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Browning 725 Firing Pin Questions

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Keperkey

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I know that the firing pin on the bottom barrel of a 725 can be finicky.

I generally shoot Clever shells (actually have a closet full of flats). Inevitably I will have 3-5 FTF out of the bottom barrel each round. The pin will dimple the primer but not fire. I can move the offending shell to the top barrel and it will fire just fine.

I have slightly more than 10,000 rounds through my gun.

A few months ago I took the firing pin out and cleaned the internals. After that I shot a different brand of shell (approximately 750 total shells, assume 2/3 from the bottom) and did not have a single issue. This weekend I shot Clevers at a charity shoot and had 3 FTFs.

I am assuming this is due in large part to the shallow primer of the Clevers combined with the angle of the bottom pin. Will an aftermarket firing pin or new spring lessen the likelihood of having a problem or do I need to move to a different shell altogether until I get a new gun. (While I have new gunitis, I am not trying to use this as a rationale to buy one.)
 
#2 ·
No more than a new firing pin cost, I would replace the bottom one.
You did not say whether you saw any erosion on the tip of the bottom pin. This may also contribute, due to shortening of the length.
I would try J & P for the firing pin. He also sells firing pin springs, which seem stronger than the stock springs. You might notice a temporary 1/4 lb increase in trigger pull wt with the new spring.
With all the shells you have in stock, as a last resort, you can lengthen the slot in the lower firing pin.
This will allow more pin protrusion out of the breach face. It takes a small chain saw file to do this.
 
#3 ·
I cannot answer based on direct experience with a 725, but...

I had a 625 that exhibited the same behavior; bottom barrel did not like shells loaded with Fiocchi primers (think that's probably what's in Clevers). My gunsmith replaced the bottom pin with a slightly longer Ti version, and the problem went away. I'm pretty sure that there are aftermarket parts available for 725 as well. FWIW, I think Ti was overkill, and steel would work as well for less money.
 
#5 ·
Discussion starter · #10 ·
My JnP kit came in 2 days. All went together smoothly except the top latch spring. With the new spring in I cannot open the gun. I have to remove the spring to open it. If I put the old spring in the gun dry functions just fine. I have not live fired it yet. Any thoughts?
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Jim at JnP called me this morning at 6:00 his time. Talk about service. He is sending out a new spring to try. We are not really sure why the old spring allows the gun to go back together and to function, but he gave me some suggestions on inspecting the spring more so out of curiosity since he sent me a new spring no questions asked.
 
#13 ·
I would say that maybe since the new spring is so much stiffer that it can be hard to get the screw and block fully seated. Try it again paying close attention to how many turns the screw goes in to be sure it's setting down properly. As long as it's all the way in the pocket on the front side I can't imagine what it could hang up on.
 
#14 ·
The bottom pin on a Citori strikes the primer at a 45 degree downward angle. The top nose of the pin actually hits the primer. When that part of the pin gets worn (especially with hard European primers) it doesn't strike the primer deeply enough to set it off. So if the primer is recessed much at all, the bottom barrel will FTF on that shell. The top pin strikes the primer at a perfect 90 Degree angle, and is why the shell will go off in the top barrel when it won't in the bottom.

I believe that the 12 ga. pins are all the same on every Citori. About two years ago Browning started making the bottom pins .015" longer and that solved most of the problems. Pins are not very expensive (4-5 bucks) and can be changed in about 10 minutes even if you are not very mechanically inclined. After market pins are fine, but may be unnecessary since usually just cleaning out the hole in the receiver the pins travels in, and putting in a new pin will fix any FTF on the bottom barrel of a Citori.

For a Demagogue to be successful, he has to act as stupid as his followers so they can think they as smart as he is.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
So to put a final point on this. JnP talked to me on Monday and immediately dropped a new spring in the mail. New top latch spring went in with little issue. Gun functions just fine through 75 shells. Shooting a charity shoot (200 birds) Friday so that will be the true test.

Cannot day enough about JnP product and service.
 
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Keperkey
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