I have an early @1941 era single shot shotgun H&R shotgun in very good condition but it does not fire consistently. The firing pin looks perfect with plenty of extension through the breech face. So I am assuming the firing pin spring must be weak. My question is, are the springs for these older guns the same as the newer guns and if not, who would handle the older springs?

Numrich Arms (Gun Parts America) has new springs for all those shotguns for a few bucks.

Edit: Yes, design did evolve over time. You will probably have to take your gun down and compare to the parts diagrams, There should be a model number stamped on the frame or barrel.

Thank you 4bore

More likely the hammer spring.

Pay attention to the exploded diagram, the pins if put in as done by factory, will have the knurling on one side. Forget which side but the diagram at Numrichs was correct.

Also, make a slave pin so you can assemble the parts and drop in.

Have seen folks try to beat the knurling through both sides or not use slave pins. Comical.

I picked up a 410 a few years back. Near perfect condition. This was a much later model.

Think the reason it was in such great condition is because it would not fire. (In addition, it would NOT close when loaded. I had to take some material off the extractor face to get it to do so. This was after trying multiple different brands of ammo).

Turns out, the hammer face was contacting the action before it could make contact with the transfer bar. I compared with a hammer of another gun of similar vintage, and it had quite a bit more material on it. Exchanging with the other made it functional. I ended up having to remove some material from the hammer face to make it work. The gun must’ve been made with Friday afternoon parts.

Anyway, try the hammer spring first. Not sure if your “vintage” of gun has a transfer bar system, but something to look at, if it does, to make sure hammer can make good contact with it.

Also, what Hookeye said is KEY. Use a “slave pin” to re-assemble. You can use drill bits to function as slave pins, if you don’t have something else. Assemble with the “slave pin” (loose fit), then chase it out with the real pins, that will have to be tapped in lightly with a hammer.

Cheap allen wrench can be cut to make a slave.
Those Chinese pos that come w junk rings n stuff, that are in a pile at most gunshops LOL

I put a Savage 24 back together without a slave pin once, fun stuff. But I was 14 and had no idea what a slave pin was.

I mostly use pieces of Q-tip for that now.

A 1941 H&R shotgun does not have a transfer bar nor knurled pins. More than likely it needs a hammer spring which should be available from Numrich (Gun Parts, Inc.). The older design does not require slave pins to assemble.

Thanks everyone. I have tried Numrich but all they have are used springs. I already have one of those in my gun. Does anyone know what exact model this 1941 vintage guns is? I have heard several different models as being possible. The most often quoted was the model 1908 yet others said possibly 1921?

the pins are made to be installed from the right to left the knurled end will be left on the right side..

You almost need to take them apart in a pillow case.