Titanium 1911 Firing Pins?

Forte Smitten Wesson said:
Personally, I don't own a 1911 (yet) so I really can't comment on Series 80 1911s versus Series 70 1911s, but certain folks hate them and claim that the Series 80 design makes the trigger pull less smooth, so if I were going to get a 1911, then it would be a Series 70 with a Titanium Firing Pin, and seeing as the Ruger SR1911 (which would be my most likely choice) happens to come in that configuration by default, that works for me.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I think that depends on the shooter. I have both types, but I'm not sure I could give a fair comparison. I have a Series 70 Gold Cup, which has a wide trigger along with a very nice trigger pull. My Series 80 Government Model has had a trigger job done on it, but I wanted the pull to be on the heavier side, in the 4.5-5.0lb range. It is a very nice trigger pull, though.

Lots of opinions on the difference in trigger pull quality. Some say it's only a difference in weight, about 1/2lb. Others say it's a drastic difference.

Personally, I have no real preference. While I like the simpler Series 70 style firing pin set-up, a Series 80 wouldn't be a deal breaker. Either is fine, so long as the trigger pull breaks cleanly. But I'm also not a 1911 aficionado/connoisseur like many here.
 
Having a fair amount of experience with various 1911's, the titanium firing pin was more for race guns (IPSC/USPSA/IDPA) than anything else. They might have a benefit with using lightweight hammers, which are usually found on race guns, as the lightweight hammer is going to impart a little less energy to the firing pin. Personally, I have not experienced any issues with lightweight hammers and steel firing pins, but then again 17 pounds is the minimum mainspring that I have ever used in a 1911.

I think for most people, a titanium firing pin brings bragging rights to the owner and money to the manufacturer.
 
$30 bucks for a titanium firing pin isn't going to break the bank, but if they're good enough for Wilson to use them in their PD guns, that's good enough for me.
 
Last edited:
I'm giving my 1911 to my son, actually tomorrow or Sunday, but I'm going to have to look at it first later today. It's also an ATI (very reliable and accurate). I'm having trouble trying to understand what difference in the metal would make a 1911, or any gun, firing pin safer? I can understand the spring maybe, but how does the titanium pin make the gun safer? All I can see is it won't rust. I hate taking that gun apart (my basement floor has eaten two bushings so far!) but now I have to look at it. I'm no firearm pro by no means of the imagination, but I have never heard of this. Maybe I'll look at one of those links I saw up above. Live & learn!
 
jeffrefrig said:
I'm giving my 1911 to my son, actually tomorrow or Sunday, but I'm going to have to look at it first later today. It's also an ATI (very reliable and accurate). I'm having trouble trying to understand what difference in the metal would make a 1911, or any gun, firing pin safer? I can understand the spring maybe, but how does the titanium pin make the gun safer? All I can see is it won't rust. I hate taking that gun apart (my basement floor has eaten two bushings so far!) but now I have to look at it. I'm no firearm pro by no means of the imagination, but I have never heard of this. Maybe I'll look at one of those links I saw up above. Live & learn!
Click to expand...

It's the mass. Things in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the gun and firing pin fall at the same time. The muzzle hits the ground and stops, but the firing pin wants to keep going. If it has enough inertia to overcome the resistance of the firing pin spring, it can detonate the primer. A titanium firing pin has less mass (i.e., weighs less) than a steel firing pin, therefore it has less inertia and would be less likely to overcome the resistance of the firing pin spring than a steel pin. Alternatively, one could use an extra power firing spring to add more resistance and keep a steel pin from hitting the primer.

Clear as mud? ;)
 
Hairtrigger said:
Drop safe?
DON’T DROP THE GUN!
Click to expand...

That must be why Tuco in Good, Bad & Ugly has his revolver on a rope around his neck.
ContinentalOP, thanks. Not in a million years would I have thought that the weight of a firing pin be the cause of an accidental discharge after dropping a gun. Now I've got more to worry about! I have no brother so I don't need to worry about getting something out of his closet and having a gun fall on me! Every action has equal & opposite reaction, eh?
 
jeffrefrig said:
ContinentalOP, thanks. Not in a million years would I have thought that the weight of a firing pin be the cause of an accidental discharge after dropping a gun. Now I've got more to worry about! I have no brother so I don't need to worry about getting something out of his closet and having a gun fall on me! Every action has equal & opposite reaction, eh?
Click to expand...

No need to worry. Either a titanium firing pin or an extra power firing pin spring and you're good-to-go.
 
Hairtrigger said:
Drop safe?
DON’T DROP THE GUN!
Click to expand...

Ive been around many people carrying firearms sometimes hundreds carrying firearms at the same time and also have seen lots of firearms dropped. Loaded or unloaded Ive seen my fair share of firearms dropped. When I was in the Corps some, if not all, the old Colt M-16s i've encountered the cocked hammers would fall with a sharp blow to the butt stock. Ive also seen a few hunting accidents with dropped firearms. My father in his youth while hunting his single shot 16 gauge slipped out of his hand and it shot him in the jaw. He never hunted ever again. I also had a friend in high school that dropped his rifle while falling asleep in a deer stand. The rifle shot a high velocity rifle bullet right through his groin blowing off some of his man bits. He had to crawl a half mile to his truck and than drive himself to the emergency room. This was during the days before the common cell phone. Guy almost bled to death it was an amazing feat of human strength and endurance! I like gun drop safeties...
 
Last edited:
I went ahead and added the titanium firing pin and stronger spring in my ATI. Seems to not affect function and shot 500 rounds with good primer strikes. It might be a worthy safety improvement to the 1911.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Winchester Model 12 firing pins
Replies
6
Views
863
Drm50
D
R
Colt 1911
Replies
9
Views
563
silicosys4
S
arjay
Factory engraved 1911
Replies
0
Views
263
arjay
arjay
E
nice 1911
Replies
1
Views
342
S&W Fan
S
E
A nice 1911
Replies
11
Views
832
collectordude
C

Latest posts

Back
Top