Well I had heard from others that the roll pin that retains the firing pin was prone to breaking. One shooter that I shoot pins with had his break within the first 300 rounds.
Well Sat. while I was shooting an IDPA match, the roll pin broke letting the firing pin shoot back out of it's hole and catching me in the mouth (on my lip). I wasn't sure what had just hit me and assumed it was a piece of brass. After 3 tap/racks and "click" I realized something was very wrong. I noticed the lack of firing pin in the gun.
Luckily, VERY luckily, I had ordered a replacment pin after hearing of others breaking and not wanting to be at a match and have my gun break. I wanted it in time for the IDPA match at Blackwater.
So I punched out the roll pin, both pieces and had to re-assemble minus the firing pin safety since it shot out the bottom of the slide. I was able to retrive the firing bin block, but not the spring. Replaced the old firing pin and new roll pin and finished the match.
In the future, I will be carrying:
1 - new roll pin for firing pin
1 - firing pin
1 - firing pin spring
1 - firing pin block
1 - firing pin block spring
and the proper punch to punch it out. I also have a spare slide lock since I've also heard stories of those breaking. My has not broken yet, but having the part sure doesn't hurt.
BTW, I have over 5,000 live rounds through the gun and easily that many dry fires. When I dry fire, I do use an A-Zoom snap cap. So I would say about 10,000 trigger pulls.
So, when I finally had everything apart, I started to try to figure out how to keep this from happening in the future. I think if the notch that retains the firing pin were lengthend toward the rear of the firing pin, it would not beat on the roll pin so much. I'll be calling Mike to ask.
