MikieM Posted April 13, 2018 Share Posted April 13, 2018 I had a failure to fire the other day at the range. I cleared the round from the chamber, loaded another, and went on shooting. After another hundred rounds, or so, I packed up and went home. This morning I was reading the thread that's currently going around regarding the high number of broken firing pins plaguing the PCC community. I decided to give mine an inspection and here's what I found. It's amazing how this thing continued to function, but as long as the two ends continue to come together I suppose it has to. The problem, of course, is when one half slips over the other in the middle of a stage. Link to comment
rstandley Posted April 13, 2018 Share Posted April 13, 2018 (edited) I polished mine at the point they break, where they machine it down, in hopes it will increase its life. I of course carry a spare. I would hope they would cut a taper instead of a square shoulder at that point. I also reduced the weight of the mil-spec hammer and lighten the hammer spring. Edited April 13, 2018 by rstandley added information Link to comment
1911luvr Posted April 13, 2018 Share Posted April 13, 2018 I’m surprised you didn’t get a slamfire with the firing pin coming forward. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
L9X25 Posted April 13, 2018 Share Posted April 13, 2018 I had a misfire during a match, went to the safe area and found the broken pin. There were some metal chips in the tunnel so I cleaned them out and dropped the two pieces back into the bolt. The pin allowed me to finish the match. I do not think it will slam fire because the heavy part of the pin is still retained by the spring. The broken part, that is not sprung, is very light and does not have enough energy to set off a primer. Link to comment
MikieM Posted April 14, 2018 Author Share Posted April 14, 2018 When it rains, it pours. Just for the hell of it I took my spare bolt out of my range bag and took the pin out for inspection. It came out in two pieces. I put in a new one, wrapped it back up, and put it back in the bag. How many of you are running a busted pin, but don't know it? No more pulling the trigger during dry fire. Link to comment
L9X25 Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 2 hours ago, MikieM said: How many of you are running a busted pin, but don't know it? You made me check, so far so good, my pin is not broken and it is not beating itself up anymore either. Link to comment
Flatland Shooter Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, MikieM said: No more pulling the trigger during dry fire. I also try to not drop the hammer when dry firing but I still want to manipulate the safety and have the trigger movement. For 99% of my dryfiring I just lock the bolt back. Initially I was concerned that this would result in over inserting magazines but so far that has not been a problem. But sometimes my practice requires me to drop the hammer. An example is unloaded starts. I have a 33rd mag loaded with around 28 dummy rds and a piece of folded kydex above the bullets so they do not feed into the chamber when I work the charging handle. For these exercises I have a bolt that is dedicated to dryfire practice and range practice. Its never used in a match. So far so good. Edited April 14, 2018 by Flatland Shooter Link to comment
MikieM Posted April 14, 2018 Author Share Posted April 14, 2018 Of course at the end of each stage the RO orders the hammer to be placed down, so that's a few more times the FP has no cushion. What's needed are better, more reliable pins. It's time to build a better mousetrap. Link to comment
BartCarter Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 26 minutes ago, MikieM said: Of course at the end of each stage the RO orders the hammer to be placed down... We flag it and then press the trigger. Can't get any safer than that. The hammer isn't involved that way. Link to comment
Flatland Shooter Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 4 minutes ago, BartCarter said: We flag it and then press the trigger. Can't get any safer than that. The hammer isn't involved that way. Works for me but its not in compliance with USPSA rules. PCC 8.3.7.1 (Hammer down prior to inserting the flag.) Link to comment
MikieM Posted April 14, 2018 Author Share Posted April 14, 2018 4 hours ago, Flatland Shooter said: Works for me but its not in compliance with USPSA rules. PCC 8.3.7.1 (Hammer down prior to inserting the flag.) Correct. That's why I mentioned it. Link to comment
Les Snyder Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 I'll repeat a comment I've made on other firing pin threads... if you round the strike end of the pin (like the AR 5.56 pins) the hammer will strike closer to the center line....which I think would help to help prevent pin breakage Link to comment
BartCarter Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 16 hours ago, Les Snyder said: I'll repeat a comment I've made on other firing pin threads... if you round the strike end of the pin (like the AR 5.56 pins) the hammer will strike closer to the center line....which I think would help to help prevent pin breakage That makes sense. My next project. I see some metal displacement on my current pins (which have plenty of rounds). I will put in a new pin after I round it and compare. Link to comment
MikieM Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 On 4/14/2018 at 6:03 AM, Les Snyder said: I'll repeat a comment I've made on other firing pin threads... if you round the strike end of the pin (like the AR 5.56 pins) the hammer will strike closer to the center line....which I think would help to help prevent pin breakage Couldn't hurt a thing. Link to comment
JAFO Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Guess I have something to check tonight. Link to comment
dlightning Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 At what approximate round count does this occur? Link to comment
MikieM Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 If you're asking me. I don't have a clue. Link to comment
Tampa-XD45 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 13 hours ago, dlightning said: At what approximate round count does this occur? Mine broke at about 5,000 rounds. Others here have broken them after just a few hundred rounds. Link to comment
JAFO Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 Checked mine last night and thankfully saw no deformation of the tip or the strike end. And, FWIW, my NFA pin has a sloped shoulder where Mikie's pin broke, not a flat step. Link to comment
L9X25 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 1 hour ago, JAFO said: Checked mine last night and thankfully saw no deformation of the tip or the strike end. And, FWIW, my NFA pin has a sloped shoulder where Mikie's pin broke, not a flat step. I think that is the key, that and making sure you are impacting the center of the pin. Link to comment
dlightning Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 What trigger are you all using when the pin broke? Is the 24c impacting too much force? Just think out loud. The inconsistency of longevity is the worrisome part. I am at about 500 on a new taccom bcg. I’ll check mine tonight. Link to comment
L9X25 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 I honestly felt that the Hiperfire striking force was, at least, somewhat to blame, then broke my pin with a JP trigger with the reduced power hammer spring. That spring is not even powerful enough to consistently set off military primers. Link to comment
JAFO Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 NFA now has this notation on their spare firing pin page: "**NOTE: Many Aftermarket drop in triggers use modified hammers which may not reset properly, or hit the firing pin square on the carrier which could cause firing pins to bind and snap. We recommend using only MILSPEC hammers with any 9mm, .40, or .45 blow back bolt carrier groups." Link to comment
BartCarter Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 On 4/14/2018 at 4:03 AM, Les Snyder said: I'll repeat a comment I've made on other firing pin threads... if you round the strike end of the pin (like the AR 5.56 pins) the hammer will strike closer to the center line....which I think would help to help prevent pin breakage Looks like Les hit the firing pin on the head: Quote "**NOTE: Many Aftermarket drop in triggers use modified hammers which may not reset properly, or hit the firing pin square on the carrier which could cause firing pins to bind and snap. We recommend using only MILSPEC hammers with any 9mm, .40, or .45 blow back bolt carrier groups." Link to comment
L9X25 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 26 minutes ago, BartCarter said: Looks like Les hit the firing pin on the head: He's definitely smarter than he looks! Link to comment
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