What stops the firing pin??

G.T. · 06-06-2008, 11:16 PM

Hello to all, I have been pondering a question about Luger firing pins all day and thought I might ask other forum members ... What stops the firing pins forward movement?? Is it the outside dia.?? Or the gradual taper?? Can't be the primer, although there seems to be relief for punctures?? Why are they so vunerable?? Seems to me, the fit between firing pin and breechblock would have as much to do with trigger tuning as the fit between firing pin and sear bar?? Just a thought... Best to all, til...lat'r...GT

Vlim · 06-07-2008, 06:41 AM

G.T.

It's a combination. The lug on the side and the tapered shape of the breech block's inside.

You can imagine that a lug that is relatively short will cause the pin to smash into the breech block front with much more force.

G.T. · 06-13-2008, 08:40 PM

thanks Gerben, looks like an area that could be improved, but is probably far more durable then i suspect... Best to all, til...lat'r...GT

John Sabato · 06-13-2008, 10:33 PM

GT, I think the firing pin hole may be what stops a lot of the Luger firing pins that have seen a lot of use, that is why the tip breaks off from fatigue...

Use some machinist blue on a clean pin and dry fire it a few times and then take it out and see where it is contacted.

unspellable · 06-14-2008, 11:57 AM

The primer will stop it and also cushion it. That's what makes the difference between live firing and dry firing, or why you should use a snap cap for dry firing. As for dropping it on an empty chamber, I haven't really studied what stops it.

G.T. · 06-14-2008, 12:26 PM

hi unspellable, as I think about it some more, I am certain you are correct... I guess I wandered off track a bit thinking about how ofter tapered points fail from shock factor right at the unsupported tip... Lugers and Nambus probably being by far the worst.. With new tough series steels, this should be a thing of the past with any new manufacture.. (Of which there is none!) I had once got a Nambu at an veterans estate auction about 25 years ago and prior to the auction, it was so nice, the safety had never been rotated!! (no tracks) they evidently never rotated them even when assembled.. because it was pristeen.. After several people looked at it, it had two deep grooves, one on each side of the safely.. But anyway, I don't believe it had ever been fired.. I had the pistol for many years and when I went to sell it, the firing pin was broken. Sored me a bit on nambus... But again, i got better!

Best to all, til...lat'r...GT

06-06-2008, 11:16 PM	#1
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	What stops the firing pin?? Hello to all, I have been pondering a question about Luger firing pins all day and thought I might ask other forum members ... What stops the firing pins forward movement?? Is it the outside dia.?? Or the gradual taper?? Can't be the primer, although there seems to be relief for punctures?? Why are they so vunerable?? Seems to me, the fit between firing pin and breechblock would have as much to do with trigger tuning as the fit between firing pin and sear bar?? Just a thought... Best to all, til...lat'r...GT

06-13-2008, 08:40 PM	#3
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	pin mechanics thanks Gerben, looks like an area that could be improved, but is probably far more durable then i suspect... Best to all, til...lat'r...GT

06-13-2008, 10:33 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	GT, I think the firing pin hole may be what stops a lot of the Luger firing pins that have seen a lot of use, that is why the tip breaks off from fatigue... Use some machinist blue on a clean pin and dry fire it a few times and then take it out and see where it is contacted. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-14-2008, 12:26 PM	#6
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	firing pin stop hi unspellable, as I think about it some more, I am certain you are correct... I guess I wandered off track a bit thinking about how ofter tapered points fail from shock factor right at the unsupported tip... Lugers and Nambus probably being by far the worst.. With new tough series steels, this should be a thing of the past with any new manufacture.. (Of which there is none!) I had once got a Nambu at an veterans estate auction about 25 years ago and prior to the auction, it was so nice, the safety had never been rotated!! (no tracks) they evidently never rotated them even when assembled.. because it was pristeen.. After several people looked at it, it had two deep grooves, one on each side of the safely.. But anyway, I don't believe it had ever been fired.. I had the pistol for many years and when I went to sell it, the firing pin was broken. Sored me a bit on nambus... But again, i got better! Best to all, til...lat'r...GT

06-07-2008, 06:41 AM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	G.T. It's a combination. The lug on the side and the tapered shape of the breech block's inside. You can imagine that a lug that is relatively short will cause the pin to smash into the breech block front with much more force.

06-14-2008, 11:57 AM	#5
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	The primer will stop it and also cushion it. That's what makes the difference between live firing and dry firing, or why you should use a snap cap for dry firing. As for dropping it on an empty chamber, I haven't really studied what stops it.