"Firing Pin Retaining Pin"

SimpleMan

SimpleMan

Soli Deo Gloria
Benefactor
Life Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2016
Messages
4,925
Location
York SC
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
I was never in the military nor had formal training with AR's, so please don't flame me out for this simple question/statement. I do own several AR15's and watched some videos where I learned how to disassemble a rifle for cleaning and what not. So I ordered a couple PSA complete lowers during a really good sale, and later bought a couple complete uppers, where I had to also buy the BCG.

During the disassembly of the new PSA BCG (to lube up before install), I used a small pick to pull the firing pin retaining pin out, and the end of it just snapped in half. This rifle is to be my dedicated coyote rifle, replacing my S&W M&P15. So I pull the BCG out of the factory S&W BCG, no problem, and install into the PSA BCG. Stopped by PSA the other day, walked in only spent .99 cents, on a new pin. I get home and try to install the new pin into the S&W BCG, not happening. Pull the BCG from the PSA rifle, remove original S&W pin from PSA BCG and put back into S&W BCG, try to put new PSA pin into PSA BCG, not happening. It's like it's too big or spread apart too much too fit into the hole on the "other side" of the BCG.

Sorry for the long explanation, but I'm about ready to tell PSA to F@CK off over two .99 cent parts. I guess I'll order a pin from Brownell's or Midway?
 
The ends are sometimes flared to aid in retention so you have to kinda wiggle it in from one side if that makes sense?

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 
Wahoo95 said:
The ends are sometimes flared to aid in retention so you have to kinda wiggle it in from one side if that makes sense?

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I wiggled, jiggled and tried flattened it out a bit with needle nose pliers, not going. Never had trouble before with 3 other PSA rifles, Smith, Ruger or Rock River.
 
Take a set of calipers to the PSA pin vs all of your others to see if there is a difference in width and the height including spread.

I've had a tough time with my AIM BCGs but I understand the point in the spread ends is retention.
 
Have you compared the pin that works with the one you bought side by side?
 
Last edited:
And to rule out an alignment issue vs ill-fitting pin...

Have you tried to insert the rentention pin without the firing pin installed?

I'm not saying they couldn't have an issue, but almost every BCG I own is PSA and all the pins fit fine.
 
BigWaylon said:
Have you tried to insert the rentention pin without the firing pin installed?
Click to expand...

I did not, but the S&W pin goes in place with either BCG with firing pin installed.

BigWaylon said:
I'm not saying they couldn't have an issue, but almost every BCG I own is PSA and all the pins fit fine.
Click to expand...

This is the fourth PSA rifle with PSA BCG, never had a problem. I'm wondering if there's a defect in the BCG. The way the original pin snapped and all. I put the pick into the loop on the end, pried up and with resistance it just snapped in half, then fell out. I've never felt much resistance when pulling one out. When it snapped, it wasn't like I was prying that hard. Put the S&W pin in it and ran about 40 rounds with no problems.
 
Last edited:
I have had a couple of pins break and I am using these from KNS. They are about $8 ea, but someone on fleabay sells a knockoff that $5 for 3 pins.
upload_2017-9-16_19-47-33.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom