M&P 15-22 aluminum firing pin???!!!

*MALICE*

*MALICE*

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Ok, so a friend has two M&P 15-22s with broken firing pins. I was asked if I could either find or make him a few new pins.

Finding them seems to be a pain in the behind. S&W just hangs up on me after 15 minutes of waiting on hold and their two Canadian warranty centers (I'm not trying to get free pins under warranty) have been less than helpful thus far.

So, onto making the pins;

I borrowed another buddy's 15-22 firing pin to measure and.......

it looks like it's made of hard anodized aluminum.

Now, I machine material such as aluminum, titanium, inconel, and stainless steel on a daily basis, and while I'm highly skeptical this pin could be aluminum......the fact remains that if I didn't know any better, I would SWEAR this was hard anodized aluminum.

The pin is also non-ferrous (non-magnetic).

I did some looking and supposedly, aluminum firing pins DO actually exist (albeit they usually have a steel tip), so I suppose it's possible.........but........??????????

Anyone have any insight?
 
To add to the confusion--

I have the original broken firing pin too. It is noticeable heavier, magnetic, and has a slightly different head (hammer end) profile.

My assumption at this point is S&W decided to explore a cost cutting option and has started making their firing pins out of aluminum.
 
If smith and Wesson built teddy bears they would still find a way to make them blow up.

This does not surprise me. Aluminum firing pins, out of battery detonations, restricted. Blah.
 
I can guarantee you it isn't titanium.

For two reasons;
A) I machine titanium on a daily basis and the weight and finish are 'wrong' for titanium,

and

B) there is 100% no way they are putting titanium firing pins in a $500, mostly plastic gun. ;)

I did some more looking into things and the gun with the aluminum firing pin is the 'earlier' model, whereas the one with the steel pin was manufactured/sold later.
 
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