Kirst Konverter firing pin question.

[River City John]

What is the solution for a weakened return spring on the floating firing pin? I guess I'm asking is it something one can replace with armchair gunsmithing or does it need a pro? Or can it even be replaced?


Thanks.
RCJ

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I had to replace my spring in the firing pin fairly early on. I drove the pin out frm the front. remade a spring and reassembled the spring and pind, then I had to re-stake the pin it was a PITA but it stayed fixed.
I now prefer the R & D type of firing pins with the removable keepers.

You could drill it out after driving the pin out and thread it and make a new firing pin and keeper. OCB posted(in his posts in STORM about his conversion revolver.) how he makes a firing pin and a holder and it's slick. and yes you can do it with minimal tools.
I copied the page for future use.

[Flint]

That firing pin situation is one of the reasons I prefer the R&D cylinder.  R&D has a threaded ferrule retaining the firing pins, so they can easily be replaced or cleaned.  They also do not need a spring, as there are 6 of them and they travel with the cartridge.  The Kirst needs a spring to pull the firing pin back to allow the cylinder to advance past it.  I haven't studied my Kirsts closely enough to see if the R&D or similar retainer could be installed, but if they weaken, I will have to.

Other than the extra work and price of the removable firing pin, I can't understand why Walt Kirst did it that way, as it doesn't seem like a reasonable way to retain the firing pins in a device that may require service.

[Cimarron Lawman]

I've read that the R&D can't be dry fired, as doing so can damage the floating firing pins. Nevertheless, these reports of the Kirst's cheesy(?) firing pin spring scare me. I was all set to order a Kirst, but now I think I'll get the R&D Navy cylinder.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I think the R &D can be fitted with a small rebounding spring without too much trouble....I won't dry fire a gun period.

Did that once and blew out a window in my RV trailer...Luckily it was a cowboy load in it(I was stupid and didn't check it) it hit the window frame and broke the glass but didn't hit the windshield of my truck. Never found the bullet.
Now if I have one Loaded I have a big red tag with HOT!!! scrawled on it.

Scared the bejeebers out of me, and I slapped my own hand for being stupid. Then I unloaded the other gun that was it's pard.

If you gota dry fire, put some dummies in it, once fired with the old primers still in them, or something. don't dry fire without something for the pin to hit.

[Cimarron Lawman]

Hmm ... You could probably sell lots of those little rebounding springs to SASS/NCOWS shooters if you perfected 'em.