1911 Titanium firing pin a good idea?

[45crittergitter]

I have a 70-series type 1911 into which I have installed a heavier firing pin spring as an added safety measure. I am considering also installing a titanium FP, but have heard that they don't hold up well. Advice please?

 

[Jim K]

The combination of a heavy spring and a light firing pin could result in misfires and/or blanked primers. If you go that route, fire lots of ammo before trusting the gun in any serious situation.

Jim

 

[vesmcd]

IPSC shooters(myself included) hopped on the titanium bandwagon when the parts first started becoming available thru Brownells about 12 years ago(maybe more,time goes by faster as you experience more of it).Anything to make your racegun go faster. Anyway, my observation was, titaniun firing pins don't wear any faster than steel. The nose and sear hooks of Ti hammers DO wear a LOT faster than steel. Ti hammer and firing pin with 23lb(stock) mainspring is OK. Ti hammer with STEEL firing pin and stock MS is NOT OK(light primer strikes).Also, I have personally seen Ti firing pins wear thru the coils of the firing pin spring causing the spring to screw together and leave the firing pin protruding past the breech face. NEVER seen it happen with a steel FP.
Moral of the story: Shooters and bass fishermen are the biggest suckers in the world when it comes to new products.

 

[Jim Watson]

Several makers are using titanium firing pins and stiff springs to pass the California test to destruction without adding superfluous parts. So it can be done, but you should testfire extensively per Jim K.

Tell me, though, just what are you afraid of? A conventional 1911 with fresh firing pin spring is not at significant risk of going off by itself.

 

[ziadel]

My Springfield has a titanium firing pin...

worst thing I have to say about it is that it was a PAIN when I detail stripped my pistol and the thing went flying behind a very large dresser in my bedroom...

can't use a magnet to pick up titanium...


anyways, I've never had a light primer strike with mine... and I've also got an extra heavy spring in there...