Advantage of titanium firing pin?

[PM 7]

I recently replaced the firing pin/spring on my TRP with a Wilson Bulletproof firing pin. My understanding was that the TRP is titanium to help keep from a slam fire(?) since it doesnt have a firing pin block like the series 80? is this accurate? Also, do I run any risks of problems by using the heavier firing pin? The reason I replaced the titanium is I am dry firing with Pachmyer snap caps and didnt want to risk snapping off the firing pin point. Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

[Inspector Callahan]

Probably the greatest thing about a titanium firing pin is the fact that it can be removed and thrown away. A real firing pin just drops right in. You're on the right track with the Wilson Bulletproof parts. Great stuff.

Regards.

[Shooter Ready?]

I replaced mine with an Ed Brown firing pin. No problems. I don't care for titanium firing pins. I use a Wolff XH firing pin spring in all of my .45's so I don't expect any "slam fires". Springfield uses an XXH firing pin spring in conjunction with the titanium firing pin.

[Hunter Customs]

If memory serves me correctly the ideal behind using the titanium firing pin in the Springfield was to prevent inertia firing the same reason Colt and Para uses the firing pin block ( or the series 80 system as some call it).
Regards, Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

[Joe D]

Bob, that is correct. According to one of the guys at SA their guns would not pass the Calif. drop test without one. First thing I threw away in my 9mm SA, followed by their mainspring housing.

[armedbutnotdangerous]

Just curious 'cause I'm still fairly new at 1911's, but what do you guys have against titanium firing pins?

I have several thousand rounds through my TRP, and have never had any failures to fire.

Why fix it if it ain't broke?

Steve.

[eerw]

With high pressure loads...38 super, 9x23, etc in IPSC..too much primer flow...causes problems...firing pin can stick, etc. Better off to get a regular firing pin fitted to your slide..

[Ned Christiansen]

My testing and experience indicates that a lightweight firing train is a good thing up until the part that has to keep moving under its own inertia and against a spring, in other words, the firing pin. I have proved to my satisfaction that a lighter mainspring cap, hammer strut, and hammer gives a lock time so much faster that you can hear and see the dif, easily. Although I'm still not sure it makes a difference in accuracy, and I kinda doubt it, it does lead to a harder strike on the firing pin, because these parts are under the direct influence of the mainspring. The lighter firing pin (Ti) probably also contributes to a reduced lock time, but all other things being equal, it has less inertia. And I don't believe that the lighter cap, strut, and hammer, delivering a harder blow to a Ti firing pin, compensate enough. Long story short, I'd had no prob with a totally titanium firing train including a Ti firing pin, until I shot some of this Brazilian ball that's going around. Misfire city. When I changed only the firing pin, I was back in biz.

On a 1911 with the Ti cap, strut and lightened hammer, I like the >TAK< sound as opposed to the
>..thunk< you get with stock components. Not a very good reason to go for a lightened firing train... but I do belive you have more positive ignition with this stuff, and a steel firing pin. All this being said I don't think it's that critical either way, I mean, I wounldn't lose sleep if I had to have a 1911 with those nasty ol' steel parts.

[Metal Smith]

I like Ned's reply, I put one in my old "Clark Long Slide" that they clipped the mainspring in and it would not bust a cap, BUT it never had a mis-fire before the TI-pin, this was years ago, I called them and told'em it wouldn't bust a cap, the guy laughed and said send it back. He told me they were only for compitition gun, Pete