broke firing pin

Jrod · January 17, 2006, 01:22 AM

Don't laugh, I bought a Intratec TEC 22 at an auction and put 50 rounds though it before I broke the firing pin. Through research I've found that this is a common problem. I thinking about having a machine shop buddy of mine see if he can find a plate of titanium the right thickness and have him machine one. Titanium itself is harder(resistant to wear) than tempered steel by weight by about 40% but is actually more brittle. Does anybody think this is a good idea or should I just try to find a better grade steel or another material?

cntryboy1289 · January 17, 2006, 02:17 AM

To me it might be better to use mild steel and case harden it to give it the hard case but yet still give some. I think the reason they break so often is they are too hard.

scgunsmith · January 17, 2006, 06:48 PM

take a good cold rolled steel then harden it, draw it back 20% and it won't break so easy

Jrod · January 18, 2006, 12:50 AM

Draw it back 20%? You'll have to explain that to me.

Harry Bonar · January 18, 2006, 02:45 PM

Dear Sir:
What the gentleman is refering to is reaching the decalescence point on steel with a sufficient carbon content to "harden" after quenching at that point and then bringing it back, out of thast hardened condition either by furnace, bath, or color to a "blue" or approx 700 degree temp so it will be about spring temperature and hardness.
However, "cold rolled" steel hasn't the carbon content to do this.
Brownells has what they call "Lasalle, fatique proof" steel that would serve your need nicely. It would not, according to Brownells need heat-treatment.
As I've said so many, many times, high carbon steel can be hardened and tempered - medium carbon steel can be case hardened - and alloy steel can be heat-treated homogeniously! But you must know what you're doing.
We speak so, so lightly on the forum concerning "heat-treating" that it gives me pause concerning the information given.
Hope this helps.
Harry B.

January 17, 2006, 01:22 AM	#1
Jrod Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2006 Posts: 2	broke firing pin Don't laugh, I bought a Intratec TEC 22 at an auction and put 50 rounds though it before I broke the firing pin. Through research I've found that this is a common problem. I thinking about having a machine shop buddy of mine see if he can find a plate of titanium the right thickness and have him machine one. Titanium itself is harder(resistant to wear) than tempered steel by weight by about 40% but is actually more brittle. Does anybody think this is a good idea or should I just try to find a better grade steel or another material?

January 17, 2006, 02:17 AM	#2
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	Mild steel case hardened To me it might be better to use mild steel and case harden it to give it the hard case but yet still give some. I think the reason they break so often is they are too hard.

January 18, 2006, 02:45 PM	#5
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	firing pin Dear Sir: What the gentleman is refering to is reaching the decalescence point on steel with a sufficient carbon content to "harden" after quenching at that point and then bringing it back, out of thast hardened condition either by furnace, bath, or color to a "blue" or approx 700 degree temp so it will be about spring temperature and hardness. However, "cold rolled" steel hasn't the carbon content to do this. Brownells has what they call "Lasalle, fatique proof" steel that would serve your need nicely. It would not, according to Brownells need heat-treatment. As I've said so many, many times, high carbon steel can be hardened and tempered - medium carbon steel can be case hardened - and alloy steel can be heat-treated homogeniously! But you must know what you're doing. We speak so, so lightly on the forum concerning "heat-treating" that it gives me pause concerning the information given. Hope this helps. Harry B.

January 17, 2006, 06:48 PM	#3
scgunsmith Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Ridgeland SC (aka State of Confusion) Posts: 58	take a good cold rolled steel then harden it, draw it back 20% and it won't break so easy

January 18, 2006, 12:50 AM	#4
Jrod Junior Member Join Date: January 17, 2006 Posts: 2	Draw it back 20%? You'll have to explain that to me.