Makarov - dented primer

[abaddon]

When I carry my makarov for more than a week or two with the same round in the chamber I notice that the primer has gradually become dented because the free floating firing pin is constantly resting against it. Is this a problem? If I carry it for too long with the same round chambered will it eventually fire?

Jeff

 

[popeye]

Does this hold true with various types (manufacturers) of ammo?

 

[alamo]

I'm wondering if maybe the firing pin channel is a bit dirty and the pin is stuck sticking out a bit? Maybe clean it out real good. I use Q-tips to clean it. Dip some in CLP, clean real good and then some dry ones to get the CLP out. I usually have to pull a bit of the cotton off the tip to get them to go in the hole.

 

[abaddon]

Yeah, my firing pin channel is kind of gummy. I'll clean that out. The only ammo I've carried in it for a long time is Barnaul JHP. If cleaning the firing pin channel doesn't work then I'll try different ammo types but I don't think it's the ammo. I can visually see how the firing pin hangs down past the hole but I kind of expected this because there's no firing pin return spring.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Dave R]

I'm thinking the dent is happening right when you chamber the round. The free-floating firing pin "taps" the primer when the slide slams forward.

That's how my AK works.

Try chambering a round, and then eject it immediately and see if the primer is dimpled.

I think that's the way free-floating firing pins behave.

Of course, you should clean the firing pin channel anyway. A gummed up firing pin can cause slamfires.

 

[abaddon]

I cleaned the firing pin channel. The Q-tips worked great.

I think Dave R. nailed it. I just used the slide release to chamber a round that hadn't been chambered yet. It left a dimple about the same depth and size as the one in the round I've been carrying in the chamber all day. When I slowly chambered another round without using the slide release there wasn't a dimple.

 

[Redlg155]

I wouldn't worry about it.

The same thing goes for rifles that have a floating firing pin. AR15s do it all the time.

Good Shooting
Red