I went to holster my PCR before leaving my home the other day and noticed the back end of the firing pin was not protruding to a length that will permit the hammer to actually strike it. Upon driving out the 61100 CGW Retaining Pin I observed it was quite broken indeed, having separated into 2 pieces. I had it installed with the open end face up like a good boy. I'm really not all that concerned that it broke, I dry fire quite a bit almost everyday (Yes, with with snap caps) and it's been over half a year since I replaced the factory version with it. I don't expect any part of any firearm to last forever.
Obviously it is not even remotely expensive to replace it with another one. Or difficult to install the new one. It does have to be shipped though, which obviously takes time and can't be helped.
However this is my carry gun, and so have been compelled by circumstance to throw my .22lr Kadet slide on there and carry that for the time being. Which is, you know, not the ideal cartridge for self defense but is better than nothing at all. Also it doesn't have a firing pin block. Anyway, I just remembered an hour ago I still have the factory firing pin retaining pin which I replaced before it failed anyway since I knew it was a common break point. (Don't worry, the stock TRS already broke and got replaced) I can't say I really know much about the subtleties of roll pins, so I wanted to make sure it isn't going to get stuck or damage the pin hole if I reinstall the original as a temporary fix until a replacement arrives. Obviously further dry fire with that factory pin is ill-advised. If it is ok to do at all are there special things I need to consider, like what side of the pin to to drive in first, or what side of the slide to drive in from? I suppose I should just contact CGW directly, but I feel kind of silly asking them such a basic question about a $5 part.
I tried to get a photo of the CGW retaining pin that renders it obvious where the firing pin was contacting it relative to the position of the open side, but without the second piece (which fled my presence and is never coming back, just like that light lifter spring and that pet hamster I took outside to show my friends when I was 8) it's kind of hard to tell. Also it is tiny and my camera does not want to focus on it.