Forged Steel Striker

[WayneJessie]

Do you consider a SD pistol "worth" buying such striker were it offered and if so what would you pay for one? S&W rep told it's not an uncommon problem with these guns even though there have been slight variations of the design. Same question for M&P pistols.

 

[ou1954]

Forged steel striker

Do you consider a SD pistol "worth" buying such striker were it offered and if so what would you pay for one? S&W rep told it's not an uncommon problem with these guns even though there have been slight variations of the design. Same question for M&P pistols.

I wouldn't pay very much more. I don't know whether any S&W guns covered by this forum have a forged steel striker.

I always use snap caps when dry firing and have the impression that most of the striker failures are caused by dry firing.

I would suspect that folks who have had striker failures will jump in with their experience.

 

[OKFC05]

The problem with the strikers is brittleness, and forging them does not solve that problem.
They have to be very hard to keep from peening, but not brittle enough to crack.
I'm surprised they last as long as they do.
Striker failures have been my most common failures in competition in any brand of gun, not the springs that so many obsess about. I had a Browning spit the firing pin tip out the barrel when dry firing.

 

[ou1954]

Strikers

The problem with the strikers is brittleness, and forging them does not solve that problem.
They have to be very hard to keep from peening, but not brittle enough to crack.
I'm surprised they last as long as they do.
Striker failures have been my most common failures in competition in any brand of gun, not the springs that so many obsess about. I had a Browning spit the firing pin tip out the barrel when dry firing.

Spoken like a true physicist.

I do have the vague impression that these strikers are made of powdered metal, forgot the process.

 

[WayneJessie]

The problem with the strikers is brittleness, and forging them does not solve that problem.
They have to be very hard to keep from peening, but not brittle enough to crack.
I'm surprised they last as long as they do.
Striker failures have been my most common failures in competition in any brand of gun, not the springs that so many obsess about. I had a Browning spit the firing pin tip out the barrel when dry firing.

Fluctuations in QC especially related to the MIM process is what's causing these issues. Smith admitted they're having issues with them. Some are breaking with less than 500 rounds on them. Mine had an estimated 1500 rounds on it with relatively little dry firing on the gun. It's not an issue that breeds confidence in a self defense weapon.

 

[OKFC05]

Fluctuations in QC

Exactly. The grain structure in a firing pin or striker needs to be near perfect, especially in the lightweight designs so popular now.

Better QC in many production items would be greatly appreciated. The Browning (not a HiPo) pin that snapped was forged and welded.

 

[ou1954]

Does anyone know the status of the California Micro Stamping law?

Not Enforced?
Grandfathered out for many existing models?
In litigation?

 

[GRU_ 7_ mech]

Does anyone know the status of the California Micro Stamping law?

Not Enforced?
Grandfathered out for many existing models?
In litigation?

Gun industry balks at California's new micro-stamping law - SFGate

 

[ou1954]

CA Micro Stamping

Gun industry balks at California's new micro-stamping law - SFGate

Thanks, I have seen that article which is two years old. As far as I know the whole thing is not settled, even the patent owner says more development is necessary.

There is another thread in this forum with various opinions in it. I posted in it and no final opinion was agreed on by the folks here. Even CA law enforcement agencies don't support the regulation, for several reasons which are discussed in that other thread.

What I found is that a fired primer, (struck with enough force to fire the round), has a very deformed crater including a splash ring around the firing pin impact . . . clearly not enough definition to hold Make, Model, and S/N.

I don't live in CA but have sent several messages to the various CA agencies which would interact with or enforce that law, but no response from any of them.

I just posted this quick question since we were discussing the part in question.