Kel Tec P3AT firing pin questions...

[Balrog]

I cleaned my P3AT this morning, and decided to clean the firing pin channel as well, for the first time I have owned the pistol.

I backed out the firing pin screw with an allen wrench. It appeared to have lock tite or something equivalent on it. I then removed the firing pin and firing pin spring. I cleaned the channel, firing pin, and spring.
'
When I reassemble this i have 3 questions:

First, the small cut out on the firing pin goes up right?

Second, if I tighten the firing pin screw up too much (ie, until all loose play is tightened up out of the screw), it appears to lock the firing pin in place and prevent it from moving. How do you know when you have the firing pin screw tightened up enough?

Third, should I put some fresh lock tite on the firing pin screw since it seems to have come that way from the factory?

I have posted this on KTOG as well, but figure traffic here may be higher and hopefully someone can give me a quick answer.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, the screw tip riding in the slot in the firing pin is what retains the FP in the slide.
It goes up, or more correctly, it goes where the screw tip can set down in it to stop it from flying out of the slide.

If the FP locks in place when you tighten the screw, you don't have the slot lined up with the screw tip correctly. Or else the FP isn't pushed in far enough.
Do Not tighten it in that position, as if the slot is down instead of up, as you will very likely bend the firing pin and ruin it.

I would recommend you get everything lined up and working with the screw in, then snap the trigger so the hammer is down and holding the FP & spring in place.

Now take the screw out, apply a small drop of BLUE Lock-Tight, and then put it back in and tighten it tight.

In the future, a can of gun-scrubber or auto brake cleaner blown through the firing pin channel will clean it without taking the firing pin out of the slide.

rc

 

[Balrog]

rcmodel,

I am certain that I have gotten the FP lined up correctly with the slot facing up. If I tighten the FP screw down all the way, the FP binds. If I back the screw off about 1/8th of a turn, the FP seems to move normally.

What am I doing wrong?

Is that screw supposed to be tight? Maybe it wss not tight when i started, and it was held by the lock tite.

I don't see how I could be getting the slot turned wrong.

 

[Balrog]

I drew a line with a Sharpie on the back of the FP opposite of the slot so I could make sure it went into the FP channel in the proper orientation.

Also, with the FP out of the FP channel, I can screw the FP screw all the way through the channel to the point that it nearly touches the opposite side of the channel.

 

[Bobo]

The tip of the threads of the screw go into the slot on the firing pin. I.e., the slot on the firing pin faces the screw - the slot does not face up, the slot faces to the right (toward the screw) if you're looking from the back of the gun.

The the tip of threads of the screw inside the slot of the firing is what keeps the pin from coming out, yet allows it to move back and forth freely.

Bobo

 

[Balrog]

The threads of the screw go into the slot on the firing pin. I.e., the slot on the firing pin faces the screw - the slot does not face up, the slot faces to the right (toward the screw) if you're looking from the back of the gun.

hmmm... that doesn't seem to be what anyone else is telling me here or at ktog.com

 

[rcmodel]

Turns out this is a 1st. Gen gun, and the allen-head set-screw is on the top.
It has no head, so can be screwed all the way in against the firing pin until it binds.

Stupid of me not to think of that. :banghead:

I just assumed it was a 2nd. Gen gun with a button-head screw holding the extractor flat spring & firing pin in place!!

rc