M40 Firestar firing pin

MacLeod · March 7, 2005, 11:56 PM

Hello, I have been looking to find a M40 star firestar firing pin, but I have come up empty handed. I think I will make one, but I need to know the dimensions. Because it broke into several pieces, I haven’t found even a scale drawing. If anyone could help it would be appreciated. Thanks

cntryboy1289 · March 8, 2005, 01:37 AM

If you do, have all you need to cut a new one. I would recommend using some 5 minute epoxy to fit the pieces together long enough to mic them before cutting the new pin. I would suggest going to e-Gunparts.com and seeing if they have a diagram of the pin just to make sure you have all the pieces.

MacLeod · March 8, 2005, 03:05 AM

Cb, Thanks for the info. I'm in gunsmithing school, so this will be a good project. I don't have all the pieces, it broke several years ago. I'm going to use Drill Rod. But if anyone has a better suggestion of material I would like to hear it. Thanks, Mac

James K · March 8, 2005, 04:09 PM

A firing pin like that is an easy job and a good one for a first school project. Drill rod is fine. 1/4" usually works OK for pistol firing pins, but check out 1/8 and 3/16. The smaller you can use, the better as there is less metal to remove.

IIRC, that is a pretty conventional firing pin, with a large diameter rear, a spring shelf, then a taper and straight piece to the firing pin hole. There is a standard cut for the retaining pin. I forget whether it is an inertia pin or not, but I would make it an inertia pin anyway. Make sure firing pin protrusion is right.

You don't actually need the old pin (though it helps) you just need patience and a fair amount of fit and file. If you have the spring, that helps too since it gives you the OD of the front part of the pin.

When everything works and you have test fired the gun, heat treat the pin and draw it. You don't want it too hard or it will be brittle (maybe the problem with the original).

Jim

MacLeod · March 9, 2005, 12:50 AM

Thanks Jim. This gun isn't mine so I haven't looked at it well until now. I have found the the pin sheared into at least 2 pieces. one piece has ended up through the slide, I am going to tap it out and hope that I can mic it for the sizing. e-gunparts.com didn't have a diagram for the pin. Anyone else know where to find a scale drawing or even a firing pin. I tried SARCO for either, but still can, find anything.

James K · March 11, 2005, 05:02 PM

I don't know whether there are any diagrams on the web for that gun or not, but unless it is tricky (and most Star stuff is not) it should be fairly easy to make "blind", especially if you have all or some of the old pin to go by.

Note that I wouldn't say that with some guns. I can't imagine guessing at the firing pin on a Mauser HSC, for example, but as I say the Star pins are usually pretty straightforward. If I had a Firestar I would be happy to take out the pin and send dimensions and a pic, but I don't.

Jim

MacLeod · March 11, 2005, 06:52 PM

Jim thank you for the help. I have run into a small hitch, I haven't found a place to get drill rod. If anyone in Colorado specifically Denver knows where to get drill rod please let me know.
Thanks, Mac

cntryboy1289 · March 12, 2005, 04:55 AM

I usually order mine from MSC. Most any online tool company should be able to help if you can't find any. Grainger or MSC should have an office somewhere close.

MacLeod · March 12, 2005, 06:36 AM

Thanks CB, I'll look them up.

73's, Mac

James K · March 12, 2005, 06:35 PM

Last time I checked, Home Depot had them in a couple of sizes, 18" lengths.

Jim

MacLeod · March 12, 2005, 09:51 PM

I couldn't find it at either home depot or lowe's. I asked people at both places and they look at me like they had no idea what I was talking about. So if either of them have it, the people I asked don't have any clue what drill rod is.

cntryboy1289 · March 13, 2005, 01:01 PM

Check out MSC or Grainger or Enco. I use Enco the most because they usuallt ship it to me cheaper than the other's starting price. I believe they are headquartered out of Florida, but they ship same day as ordered and only takes me 3-4 days to get parts or tools. I realize you are a good bit further away, but I bet they will ship to you about as fast.

cntryboy1289 · March 13, 2005, 01:02 PM

Check out MSC or Grainger or Enco. I use Enco the most because they usually ship it to me cheaper than the other's starting price. I believe they are headquartered out of Florida, but they ship same day as ordered and only takes me 3-4 days to get parts or tools. I realize you are a good bit further away, but I bet they will ship to you about as fast. They don't have a minimum order either so you can order the drill rod by itself and it will ship.

MacLeod · March 15, 2005, 06:02 PM

Thanks Cb, I just ordered the drill rod I need through Enco.

