Trappers Special .22

[psteinmayer]

My father gave my son a .22 caliber rifle when he was 14. He's now 28 and in the US Navy, and I have the rifle in my safe. It's marked "Trappers Special" and "22 CAL S.L. & L.R. - Made in USA" below that on the barrel. There is no serial number. I tried to look it up on line and from what I found, I believe it to be a 1928 Mossberg Model B. I need to replace the mainspring as it frequently miss fires (the mainspring is rather weak). I disassembled the bolt and cleaned a lot of crud out of the thing, but I still think the spring should be stronger.

I welcome all suggestions!

P.S., I can post some pictures tomorrow.

Thanks
Paul

[da gimp]

call Dick Williams gunshop in Michigan, google him, he has both a web site & a toll free #, & gunsmiths answer the phone too....

[dave]

I am a Moss. collector and parts for those very early models are almost imposible to find. I doubt Dicks has such a part or even knows if he has one (without seeing a sample). I think you may have to find a craftsman who can make one for you. That rifle was made one to two years, 1931-1932. No production numbers even exsist for it. In fact no 'official' production numbers exsist for any Moss. rifle or shotgun up to about the 60-70's or later.

[n64atlas]

a couple of Mossberg sites to check out:

Model types ect
http://home.epix.net/~damguy/

Parts:
http://www.havlinsales.com/right.htm

[dave]

As it is a bolt action I think I am safe in thinking the spring is coil. I have a small supply of such springs and recently found one that I substituted for in a M-63 Win., the cocking rod return spring. Yeh, I am a pack rat! Pehaps you can goggle or phone suppliers a find some who may sell/have assortments of coil springs and find one close enough to work?
Also examine firing pin tip closely!
PS: I have never seen a Mod-B Moss. The first M-B was in 1928, marketed as the Taylor Trapper Special, a fur company in St. Louis. It was contracted to them, so perhaps they were exclusive sellers? It was stamped 'Trappers Special' rather then Model B, 22" barrel, 39 1/2 overall. It should have a two piece bolt. They had produced the Taylor Fur Getter for them, a trap gun.

[n64atlas]

http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=4&mID=131

[amber]

Before changing the spring, check out the ammo you are using. Over the years, I have had .22 rim fire ammo that did not have enough priming compound in the rim. I'm not exactly sure how the cases are primed, but I THINK that wet priming compound is dropped into the case and them the case is spun around to deposit the primer stuff in the rim. Try to find some real fresh new .22 rim fire and fire 50 rds. If you get any misfires, refire that round with the case inserted so the firing pin hits a different spot on the cartridge's rim. By doing this, you should be able to tell where the problem is.

[da gimp]

Dick Williams' guys just might know of a valid substitute, or be able to make the spring.......... like I said, when you call them, you'll talk to real smiths.........ya never know & the call is free...........

[psteinmayer]

As it is a bolt action I think I am safe in thinking the spring is coil. I have a small supply of such springs and recently found one that I substituted for in a M-63 Win., the cocking rod return spring. Yeh, I am a pack rat! Pehaps you can goggle or phone suppliers a find some who may sell/have assortments of coil springs and find one close enough to work?
Also examine firing pin tip closely!
PS: I have never seen a Mod-B Moss. The first M-B was in 1928, marketed as the Taylor Trapper Special, a fur company in St. Louis. It was contracted to them, so perhaps they were exclusive sellers? It was stamped 'Trappers Special' rather then Model B, 22" barrel, 39 1/2 overall. It should have a two piece bolt. They had produced the Taylor Fur Getter for them, a trap gun.

Yes, it is a coil spring, and a two piece bolt. I disassembled the bolt and cleaned (probably 50 years worth) crud and gunk out of the bolt. The firing pin tip is round, but looks ok. With it cleaned, the pin moves within the bolt face much smoother. The firing pin striker (at rest) does not push the pin to it's extreme travel... in other words, the pin floats and can be pushed until flush with the bolt face. I haven't fired it since I cleaned it... so this may all be moot now, but I still feel that the spring is a little weak. When the striker is released, it doesn't snap hard, but rather just sort of pops forward.


Before changing the spring, check out the ammo you are using. Over the years, I have had .22 rim fire ammo that did not have enough priming compound in the rim. I'm not exactly sure how the cases are primed, but I THINK that wet priming compound is dropped into the case and them the case is spun around to deposit the primer stuff in the rim. Try to find some real fresh new .22 rim fire and fire 50 rds. If you get any misfires, refire that round with the case inserted so the firing pin hits a different spot on the cartridge's rim. By doing this, you should be able to tell where the problem is.

Most of the time after a miss fire, the rifle can be recocked, and will fire on the second try. Ammo used the last time was CCI LR... but it was .22 rounds that have been sitting in the safe for years.

I plan on giving the old girl a dance... but if the proplem is still persisting, I'll look into a spring supplier like provided by n64atlas and see about a stronger spring!

Many thanks to everyone!

[dave]

If it fires on the second hit it sounds like you solved the problem, very dirty bolt, by cleaning! May be hard brass too, adding to the porblem.

[glindes]

I have a Mossberg Model B that I believe is the first gun I ever fired. Father passed last year...that happens. It is a cool little single shot bolt-action that requires manual cocking. It is also a take-down of sorts... There is a thumbscrew to remove the action from the stock...cool memories. Geoff in DE

[psteinmayer]

For those who are interested, here are a few pictures of this Model B:

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-25-22_798_zpsc836e714.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-24-11_685_zpsd6ea8b89.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-24-19_426_zpsda0bc2af.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-20-25_848_zpsb0545e72.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-19-41_841_zps6c8b1cd5.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-20-14_685_zps56df3076.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/Paul_Steinmayer/Mossberg%20Model%20B/2013-03-09_11-19-53_990_zps5017e974.jpg

[dave]

Very nice!! As I said not much info on these. Havlins book says they were made 28-32 as I remember.