Firing pins.....

[USARMYSPEC4]

Could someone tell me the difference between a standard firing pin and the performance center firing pin ?
My understanding is the standard pin is .492-.495, and I'm wondering is the PC pin over the .495 number.
Thanks in advance.

 

[armorer951]

Not sure which firing pin you are referring to.....do you mean the frame mounted FP in the revolver?

If so, I don't believe the PC pins are different from the regular production guns.

The latest OEM one I ordered was in Feb of this year, was carbon steel, and measured .495"in length, weight 10.5 grains.

 

[bountyhunter]

From what I have seen:

1) The correct length for a factory pin is .495 regardless of PC or not, I think the pin should be the same length.

2) There were some short pins put out in the .492 range which caused some problems. Those should be chucked.

3) I have seen both steel and what I think is titanium (non magnetic metal) firing pins from the factory that are .495, I would assume the Ti pins would be better (lower mass) but both would work well.

4) There are extended pins available aftermarket. I tested the C+S versions when they first came out and found NO advantage over stock pins as far as increasing strike energy or reducing spring force needed to light primers. They are notoriously prone to breakage and I think they are worthless. I use only OEM.

 

[tomcatt51]

My understanding is the standard pin is .492-.495, and I'm wondering is the PC pin over the .495 number.

I consider pins .492 to .495 to be the "good ones". There are a bunch of guns that were delivered with pins in the .480s that were problematic.

I'm not aware of any actual different PC firing pin. S&W did seem to have hoarded a bunch of the .495 pins while the guns they were sending out had .480ish pins and the .480ish pins were all we could buy as replacements.

Apex Tactical came to our rescue with firing pins until S&W .495 pins became available again. S&W denied there was an issue but guns that came in for service with the .480ish pins went out with the .495 pins we couldn't buy installed...

This is kinda ancient history now but there were a bunch of guns sold with the .480ish pins (and S&W loves to use up old parts) so it is something worth checking if your gun's apart.

 

[USARMYSPEC4]

Thanks all. I will order up a S&W and hope I get a .495. Thank you all again.
John.

 

[tomcatt51]

Let us know if the pin you receive is magnetic or not.

The last pins I bought were .492 - .495 and non-magnetic (titanium, weighing ~6 grains) but that was about a year ago.