Sidearms & Scatterguns How common are bent/broken firing pins on 1911s?

[TheGerman]

Was dry firing and apparently I practice so much I broke it. Had the firing pin bend on me and get stuck; noticed it when I started to hear a loud smack when the hammer dropped on the firing pin block instead of the back of the pin.

Have been using my Sig226 mainly but always find myself coming back to the 1911. Question is, how common is it for a 1911 to have a firing pin bend or break or just have an issue with the firing pin? I'm glad I just have to buy a new pin but this made me wonder as to how often this is prone to happen.

I also have ZERO clue what made it bend unless dry firing it a million times finally did it in. The last few days I've been either dry firing it empty or loading dummy rounds (spent primer, resized brass, lead bullet to my OAL) to load them in the mag and do reload drills.

The 1911 I have is the Dan Wesson Valor, fullsize - this is by far the largest issue I've ever had with it, so more curious than anything.

Thanks

 

[CoryT]

Unless the firing pin spring is defective (too short, too weak) the firing pin should last forever no matter how much you dry practice, no snap cap required. The firing pin spring should be replaced with the recoil spring about every 3k to 5k rounds.

You should probably replace the springs RIGHT NOW, since you broke a pin. Replacing the pin only will lead to further trouble down the road, as the weak spring will end up letting the FP stick in the breachface, then get struck by a round feeding, which then causes a malfunction/breakage.

 

[Grott]

Firing on a spent primer can be a problem, the crater in the spent primer will be slightly offset from the pin. This guides the firing pin off to the side, this deflection can cause ware and as you found out a bent bin. Replace the spring and the pin and you should be gtg for another "million" or so dry fire exercises.

 

[Graham]

I have never bent one and never broken one. Even in ten years of serious competition.


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[Unknown]

After many years of shooting 1911's in various competition and duty arenas, I have never had, nor seen a broken firing pin. Yours is the first one I have ever even heard of.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

Never have I heard of someone bending or breaking one, let alone have I seen one. Interesting.

 

[John1911.com]

Change FP Springs every time you change the recoil spring. That's overkill, but running a series 70 for CCW will require a little adult supervision.

Breaking a firing pin in a 1911 is damn rare. Damaging one to reloaded ammo with primer issues? Ok. Dry fire. No generally.

Probably a defective part from the start. Replace and move on with no worries. Happens again, that's an issue.

TTR

 

[SuckitTrebek]

About as common as an honest woman.

 

[TheShooter]

Never heard of it. As has been said, replace the firing pin spring. When replacing the firing pin, I would buy a quality piece from a known manufacturer. A Wilson bullet proof comes to mind.

 

[shoot4fun]

Dry firing is like masturbation. One can only imagine that it was a well placed shot.
I have broken nearly every part in a 1911 (used to shoot Paras) but the damn FP never crapped out.

 

[Cartman]

Happens all the time...








...okay, not really. This is new to me as well. In an overabundance of caution, however, I do use those A-Zoom snap caps just in case.

Moreover, I'm a big fan of the Dan Wessons and think you've got the right 1911 despite this hiccup. I would ring them and see if they'll send you a new pin and spring gratis.

 

[Unknown]

I started competing in the late 1970's and have never had a firing pin bend, break, or otherwise fail. Never even heard of one until now.