing near the center and it was ever-so-slightly-worn flat there. It was no longer completely straight. It looked like if you compressed it from both ends the center would heave up a bit and then would not return to its original position once decompressed. Hard to describe, but the spring looks a little bit worn and tired. Oiled all parts and re-assembled.

 

I ordered the better spring from J&P Custom Products. I will replace the spring when it arrives and then try my gun out again. Spent a total of $18.95 including shipping.

 

Thanks for the help, folks. Those youtube videos made it easy and gave me confidence to try it.

[oldgrappler]

Here's a follow up report.

 

The aftermarket spring from J&P Products arrived today. I replaced the stock spring with the aftermarket one and went to the shooting range to try it out.

 

I shot 115 rounds. I did have one misfire. It happened very early. Pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Didn't have a problem after that. I'm not sure if it totally fixed the problem so I will need to do some more testing.

 

All of that aside, the CZ 452 is an inherently accurate rifle (okay, it's no Anschutz, but its pretty good for a hunting rifle and informal target shooting). I shot 5-shot groups with three different types of ammo and it seemed to like all of them. Targets were at 25 yards--that's all the farther they can be at Mark's Guns. I have not been shooting for some time and so was out of practice. That means I was pretty inconsistent. I would have a good group going and then a flyer. The "bench" situation at Mark's isn't the most conducive for accuracy but I am a bit rusty and my shortcomings are the major reason for the flyers.

 

Here's the best groupings I had with each of the three types of ammo.

 

Federal 40 grain solid: 7/16 inch or 0.4375 That's not very good but to be fair to Federal it was the first ammo I tried and I got better over the course of time. I was having lots of trouble getting off 5 good shots in a row early on. I did improve over time.

 

22 Thunderbolt: 1/4 inch or 0.25. That's much better but it is only 25 yards. Target shooting is usually at 50 yrds or longer. I was impressed with this grouping because it was one ragged hole.

 

CCI Select, Round Nose, 40 grain: 7/32 inch or 0.21875. CCI is known to be a very accurate ammunition and it is obvious that my CZ likes it. This was one ragged hole.

 

I am amazed that all three types of ammo shot pretty well from my CZ.

[oldgrappler]

Went down to Lloyd WMA on Monday. Burrrrrrrrrrrr it was cold. Took my sons along--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day. Too cold to stay very long but shot about 50 rounds. No issues with the firing pin. I think changing the spring may have solved the issue. The one occurrence after I changed it could be attributed to operator error.

 

Plantman, I didn't let you know I was going to the shooting range because the temp was in single digits and I didn't want to be responsible for you getting frostbite.

[Watusi]

Just out of curiosity, how much did you pay for the rifle used?

[oldgrappler]

I believe it was $269 at Woodbury Outfitters in Coshocton, OH a few years ago. I paid extra and got a Sightron scope mounted at the same time--scope was on sale. The gun itself was $269.

 

I was glad to see a Woodburys open up near Cinci.