I`ve just had the 3ed firing pin break on a Freedom Arms model 83
The first was on my 454 which I had to send back to the factory so they could drill and tap the frame for their new system. That I could understand because of the hundreds of full power loads that were fired through it. The second , however, was on a model 83 in 357 that was very new. I was at the YO and one of the handgunners gave me an extra pin which I installed. The third was last night on the 454 again, but this time I bought four extra pins from FA`s and it was replaced quickly. For the price and quality of the gun I expected a stronger pin. Has anyone had a similar experience?? Does anyone make a aftermarket
pin thats stronger???
PS always use snap caps......

The only firing pin I've ever had break on anything was a Heritage Rough Rider. There isn't anything I know of in aftermarket parts for the FA's.

The only pin I've had a problem with was the .22 M83 and god knows how many rounds had been through that gun before I bought it but it endured probably 7-8,000 in my hands before I one of the tits broke. It wasn't long after that the other one broke off and I had to replace it. Do you keep the bushing tight? I often have to re-tighten the bushing and even milled a screwdriver bit specifically for that purpose because it will loosen up with repeated firing of heavy loads. They did make the firing pin itself thicker at one point because the original bit I milled didn't work on some of the newer guns. So perhaps they were solving a problem with a thicker firing pin. Dry firing with out snap caps will fatigue the works too but I don't know if it will damage the actual pin but I suspect it would. I never intentionally dry-fire mine with out snap caps.

I've never broken one, but unfortunately, I hear about broken FA firing pins far too often, by my standard. I contacted Bob about this several years ago, but he said they only hear "about 5 or so each year". That's still too many, by my standard, but I don't have a solution for you, other than to be prepared.

at least they are easier to change than on a Ruger SA but then again I've never seen or had a broken pin in a Ruger either but I have changed some.

I found out the other day my FA83 is the older model. When talking to John at FA about something else he asked if I wanted the new bushing and pin since I will be sending in my gun for other work. Any thoughts? If I do this I guess I need to order replacements at the same time.

LAWSUIT!! Just kidding!

sc1911cwp,

I recently sent my FA 454 in for some work and had this same discussion with John. I decided to go ahead and have the firing pin conversion done. John's logic behind this was that "I" would be able to change out the firing pin in the future "IF" it ever needed replacing. This would save the expense of shipping a handgun both ways. I did not order an extra firing pin since it may never need replacing, I thought that I would do that if and when it happened.

Just my thoughts on the subject...

Never seen a problem with any other gun.

Hopefully not on a remote hunt ;-)

I would venture to guess that most folks don't carry spare firing pins with them on remote hunts?

I'm like Darrell - I chose to have my firing pin upgraded on an older model 83 during a trip to Freedom, WY 2 falls ago...I did not choose to purchase additional pins at that time. Would it be a good idea? Probably so.

If it comes down to needing parts on a remote trip, I'll switch to one of my backup guns

yeah - I'm that guy who brings more guns than necessary on the trip. They all like to get time out of the safe!

I do and in fact I carry a number of spare parts. You never know and I don't want to find out when it ruins a hunt.

although I shoot rugers if I'm hunting more than an hour or so from home I carry spare parts. I don't carry firing pins but I carry spare screws and sight parts and extra ejector rod and housing just in case. I'm sure the pins aren't that expensive and would be cheap insurance, even if your not on an exotic far away hunt it's nice to just go back home or open up a box and fix your gun on the spot without having to wait for the parts to get there.

Mr. Gary, that is the exact reason I never go on a hunt with just one gun...

Yeah I had one break, and it was not very old at the time. One dry fire shot...yep one. I was leaving to go to my farm, and took one aimed dry fire (no snap cap) shot at my 3D deer target in my yard. Got to the farm, loaded the gun to shoot..and NO bang. Luckily mine had the new threaded bushing and a new one was sent to me. I do have and take spare parts with me if I travel.

Oh, and I broke a firing pin in a Ruger Vaquero too....and a transfer bar...

