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1911 firing pin stop cracks

511pe
Question for the experienced shooter gun builder (non-collector), is it a problem for the firing pin stop on 9MM or 38Super to have a crack across the smallest corner of the ejector square to the firing pin hole?
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • Hawk Carse
    No problem at all. Just buy a new one.
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  • perry shooter
    The crazy thing is for many years NO ONE had any problems or at least though that to be the case then some firing pin stops with this crackin them started showing up with Custom guns at Camp Perry . Now to pass inspection for DCM/CMP matches checking for this crack is part of the inspection process. I feel that MIM parts are prone to this type of failure . YMMV . I do know that the pistols found at Camp Perry "there were quite a few" did not seem to have any safety failures with this cracked part installed.

    EDIT I think I would buy a new one.I have never liked using cracked parts. A original military or older colt would be my first choice. My series 70 Match pistol has over 300,000 rounds through it 100,000 + from each match grade Kart Barrel only part I ever broke was one extractor foolishly shooting some WW II steel case ammo as a test. if you cant find one let me know and I will send you one "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN"
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  • 511pe
    Many newly manufactured 1911 have MIM parts on a gun with a forged frame & slide. I can think of at least 3 major brands ever since these parts had great success on one in particular that tested good after 6000 rounds it's getting crazy. But this is a factory machined part from bar stock not a MIM. I believe it was made in the early 80's or late 70's. It seems they're not heat treated right being too hard. On a different topic try rolling a firing pin on a flat piece of glass. Most wobble from the heat treat, warping this small part. Buying new parts is a good idea only if you can get better otherwise this new part will likely crack as the first thus wasting your $. This 1911 is a large name label and has no cast or MIM parts at all. I just wanted to know if it's a safety concern to leave as is and keep shooting. In the past 1911s have been known to crack on the frame in 2 places, 1 above the slide stop hole across the frame rail & 2 the dust cover area and was reported to present no safety issues to a shooter and considered normal in the past.
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  • dcs shooters
    That is the weakest part of the stop. Pull it out and see just how bad it is. If you think it is giving problems, replace it.
    As far as frame cracking, the are alloy frames that cracked where you are talking about. A very few high mileage steel frames ever cracked.
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  • beantownshootah
    +1 to replacing it. It cheap and easy to do, far cheaper than worrying about it.

    Its off-topic, but on rolling firing pins on a hard surface to check them, just to be Devil's advocate, seeing a "wobble" might just indicate high spots on the external surface of the pin (ie a speck of dirt on the pin, or not perfectly concentric machining), rather than true warpage of the pin.

    While it might be concerning to have a non-straight firing pin, I don't think it makes a lick of difference if the pin is or isn't perfectly round all along its length.

    A more precise test of its straightness might be to chuck it into a drill a few different ways and see if it wobbles when spun on its long axis, rather than rolling it.
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  • 511pe
    The question was if the part would be a problem or safety issue to keep using not opinions on replacement as before mentioned. Please excuse the off topic non-sense. Guess I'll keep my safety glasses on.
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  • Hawk Carse
    Well, the gun is not going to blow up.
    Do you use it for anything where it will matter if the firing pin stop cracks the rest of the way across and lets the firing pin fall out in the middle of a magazine?
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  • 511pe
    Target shooting, got it because of the lack of MIM & cast parts. It hasn't broke in 2 yet, doubt it will. One thing is obvious it's heat-treated too hard therefor it cracked. If I replace it with another it could be a quest for the Holy Grail at my pocket book's expense. Guess I'll see how long it lasts, it might even out last the barrel. When I send it off to be refinished after 2000rds or so they'll most likely replace it any ways. It's going for a ceramic coating sometime in the future.
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