1911 firing pin issues.. Normal?

[Laser Sailor]

I was showing a few people my 1911, a Springfield Loaded, and letting them shoot it when the firing pin got jammed. It wasn't sticking out into the chamber, nor was the rear of it extended so the hammer could strike it.

This was mildly embarrassing as I had been praising the virtues of the .45 cartridge.

When I got home I field stripped the gun and with a little persuasion managed to remove the firing pin. It was undamaged so I cleaned out the firing pin hole and put it back. I did a function test and everything seems to be in order.

It wasn't super dirty, so my question is, should I be overly concerned? I had been considering using this gun for duty carry, but I'm rethinking that now.


Sent from my iPhone while crashing my mountain bike.

[fanof1911forlife]

May be the firing pin spring needs a good cleaning or possibly replacing?

[greybeard]

I would probably hold off on the carry part, until it becomes reliable again.

[1nickatnite1]

Definitely test it some more before tryin to carry it. Give springfield a call to see if they heard of this malfunction and let them take care of you

[jpscoot_21]

I took my Springfield Loaded to Kings in Glendale because it was light-striking with a light-weight titanium pin. They told me it uses a. 38 Super firing pin. I ended up replacing it with a new steel pin.

[MA2]

Could be a loose pin stop, making it not aligned with the pin, would check that as well.

Also function test it at home a few times:
Dry fire it with a pencil (eraser side), and the pencil should fly out.

[redcliff]

Not normal, in 37 years of 1911 useage and many, many thousands of rounds of .45acp fired I've not experienced a firing pin getting stuck.

How many rounds through the pistol? Have you cleaned the firing pin channel before or replaced the spring? Did you find any fragments of a blown primer in the channel or is there any erosion or damage around the firing pin hole on the breach face?

[Laser Sailor]

The gun is fairly new, I'd say about 500 rounds through it. I did not find evidence of a blown primer. Upon reading another thread entitled "How often to clean firing pin" it seems that the likely problem is the lube I put in the FP hole on my first detail strip. I'll clean it all out and function check with the pencil eraser tonight. Then go shoot a few hundred rounds to make sure everything is kosher.


Sent from my iPhone while crashing my mountain bike.

[sammy]

Take the pin out and roll it on a table top. Make sure it does not wobble. A bent firing pin is easy to miss. Chances are it is titanium. If it is bent replace it with a carbon steel unit. I have bent 2 titanium pins and since they have been replaced there have been no problems.

If you want a new firing pin spring PM me your address. I am happy to send you one.

[Jason762]

I had a similar problem with my Colt 1911.

Turns out the trigger overtravel screw needed adjusting. The firing pin plunger lever wasn't raising up enough to depress the plunger and so it blocked the firing pin from moving.

[MyGlock17]

maybe your putting to much oil and some how it got in the firing pin...

[buffybuster]

Springfield Armory uses a Titanium Firing Pin and Extra Power FP Spring to meet the CA Drop Test requirements.

My advice: Bin those parts and get a Steel FP (Springfield spec diameter), standard FP spring, clean the FP tunnel and reinstall those parts.

[buffybuster]

I had a similar problem with my Colt 1911.

Turns out the trigger overtravel screw needed adjusting. The firing pin plunger lever wasn't raising up enough to depress the plunger and so it blocked the firing pin from moving.

Springfield 1911's don't have those "Series 80" parts.

[Don Edmondson]

The only time I ever seen a1911 firing pin stick, was when a primer burned through and metal particles jammed it Don

[Jason762]

Springfield 1911's don't have those "Series 80" parts.

Oh? Then how is it CA legal? I was under the impression that the S80 safety is what made it permissible in CA.