Firing pin

Firing pin

A firing pin or striker is part of the firing mechanism used in a firearm or explosive device e.g. an M14 landmine or bomb fuze. Firing pins may take many forms, though the types used in landmines, bombs, grenade fuzes or other single-use devices generally have a sharpened point. In contrast, firing pins used in firearms usually have a small, rounded portion designed to strike the primer of a cartridge, detonating the priming compound, which then ignites the propellant.cite web |url=http://www.americancopmagazine.com/articles/xd/index.html |title=XD X-Deelicious! |author=Charles E. Petty |author=American Cop] cite web |url=http://www.saami.org/Glossary/display.cfm?letter=F |title=SAAMI Glossary, F |publisher=SAAMI] cite web |url=http://www.saami.org/Glossary/display.cfm?letter=F |title=SAAMI Glossary, S |publisher=SAAMI]

Firing pin vs. striker

A firing pin is a lightweight part, which serves to transfer energy from a spring loaded hammer to the primer, while a striker is usually heavier, and is directly connected to the spring providing the energy to impact the primer. Strikers mechanisms are generally simpler, since they combine the functions of hammer and firing pin in one.

The firing pin or striker is generally located in the bolt of a repeating firearm. Firearms that do not have bolts, such as revolvers and many types of single-shot actions, generally have a very short firing pin in the frame, or else attached to the hammer itself. These types of firearms are almost never striker fired, as there is insufficient space to house a striker mechanism. Strikers are most commonly found in pistols and bolt action firearms.

Firing pin construction

The typical firing pin is a small rod of steel, rounded into a hemispherical shape and hardened at the end that strikes the primer. The rounded end is to ensure the primer is indented rather than pierced, as would happen if the firing pin had a sharply pointed end. Most firing pins have a spring to push them out of contact with the primer, and often will have an integrated passive safety mechanism, such as a block that prevents them from moving forward unless the trigger is depressed, or a "transfer bar", also trigger actuated, that must be in place to allow the hammer to depress the firing pin. This safety is in addition to any manually operated safety or safeties that act to block the trigger or hammer. [cite web |url=http://www.midwayusa.com/guntecdictionary.exe/showterm?TermID=4956 |title=Definition of "transfer bar" |publisher=MidwayUSA GunTec Dictionary]

Firearms that use long firing pins, such as pistols, will often use a firing pin that is too short to project when depressed flush by the hammer. This type of firing pin, called an "inertial firing pin", must be struck by a full fall of the hammer to provide the momentum to move forward and strike the primer. If the hammer is down, resting on the firing pin, it is very unlikely that a blow to the rear will provide enough energy to the firing pin to detonate the primer. Most variants of the M1911 pistol use this type of firing pin.

Many firing pins are stamped from sheet steel, forming a rectangular cross-section rather than a round one. These will often have a cylindrical section at the front rather than a hemispherical one, and are fairly common in rimfire firearms. Sturm, Ruger, for example, uses sheet metal firing pins in its 10/22 carbine and Mark II pistol.

High performance firing pins are often made from lighter materials than steel, such as titanium. The lighter material increases the speed at which the firing pin travels, and reduces the lock time, or the time from trigger pull to the bullet leaving the barrel. See accurize for more information.

triker construction

Strikers are basically spring-loaded firing pins, generally of a one or two piece construction. In the one piece striker, the striker is turned on a lathe out of a round bar of metal, much larger in diameter than a firing pin, to provide the mass required to detonate the primer. Two piece strikers generally consist of a firing pin attached to a heavier rear section--in essence a hammer attached to the base of a firing pin. Two piece strikers are commonly found on bolt action rifles, while single piece strikers are found on pistols, such as those made by Glock.

Other uses

Mechanisms involving firing pins can be used also in other pyrotechnical systems, ranging from hand grenades to chemical oxygen generators.

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Firing pin — Fir ing pin In the breech mechanism of a firearm, the pin which strikes the head of the cartridge and explodes it. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • firing pin — n. that part in the bolt or breech of a firearm which strikes the primer and explodes the charge …   English World dictionary

  • firing pin — skiltuvas statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Skeliamojo mechanizmo dalis, kurio smailus galas yra daužiklis. Skiltuvas šūvio metu juda kapsulės link veikiamas skeliamosios spyruoklės arba nuo gaiduko smūgio ir, smogdamas į kapsulę (kapsulinę… …   Artilerijos terminų žodynas

  • firing pin impression —    The indentation in the primer of a centerfire cartridge case or in the rim of a rimfire cartridge case caused when it is struck by the firing pin …   Forensic science glossary

  • firing pin — fir′ing pin n. mac a plunger in the firing mechanism of a firearm that strikes the cartridge primer, igniting the propelling charge • Etymology: 1870–75 …   From formal English to slang

  • firing pin — /ˈfaɪərɪŋ pɪn/ (say fuyuhring pin) noun a plunger in the firing mechanism of a gun that strikes the primer and thus ignites the propelling charge of a projectile …  

  • firing pin — Ordn. a plunger in the firing mechanism of a firearm or cannon that strikes the cartridge primer, igniting the propelling charge. [1870 75] * * * …   Universalium

  • firing pin — noun the part of the firing mechanism which stikes the cartridges primer to ignite the gunpowder …   Wiktionary

  • firing pin — noun Date: 1874 the pin that strikes the cartridge primer in the breech mechanism of a firearm …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • firing pin —    That part of a firearm mechanism which strikes the primer of a cartridge to initiate ignition. Sometimes called hammer nose or striker …   Forensic science glossary

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