Cotter Pins

J

John Y.

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Hi,

I seem to be going through cotter pins (The one that holds in the firing pin for my AR) like toilet paper.

They are bent or I'm not able to get them back in because they are split too much.:mad:

I picked up some cheap cotter pins at Crap Tire but they are nowhere near the same gauge of steel as the ones that came with the rifle. A buddy gave me a few extra AR cotter pins. I've gone through three pins in eight months.

Can I use the cheap cotter pins from a hardware store?
What am I doing wrong with the cotter pins so that I'm not able to keep using them?

Can anyone recommend a place to buy cotter pins for my AR?

Thanks!

JY
 
Wolverine can sell you a bunch...they're cheap and should be considered consumables....just like oil, patches and ammo.
Brownells also lists an aluminum button, as the AR was designed to use, but
the US Gov't nixed it and went with the cheap ass cotter pin.
Maybe one of the AR experts can chime in as to whether this may represent a
problem with your gun..? too much headspace.
 
cotter pins

Under NO circumstances should you use standard cotter pins. They are not hardened like the AR firing pin retaining pins and will shear off in short order.
 
foxbat -- the split pin was deemed an upgrade from the solid pin.

No you should not be going thru pins like that -- Even with high round count guns.


It sounds like either your bolt carrier is machined just a bit off (I have a DPMS bolt carrier that does that...)
 
KevinB said:
foxbat -- the split pin was deemed an upgrade from the solid pin.

No you should not be going thru pins like that -- Even with high round count guns.


It sounds like either your bolt carrier is machined just a bit off (I have a DPMS bolt carrier that does that...)
Click to expand...

I have a Dlask built AR.

I've put 1800 rounds through it so far.

I had one of those solid aluminum button retaining pins. Went in nice and easy for a while and now it's bent and I can't get it back in.

Everybody else who has ARs that I know doesn't seem to have the same problem.

Thanks Willywagspal. I was thinking of sticking in a regular cotter pin but will stay away from doing that.

Does Brownells ship to Canada?
 
John Y.
I'd phone TSE, P&D or Wolverine (in no particular order).
Odds are they will have more pins.

The Solid pin was removed from the M16 series since it falls out to easy.
The Split pin has more tension
(its more of a field issue than civilian shooters)


Brownells does ship (some items) to Canada.
 
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