Ruger LC9 issue

[chris93555]

I have a Ruger LC9 and the firing pin mushroomed. I bought all the parts and replace it. But while trying to take the rollpin out to get to it, the punch broke inside of it . I tried to drill it out with on luck, since the punch is harden steel. Any ideas? The don't won't to send it to Ruger since they to 3 months to repair my 10/22.

 

[rcmodel]

Mercy mercy!!
That right there is what we call a mess.

Looks like your pin punch was too small and wedged inside the roll pin, which made it super tighter!!

Only idea I have is to drill out the roll pin from the other side so you can get a smaller punch inside it and try to knock the broken punch back out the way it went in.
Penetrating oil might help.

Other then that?
A lot of careful surgery with a carbide dental bur in a Dremel tool.

rc

 

[chris93555]

Yes it's a mess, I tried to drill it out from the otherside but the punch is to far in, and the drill bits can't drill out the steel. I tired to use a smaller punch and almost broke that one. I used the right size punch to start with and the gun on a vise, and the roll pin didn't move at all, next time i'm just going to drill out the rollpin from the get go

 

[rcmodel]

Next time use a tapered starter punch (like a nail set) to get it moving.

Or even a real starter punch:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20640/Product/ROLL-PIN-STARTER-PUNCHES

After that the longer pin punch will take it on out without bending and breaking.

You might have to use a carbide drill in a drill press to drill out the punch.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=6543/Product/3-FLUTE-CARBIDE-DRILL

rc

 

[chris93555]

Next time use a tapered starter punch (like a nail set) to get it moving.

Or even a real starter punch:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20640/Product/ROLL-PIN-STARTER-PUNCHES

After that the longer pin punch will take it on out without bending and breaking.

You might have to use a carbide drill in a drill press to drill out the punch.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=6543/Product/3-FLUTE-CARBIDE-DRILL

rc

Thanks for the info! Ordering a set right now

 

[JRWhit]

If it won't come out when using a punch from the other side, it might be a good time to consider a gun smith.

You can get a drill bit better suited for hardened steel but be very careful. When drilling on a hard metal inside of softer metal, you can do a lot of damage to to the surrounding metal in a hurry.

So....... It may be a good time to find a gun smith.

 

[chris93555]

If it won't come out when using a punch from the other side, it might be a good time to consider a gun smith.

You can get a drill bit better suited for hardened steel but be very careful. When drilling on a hard metal inside of softer metal, you can do a lot of damage to to the surrounding metal in a hurry.

So....... It may be a good time to find a gun smith.

I think your right. If I do send this to Ruger, will they fix it? I only had the gun less then a year (from being brand new) before the firing pin broke which I know is covered by the warranty, but wondering if they would remove the rollpin at a cheaper price then a gunsmith. Also, what is the ball park price on a gunsmith? The reason I really don't want to deal with ruger is that my receiver creaked on my 10/22 (not sure how that happened), and they took 3 months to send if back. The repair was free, but I had to pay CA fees twice because of them, $70 total

 

[JRWhit]

You may want to try local first. If you already have the parts I think you could have it done for cheaper than what it would cost you to ship it. A gun smith would probably look at it and tell you what he'll charge. I don't know where you at and how price would differ but I wouldn't expect to pay more than 30-40 dollars to have it removed.

 

[dondavis3]

I'd take it to a local gunsmith .

If you don't have one you trust - I'd send it to Ruger.

A 3 month wait is longer than I've ever had to wait on Ruger.

But I'd rather get it done right.

Good luck