1911 Firing Pin Issue

[805moparkid]

ok so i have my mid 80's colt officers 1911 that i am starting to work on, reliabilty mostly, so i ordered a oversized slide stop and firing pin from Wilson.

so i installed the firing pin and being a engine builder i checked the firing pin with the hammer down... it was sticking out! so then i started checking.

the new wilson pin is much longer than my stock one, but as i found still longer than "spec".

they are saying they have never seen one as short as mine (roughly 2.250) and theirs (roughly 2.375) (my mic broke so will get one tonite but as you can se its much longer.

as officers pins shorter than govt? as you can see mine has the blueing and unaltered on the end so its stock, and has less than 1K rounds thru it...

 

[RightArm]

Why did you want to replace it? Was it not firing on some of the ammo you use?

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

If you have an OACP and want reliability, the first thing you need to look at is the recoil spring plug; they break. You need a whole new recoil spring system.

I wouldn't be changing firing pins without a reason.

 

[GKC]

they are saying they have never seen one as short as mine

Not something any guy likes to hear...

On a serious note, and this may not need to be said to you, but do NOT attempt to fire your pistol with this extended firing pin in it. It is very unsafe, and you could have a chain fire (repetitive firing, or full auto) malfunction. The firing pin must not be protruding except under impact from the hammer, and it must retract after the firing cycle until the next hammer impact.

 

[steveno]

keep checking the barrel bushing for cracks on the officers model

 

[2152hq]

AFAIK all the 1911 Colt versions including the shortys use the same firing pin.
I don't keep up real well on the latest and greatest, but as far as I remember, the firing pin was always the same part number no matter which model.

Maybe a factory parts schematic on-line somewhere can confirm or bust that theory by comparing part numbers from the full size version and yours.

Using it as-is with OAL way out there is like converting it to a STAR system.

 

[Gunslinger808]

The pin on the left looks more like one for a .38 super/9mm.

 

[rbmcmjr]

Is it possible that when you reassembled the slide, you pushed the firing pin too far forward and now the firing pin safety is keeping it from moving back? Is the rear of the firing pin protruding from the rear of the slide? If not, depress the firing pin stop and see if it doesn't release the pin rearward.

 

[805moparkid]

If you have an OACP and want reliability, the first thing you need to look at is the recoil spring plug; they break. You need a whole new recoil spring system.

I wouldn't be changing firing pins without a reason.

yep this stuff is on the way... already upgraded to a 24lbs recoil spring and am looking for 25-27lbs... when i went to the 20lbs hammer it negated the recoil spring upgrade...

 

[805moparkid]

Not something any guy likes to hear...

On a serious note, and this may not need to be said to you, but do NOT attempt to fire your pistol with this extended firing pin in it. It is very unsafe, and you could have a chain fire (repetitive firing, or full auto) malfunction. The firing pin must not be protruding except under impact from the hammer, and it must retract after the firing cycle until the next hammer impact.

luckly its only protruding hammer down but thats the reason i checked lol...

 

[805moparkid]

ok got a mic and will post pics and specs in a min...

 

[805moparkid]

New Wilson Firing Pin OAL: 2.300 (+.041 To Stock)
New Wilson Firing Pin To Shoulder For Stop: 2.136 (+.035 To Stock)
New Wilson Firing Pin Shoulder To Hammer Contact Face: .164
Stock Pin OAL: 2.259
Stock Firing Pin To Shoulder For Stop: 2.101
Stock Firing Pin Shoulder To Hammer Contact: .158

Breach To Slide Stop Face: 2.165
Breach To Firing Pin Stop (Hammer Side): 2.238

so there is everything i thought was relivent... its hard to see but the pin is barely sticking out with hammer down...