March 7, 2005, 11:56 PM	#1
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	M40 Firestar firing pin Hello, I have been looking to find a M40 star firestar firing pin, but I have come up empty handed. I think I will make one, but I need to know the dimensions. Because it broke into several pieces, I haven’t found even a scale drawing. If anyone could help it would be appreciated. Thanks

March 8, 2005, 01:37 AM	#2
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	do you have all the parts? If you do, have all you need to cut a new one. I would recommend using some 5 minute epoxy to fit the pieces together long enough to mic them before cutting the new pin. I would suggest going to e-Gunparts.com and seeing if they have a diagram of the pin just to make sure you have all the pieces.

March 12, 2005, 04:55 AM	#8
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	Msc I usually order mine from MSC. Most any online tool company should be able to help if you can't find any. Grainger or MSC should have an office somewhere close.

March 13, 2005, 01:01 PM	#12
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	mine don't either Check out MSC or Grainger or Enco. I use Enco the most because they usuallt ship it to me cheaper than the other's starting price. I believe they are headquartered out of Florida, but they ship same day as ordered and only takes me 3-4 days to get parts or tools. I realize you are a good bit further away, but I bet they will ship to you about as fast.

March 13, 2005, 01:02 PM	#13
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	mine don't either Check out MSC or Grainger or Enco. I use Enco the most because they usually ship it to me cheaper than the other's starting price. I believe they are headquartered out of Florida, but they ship same day as ordered and only takes me 3-4 days to get parts or tools. I realize you are a good bit further away, but I bet they will ship to you about as fast. They don't have a minimum order either so you can order the drill rod by itself and it will ship.

March 8, 2005, 03:05 AM	#3
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	Cb, Thanks for the info. I'm in gunsmithing school, so this will be a good project. I don't have all the pieces, it broke several years ago. I'm going to use Drill Rod. But if anyone has a better suggestion of material I would like to hear it. Thanks, Mac

March 8, 2005, 04:09 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	A firing pin like that is an easy job and a good one for a first school project. Drill rod is fine. 1/4" usually works OK for pistol firing pins, but check out 1/8 and 3/16. The smaller you can use, the better as there is less metal to remove. IIRC, that is a pretty conventional firing pin, with a large diameter rear, a spring shelf, then a taper and straight piece to the firing pin hole. There is a standard cut for the retaining pin. I forget whether it is an inertia pin or not, but I would make it an inertia pin anyway. Make sure firing pin protrusion is right. You don't actually need the old pin (though it helps) you just need patience and a fair amount of fit and file. If you have the spring, that helps too since it gives you the OD of the front part of the pin. When everything works and you have test fired the gun, heat treat the pin and draw it. You don't want it too hard or it will be brittle (maybe the problem with the original). Jim

March 9, 2005, 12:50 AM	#5
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	Thanks Jim. This gun isn't mine so I haven't looked at it well until now. I have found the the pin sheared into at least 2 pieces. one piece has ended up through the slide, I am going to tap it out and hope that I can mic it for the sizing. e-gunparts.com didn't have a diagram for the pin. Anyone else know where to find a scale drawing or even a firing pin. I tried SARCO for either, but still can, find anything.

March 11, 2005, 05:02 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I don't know whether there are any diagrams on the web for that gun or not, but unless it is tricky (and most Star stuff is not) it should be fairly easy to make "blind", especially if you have all or some of the old pin to go by. Note that I wouldn't say that with some guns. I can't imagine guessing at the firing pin on a Mauser HSC, for example, but as I say the Star pins are usually pretty straightforward. If I had a Firestar I would be happy to take out the pin and send dimensions and a pic, but I don't. Jim

March 11, 2005, 06:52 PM	#7
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	Jim thank you for the help. I have run into a small hitch, I haven't found a place to get drill rod. If anyone in Colorado specifically Denver knows where to get drill rod please let me know. Thanks, Mac

March 12, 2005, 06:36 AM	#9
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	Thanks CB, I'll look them up. 73's, Mac

March 12, 2005, 06:35 PM	#10
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Last time I checked, Home Depot had them in a couple of sizes, 18" lengths. Jim

March 12, 2005, 09:51 PM	#11
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	I couldn't find it at either home depot or lowe's. I asked people at both places and they look at me like they had no idea what I was talking about. So if either of them have it, the people I asked don't have any clue what drill rod is.

March 15, 2005, 06:02 PM	#14
MacLeod Member Join Date: March 7, 2005 Posts: 36	Thanks Cb, I just ordered the drill rod I need through Enco.