How can parts be tested?

[Golddollar]

I was shooting one of my Model 41s last night when suddenly it just went CLICK instead of BANG. It turned out the bolt pin broke, which set the firing pin and firing pin spring free. Luckily I was able to retrieve the firing pin. Now that I know that something like this can occur with such a little but critical part, is there a way to test out a part like the bolt pin so it can be replaced before catastrophic failure of the part?

 

[stansdds]

Parts eventually break. How many rounds were fired when the failure occurred? That might be useful information in the future and plan on replacing that part before the round count gets near the previous failure point. Then again, a part with a minor defect that may be undetectable by inspection can let go the first time stress is applied to it. Nothing is perfect.

 

[Golddollar]

Parts eventually break. How many rounds were fired when the failure occurred? That might be useful information in the future and plan on replacing that part before the round count gets near the previous failure point. Then again, a part with a minor defect that may be undetectable by inspection can let go the first time stress is applied to it. Nothing is perfect.

I picked this gun up in October 2023 so I figure that I've personally put about 2000 rounds through it. The gun was made in 1997 so I have no idea how many rounds were put through it before I got it. Since this was the second failure in short order with this gun, I'm having the gunsmith replace all the old springs in addition to replacing the bolt pin that broke.

 

[Rick H.]

Spring replacement is a good idea with any semi-auto firearm, but make certain you get the old springs back just in case you need one of them. And there is no way to test any part of a firearm from the outside. It would have to be disassembled and a close examination of the parts completed. Replacement on most of these parts, especially springs, is done by round count.

Rick H.

 

[stansdds]

Replacing the old springs in a used pistol is a very good idea. You have no idea how many rounds the pistol has seen nor the maintenance it was given.

 

[M29since14]

You can have almost anything NDT’d by a competent lab, but the real question is - is it worth it?

Minor failures on something like a .22 target pistol are not in the same category with the failure of a critical component of something like an aircraft, that may cause loss of life. You can replace parts however you think best, but there’s no guarantee your new part is going to last longer than the one in use, excepting the case where you see wear or the beginning of failure.