twister Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I bought a used revolver and wanted to check if it has an extended firing pin, Would like to know how long extended pin is so I can compare it to the one in the gun. Thanks, Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 A factory one will be .495 at the longest. Some are shorter. An extended one can be up to .510. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twister Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Just measured mine at .490, so I guess I would benefit from an extended firing pin. Any suggestions? Where would I be able to get a .510? Thanks for your help, Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian B Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 All my S&W revolvers have extended firing pins:https://store.apextactical.com/WebDirect/Products/Details/191695Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twister Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Thanks for the help, just ordered the pin from Apex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWP Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 The apex competition pin is federal primers only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosshoss Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 2 hours ago, twister said: Just measured mine at .490, so I guess I would benefit from an extended firing pin. Any suggestions? Where would I be able to get a .510? Thanks for your help, Dave. Cylinder and Slide pin is .510 Power custom pin is .505 Apex competition is .495 Brownells or Midway or order from manufacture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twister Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Bosshoss thanks for the info, I'll try ordering one from Cylinder and slide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revoman Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Cylinder and Slide pins have a tendency to break and .495 is plenty long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanMan1961 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) for my S&W 929, I tried a C&S firing pin and found it was worse than the stock Performance Center firing pin. Also, it's not just about length (there's a joke in here someplace .... ) It's the length of the relief cut that's important too. Also, I believe it's the profile of the pin that hits the primer that is more important. The S&W one was pointier. After this test, I never bothered testing an Apex firing pin. The S&W Performance Center on the left, Cylinder & Slide on the right. Edited July 13, 2017 by VanMan1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoots100 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Just removed my second and last broken C&S firing pin today. I gave them a second chance, luckily it broke in practice today. I installed the factory pin until the Apex pin arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twister Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 I received my apex firing pin yesterday and it measured .491, I hope that's enough of a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWP Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I can't say I've ever measured a firing pin in my life. Is this an overthought issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 No - many factory ones are too short to provide reliable ignition without a super heavy mainspring tension. Some variables that affect this are endshake, primers seated below flush, rim thickness, etc. The extended firing pin covers the variations. The shortest firing pin that has been reliable for me is .495. That is the longest factory one. I've had factory ones that were .485 or less. I prefer a .500 to .505. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twister Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 Just received my firing pin from Cylinder & slide, .510, so I hope my problems are solved. Thanks for all the help, Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsg Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 On 7/13/2017 at 1:01 PM, MWP said: The apex competition pin is federal primers only. Could someone explain this? How is it primer specific? I would think the pin's job is to impact the primer so as long as it impacts the primer hard enough, it would work the same for any primer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurusty Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Think of it in terms of force, softer material (Federal) will take less force to impact than other primers that use harder material. Hammer a nail into a piece of aluminum and then try the same thing, with equal speed and force on any type of steel, and you will notice that the imprint on the aluminum is deeper.Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AusPPC Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 After my 3rd Power Custom extended pin broke I went back to the factory pin. Ignition reliability remained at 100%. Better yet, I can now dry fire a stage before starting, which helps my scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Phil Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I found the same thing. Broke 3 C&S pins and switched to the Apex pin and reduced power spring. Funny thing is, now both guns (327 TRR8 and 686P) will shoot Winchester primers 100%. Both were about 75 - 80% before with the C&S pins). Strange, but a nice surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMM50 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 (edited) I believe the length over all is only one measure. The pin that stops travel in both directions fits into the notch cut in the firing pin. The locational of that notch will determine how far the firing pin can travel as it hits the primer. So a shorter pin (lighter weight) with a longer travel might be better is setting off primers. I've been using Apex with good results. Heard way too much about C&S breakage. Edited August 30, 2017 by GMM50 Cleaned up for clarity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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