Making a Roll Pin Stop Moving

[revchuck38]

I've got an S&W M22-4. Soon after I bought it I sent it back to the S&W Performance Center for their Combat Revolver package and replacement of the too-short front sight. The roll pin holding the front sight tends to walk out after firing a bunch of rounds. My instinct is to tap it most of the way out, hit it with some red Loctite, and tap it back in. Is there a better way to do this?

[rd62]

I've got an S&W M22-4. Soon after I bought it I sent it back to the S&W Performance Center for their Combat Revolver package and replacement of the too-short front sight. The roll pin holding the front sight tends to walk out after firing a bunch of rounds. My instinct is to tap it most of the way out, hit it with some red Loctite, and tap it back in. Is there a better way to do this?

I'd replace the roll pin.

[JCN]

I might degrease it and then try blue loctite.
Or a thin coating of the E6000.

Or using a small nail and flaring the mouth of the roll pin a little.

[jeep45238]

A tension pin (roll pin with a slit all the way down) is a one-and-done deal once it can't have enough tension against the ID of the hole it's in. Applying a thread locking chemical to it isn't a good option, those are meant for threads, not for parallel surfaces.

[mmc45414]

I'd replace the roll pin.

A tension pin (roll pin with a slit all the way down) is a one-and-done deal once it can't have enough tension against the ID of the hole it's in.
Getting a single (or a handful) of something like a roll pin can be tricky, know that Fastenal will sell single items if you order it online. I think it can be delivered to the stores, if there is one nearby.


Applying a thread locking chemical to it isn't a good option, those are meant for threads, not for parallel surfaces.
Though I have used it for drifted rear sights that maybe were not quite as tight as they should be.
I have also heard of a drop of nail polish working. I tend to have some handy for my sights, not my fingernails... :cool:

[jeep45238]

Getting a single (or a handful) of something like a roll pin can be tricky, know that Fastenal will sell single items if you order it online. I think it can be delivered to the stores, if there is one nearby.


Though I have used it for drifted rear sights that maybe were not quite as tight as they should be.
I have also heard of a drop of nail polish working. I tend to have some handy for my sights, not my fingernails... :cool:

I've had pretty good luck with these folks. For the price of a couple from fastenal, if they sell independently, you can grab a bunch.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Hard-to-Find+Fastener&ref=bl_dp_s_web_10147764011

[rd62]

Might be worth calling around a few local gunsmiths.

[fatdog]

I would just flare it on both ends.

[Maca]

a little clear nail polish has worked well for me in the past

[revchuck38]

I would just flare it on both ends.


a little clear nail polish has worked well for me in the past

I'll probably try one or both of these. Finding a roll/tension pin around here is unlikely; gunsmiths around here apparently know about revolvers only from pictures. Before I do anything else, though, I'm going to email S&W to see if they'll hook me up with a pin.

[OlongJohnson]

This will be very secure. Might be difficult to remove.

https://smile.amazon.com/Loctite-37424-Strength-Retainer-6-milliliter/dp/B0002KKTIG

[1slow]

I might degrease it and then try blue loctite.
Or a thin coating of the E6000.

Or using a small nail and flaring the mouth of the roll pin a little.

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I was under the impression that roll pins were spring tempered. Can the ends be flared successfully ?

[revchuck38]

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I was under the impression that roll pins were spring tempered. Can the ends be flared successfully ?

I'll find out if I can find something small enough to fit in that hole.

[1slow]

How about grinding a very tapered cone point on the end of a center punch or nailset ?

[medmo]

Remove the roll pin and peen one end of it. Slightly tap it with a hammer until its slightly out of round. Anvil side of vise for surface and a small ball peen hammer. Might want to tape the other side down on the vise so you won’t have to play “find the small roll pin.” Reinstall unpeened end first.

[JCN]

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I was under the impression that roll pins were spring tempered. Can the ends be flared successfully ?


How about grinding a very tapered cone point on the end of a center punch or nailset ?

I have a set of punches with rounded tips. One time I used a punch that was a little too small to install a little stubborn roll pin and it flared the end. That’s the context of where I came up with idea from a slightly different application.


Remove the roll pin and peen one end of it. Slightly tap it with a hammer until its slightly out of round. Anvil side of vise for surface and a small ball peen hammer. Might want to tape the other side down on the vise so you won’t have to play “find the small roll pin.” Reinstall unpeened end first.

I like this idea a lot.

[mmc45414]

I've had pretty good luck with these folks. For the price of a couple from fastenal, if they sell independently, you can grab a bunch.
Yes, I have scored some stuff from various Amazon options. Shipping in the thing with Fastenal, but not sure if they might send it to a store as part of normal shipments without, or with a minimal charge.

But they sure got some obscure stuff, I coincidently found out they would sell individual items (the stores just sell boxes) when I butchered up drilling the FO front sight on my Super Blackhawk and I needed a little stainless roll pin, and maybe the next larger size in order to drill it out bigger to fix my screwup. And I got a hand full of each.


I would just flare it on both ends.

I was under the impression that roll pins were spring tempered. Can the ends be flared successfully ?
Oh yeah, I have flared plenty of them, just never intentionally... :cool:

[Archer1440]

Tension pins can be “refreshed” by driving a mandrel down through the center of the pin to get it back to the original dimensions. For hard-to-find custom pins this can be done a few times with good effect, if you do it right.

[jh9]

I'm going to email S&W to see if they'll hook me up with a pin.

They should. If they don't the pin diameter should be .055" if you want to use a solid pin (like they did before changing to roll pins).