Case Hardened firing pins?

[Jubel]

I have two R&D cylinders one in my 1860 and another in my 1849. I've noticed that as I shoot the pins kinda get mashed on the hammer end. What is the approximate life expectancy of these firing pins.
Is there a special tool needed to remove and replace them? If so where can one be purchased?  When I go to the range for practice I normally fire 50 rounds per revolver for target practice, this is weekly not to mention rounds fired at matches, or quite a few rounds.

Anyone's prior experience with this would be most helpful and appreciated.  I'm planning on the 1860 being one of my main match guns.  The 1849 pocket pistol is for side matches.

[Montana Slim]

That appears to be normal. All the FPs on my pa's (numerous) R&D's look a bit "mashed". Some of his rigs have been running for 10+ years. I lightened the hammer spring on a few of these pistols that only see cartridge use.

Best,
Slim

[Flint]

Make a tool from a screwdriver wide enough to reach both sides, and file away the middle to jump over the firing pin.

[Sgt. Jake]

     Mine were MUSHROOMED after three matches,so much they were causing missfires ,around the wheel twice. Well I called the outfit I purchaced them at,he replied thats the first Ive heard of that problem,Yea Right. Well tried calling R&D,Yea Right. So I took matters in to my own hands,I called Happy at the Smith Shop and talked him into making me two sets. I dont know what the cost will be ,Hap is always more than fair,I think I know of a new product Hap could add to his line of fine products. You might try contacting him.http://www.thesmithshop.com/      Adios   Sgt. Jake

[Flinch Morningwood]

I just had this problem at the CT-MA-RI Championships with my R&D 1851 conversions...first stage had a 5 round dump and tried to go six...snapped on the empty chamber.  The firing pin was already a bit mushrooms and stuck in the frame and wouldn't let me rotate the cyclinder...I didn't even kknow what the problem was until I disassembled the sucker.

Once I freed the pin and rotated it a bit, I was fine as long as I didn't snapped on an empty...I goess the recoil drive the pin back.

I'll be contacting Hap about these for sure.

[Sgt. Jake]

    Little Al     Hap can fix ya right up,I hadnt dry fired mine as R&D warns against this. Never the less two prictice sessions and five stages of a match and they looked ,well like a mushroom. With no help from the vendor or manufacture,Happy Trails is the answer. From his previous work for me ,it will be the last problem I have with the firing pins PERIOD. If I purchace another conversion cyl. in the future,now that Kirst makes a 45 cal. conversion  cylinder for the 1860,gated at that, thats where my next dollars will be going.          Adios  Sgt. Jake