DIAMONDBACK PCC 9mm FIRING PIN STUCKING

[gunnersaa]

PCC 9mm / 16" Diamondback / <100 rounds

The firing pin got stuck initially and found a small brass in the firing pin hole after like 500-700 rounds. Cleaned it out and put everything back again.
20 rounds later stuck again. We thinking its unburnt powder, but stucking again after 20 rounds!!!
Packed up and went home.

Analysed it at home.
Took out the firing pin, used water sandpaper to make double sure, made sure its clean, spring seems to be in order, pushed the firing pin all the way down to see if it stucks, but all good.
So for all accounts it seems all in order.

Thought I would reach out to see if anyone else had a similar situation?

[Sicario]

So, not DB PCC specific, but I saw over at PistolSmith someone posted:

"Check the coarseness of the pin in the hole itself with no spring.
If you feel any friction, polish the pin (along the smallest dia.) using flitz polish.
GunKote being a molecularly heavy coat, 3microns and more, it may well have been sprayed in the firing pin channel , and caused the diameter of the hole to decrease. Depends on the Finisher, whether he was keen on making it completely rustproof. This would cause undue friction along with powder residue."

And someone responded:
"Thanks for the reply. That was the problem. The pin actually had a little glob that would catch. Not enough to really see, but the tolerance is pretty tight"

[Heath Robinson]

From what you said I suspect the first issue may have been caused by what seem people call "blanking" of a primer.

IE a small piece of the primer is blown out into the firing pin hole.
Did you inspect the cases? If this is happening regularly it may be wise to try different ammo (different primers if you re-load).

This could be an indication that the loads are a bit too hot, or that there is excessive clearance between the firing pin and it's hole od that the primers are very soft, and the problem can usually be solved by either using harder primers or by reducing the load or both.

[shooty]

Polish the firing pin making sure its smooth and not sticking.
Also make sure your spring is still correct and not bend.
As well as make sure your trigger assembly is not moving or loose somehow.

I have just over a 1000 through my DB PCC and touch wood have had not a single issue.

[janfred]

Also, make sure the tip of the pin is round. Blanking also happens with a flat tip acting like a hole punch.

[A-R]

I have had this happen on bolt-action and self-loading rifles. Firing pin punched a hole in the primer. The small brass disc was blown into the firing pin channel, where it causes the pin to bind or stop short of igniting a primer. A good clean solves the symptom, but not the cause. Often, a harder primer solves the problem.

[gunnersaa]

Thanks all
appreciate the input so far