When I retire I am going to see if a gun manufacturer will hire me as a "torture tester". If I can't break it you can be sure it can't be broke!!!

Dan

When I ordered my FA 83 in .500 WE, John at FA "included" a spare firing pin. No big deal; I just found a tiny capsule container for it and placed it in one "hole" of my MTM Ammo box that was labeled ".500 WE Hunting Loads."

I guess you get the picture...

Sure beats being in Africa and breaking the pin and having no spare...

Oh, BTW, when I was in Africa I had my .500 WE and my MTM box of ".500 WE Hunting Loads."

Kinda like a Boy Scout: "Be Prepared."

I completely agree with being prepared but I guess I just don't understand the spare parts thing on a hunt. If something breaks, with my luck it would be a part that I didn't have, not to mention that fact that I'm no gunsmith. Why not just take another gun that's sighted in and ready to go? Makes a lot more sense to me.

I think that this topic is getting derailed but this problem of firing pins breaking is alarming to me. When I had my gun converted to the new firing pin assembly, I thought that it was a solution to a nonexistent problem. However, it seems like this is happening WAY too often on FA guns.

You beat me to it! I always have two on me. The beauty of handguns is there packability!

I always carry a spare but it's nice to be able to fix your primary gun if it's just a minor problem.

Marlin lever guns are like that too. One accidental dry fire can break a pin.
It should not be! Your life might hang in the balance.

I carry both a spare gun AND spare parts. See my earlier post....my kind of luck I break the spare gun too.

Dan

To the original post...I am guessing but thought when I broke mine it may have to do with that HEAVY main spring. The FA guns really whack a primer with that stout spring. Maybe that is why they tend to break. I do have some lighter main springs in my spare parts kit that I take with me. Some of mine are older and don't have the bushing for the firing pin. Break one of those and you better have a spare gun.

Dan

Also to the original post,

I am a bit embarrassed, but I broke a pin on my FA 83 also, not too long after I bought it. I knew not to fire it without snap caps, and so I thought, well hell, spent cases should be about the same as a snap cap! so I did a bunch of "dry firing" with the spent cases which created a divet in the old primer...

I broke it LOL.

I called FA, and I believe it was John that I talked to, and he sent me a new one. I asked about it, if it happens much and he said (paraphrased):

" It happens sometimes even with snap-caps. I have had mine for 16yrs and have not broke one, but I don't dry fire it. The snap caps seem to not have a stiff enough spring in them for the hard hitting firing pin to hit. the best thing is to not dry fire them at all..."

So that is the approach that I take now... I do not fire it until I am at the range or in the game fields. The pin does change easily (on my new model anyway). I might have to have them send me a spare just in case

Not the hammer spring. The firing pin is too hard and brittle. Did you know there is a steel that is best for pins? I have made many and even proper hardening and tempering will let tool steel last forever.
Freedom says to never dry fire yet you can dry fire a Ruger or BFR forever.
I make a longer transfer bar for Rugers so I can get down to 1-1/2# triggers and mine has not failed with 64,000 rounds, then I had one that needed fit better so I heated some of it. Big mistake, I should have hardened and tempered it again. IT BROKE!
Pins are the same, heat treat and temper right and they will never, ever break.
Marlin pins are the same, they are too hard. WW II rifles still go strong after a million dry fires.
It is something the gun maker can fix, to use a steel treatment that can't take shock should be fixed.

After the first broken pin I carry an extra pin and spring along with a screwdriver bit that fits the FA`s bushing. It is absolutly no problem whatsoever to take these itmes along anywhere in the world. The only situation that would be really bad is if the pin broke at the shot on an animal...

I was just saying that firearms hunters in general do not generally carry spare firing pins for their firearms with them. Apparently Freedom Arms owners do and for good reason. I stand corrected.

I agree with these statements completely James!

It is my belief that all the FA pins that I have broken has have been a direct result of the pin housings coming loose. If I don't keep and eye on mine they will get get loose and then they break pins.