Just saw a customer try to use a drill bit for a screw extractor on a broken firing pin

They were really going at it, which just makes the hole bigger and wrecks the threads (if there are any left, you know?). I learned that the hard way on a 1911 slide about ten years ago, and it took me a full day to fix. What's the best way you've found to get a snapped pin out without making a bigger mess?

2 comments

2 Comments

chen.fiona3d ago

Been there, done that. A left-hand drill bit and some heat usually works for me, but sometimes you just have to drill it out slow and steady.

willow_reed3d ago

Yeah, but heat can wreck the temper on good tools, so I'm careful with that.