Rem. 870 firing pin replacement question

jjacks · October 19, 2010, 03:08 PM

hey guys need some advice. My old 870s firing pin broke so I ordered a new one from midway, but cant seem to get the retaining pin to budge. I
Broke my only punch that fit in the initial attempts and multiple Allen wrenches since. Even with moderate force she wont budge. And yes I am working the pin from the top of the bolt down and have left a considerable amount of degreaser around the pin in an attempt to break it loose with no success. any ideas?

jjacks · October 19, 2010, 04:51 PM

got that sucker out, went and picked up a 1/8" tipped center punch and that knocked it out.
*For anyone reading this with a similar issue: an 1/8" pin punch should be used to punch this pin rather than a center punch. The center punch's taper may damage your bolt if used with excess force. The Pin punch has a taper-less 1/8" tip 1 1/2" long which can punch the pin clear of the bolt without any unnecessary contact with the bolts exterior. I used the center punch in desperation but with caution, and made sure not to over hammer the pin. Once the pin was knocked out past the holding cuts (about 1/4"), I used a smaller pin punch to knock it out the rest of the way.

James K · October 19, 2010, 07:31 PM

Well a center punch spreads the pin out, making it tigher, so you were really doing the worst thing you could have done. In fact some gunsmiths tighten up a loose pin by hitting it with a center punch.

Jim

jjacks · October 29, 2010, 05:41 AM

again, only out of desperation and with a little finesse.

October 19, 2010, 03:08 PM	#1
jjacks Junior Member Join Date: October 19, 2010 Posts: 7	Rem. 870 firing pin replacement question hey guys need some advice. My old 870s firing pin broke so I ordered a new one from midway, but cant seem to get the retaining pin to budge. I Broke my only punch that fit in the initial attempts and multiple Allen wrenches since. Even with moderate force she wont budge. And yes I am working the pin from the top of the bolt down and have left a considerable amount of degreaser around the pin in an attempt to break it loose with no success. any ideas? Last edited by jjacks; October 19, 2010 at 03:26 PM. Reason: Additional info

October 19, 2010, 04:51 PM	#2
jjacks Junior Member Join Date: October 19, 2010 Posts: 7	got it got that sucker out, went and picked up a 1/8" tipped center punch and that knocked it out. *For anyone reading this with a similar issue: an 1/8" pin punch should be used to punch this pin rather than a center punch. The center punch's taper may damage your bolt if used with excess force. The Pin punch has a taper-less 1/8" tip 1 1/2" long which can punch the pin clear of the bolt without any unnecessary contact with the bolts exterior. I used the center punch in desperation but with caution, and made sure not to over hammer the pin. Once the pin was knocked out past the holding cuts (about 1/4"), I used a smaller pin punch to knock it out the rest of the way.

October 19, 2010, 07:31 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Well a center punch spreads the pin out, making it tigher, so you were really doing the worst thing you could have done. In fact some gunsmiths tighten up a loose pin by hitting it with a center punch. Jim

October 29, 2010, 05:41 AM	#4
jjacks Junior Member Join Date: October 19, 2010 Posts: 7	again, only out of desperation and with a little finesse.