The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Smithy

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 17, 2013, 04:32 PM   #1
BumbleBug
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2013
Location: Near Heart of Texas
Posts: 870
Off-Center Firing Pin: Problem or No Big Deal?

I have a Ruger #3 Single-Shot that has been re-barreled to a .270 Win. The fired cases show that the firing pin is hitting off-center. It has never seemed to bother the function or accuracy of the gun. I am having it re-barreled again & this time I'm going with a cartridge that uses small-primers. Does this look like it could be a problem?


BTW: This is a near max load, but slight cratering seems to be common even with lighter loads. I've always had great case life with this load.

TIA...

...bug
BumbleBug is offline  
Old November 17, 2013, 05:52 PM   #2
Unclenick
Staff
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,021
If the end of the firing pin tunnel at the bolt face is chamfered at all, they will all crater. But if the firing pin tunnel is too wide for the pin, it will happen, too, and it may need a bushing installed to prevent future piercing and attendant gas erosion of the breech face. The pin could be better centered at the same time that work was done.

Fit up 1911's often have off-center firing pins due to the barrel locking up higher than before the fitting was done. It causes no issue there. In a rifle it may cause no issue, but I'm less sanguine about it. I know that getting the lowest velocity SD's and avoiding millisecond time frame ignition delays are both dependent on the firing pin striking the primer over the bridge of priming mixture between the bottom of the priming cup and the tip of it anvil.

You can send it to the factory and they will check it out for you at no cost. However, I don't know what their inspection criteria are, so you might send them you photos first and tell them what you're planning to do. I don't think you'll have an issues with it working, but rather just that the potential is there to be hampered in trying to squeeze top potential accuracy out of the gun.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member
CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle
Unclenick is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:11 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04002 seconds with 8 queries