Firing pin cracked

[alanint]

Let's hope we don't have to start calling you "one eye", GT!

Good luck! It should be an interesting contribution to Luger lore!

[G.T.]

Hi Alanint, yes! I am wondering the very same thing.... will the mass of the full firing pin make a difference??... I don't think so... but I am worried! Maybe should have a camera ready for the surprised look that will most likely be on my face!!...... ...best to all, til...lat'r....GT

BTW, I'm also going to try it with a cartridge in the chamber for a direct head on strike? Maybe negating the scrubbing effect of loading.... .... interesting if nothing else!

[rhuff]

Originally Posted by G.T.

Hi Alanint, yes! I am wondering the very same thing.... will the mass of the full firing pin make a difference??... I don't think so... but I am worried! Maybe should have a camera ready for the surprised look that will most likely be on my face!!...... ...best to all, til...lat'r....GT

BTW, I'm also going to try it with a cartridge in the chamber for a direct head on strike? Maybe negating the scrubbing effect of loading.... .... interesting if nothing else!

GT,

If you want to do it the safest way possible, then just resize some fired 9mm brass, and prime them with a fresh primer. Then you can chamber it with the toggle open, and allow the toggle train to slam forward. No powder or projectile to worry about. If it pops the primer, it would fire the cartridge. You could do this in your shop. Just a thought.



PS...If you can't resize fired brass, then just remove the bullet and powder from a loaded round. The result will be the same.

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by G.T.

Hi Alanint, yes! I am wondering the very same thing.... will the mass of the full firing pin make a difference??...
BTW, I'm also going to try it with a cartridge in the chamber for a direct head on strike? Maybe negating the scrubbing effect of loading....

Gerry, as you indicated in your story, sometimes it would fire, but mostly not? I wasn't intending to say that it would be rock-solid dependable ignition under these circumstances, but I'd estimate it to be at least as dangerous as dropping a de-cocked Luger.

A handy way to replicate the broken firing pin might be to snag the front half of one that's been on eBay, listed without mention of its condition as original f.p.! Using the entire firing pin might be tipping the scale to the "bang" side.

Releasing the action on the chambered, primed-only round sounds the safest way to go. It would avoid eating up the energy needed to strip the round from the mag and scrub it into the chamber, again, maybe a tip of the scale towards a bang.

You know, I hope we're all a little bit right--that dropping the toggle, say, a dozen times, it will have gone off a couple of times. It's like Xmas morning, waiting to see how this experiment turns out!!!