longfastglass 0 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Does ANYONE have information on how to obtain a replacement firing pin for a .308??? With all the Saigas on the market there must be somewhere to get a pin besides Russia! I have talked to Brain at Dinzag Arms as well as several other places with no success. Fabricating one does not look feasible as the spring is captured. The AK47 spring is completely different as well so that is out. HELP!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
funkytrain 4 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Did kvar not have 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longfastglass 0 Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I have come to the conclusion that there are no .308 firing pins in the USA - plenty of rifles but NO spare parts. I called both big importers as well as every shop listed on Google. I even called a couple that were not on line but suggested by the other shops. I think I am going to have to go through Russia directly. Now... I wonder how long it will take to learn Russian??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
guncats 4 Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 no spare pin in the US? on the bright side, if you order 10 from Russia, keep 2 for yourself and sell the other 8, the profit will more than justify your trouble. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 Tromix had replacements made for the Saiga 12. Perhaps he could arrange for them to be made. Would anyone have an idea what steel these are made of? D2 perhaps? It could be made using a lathe and mill. Start with round rod, shape the tip and the body. Then mill the body flat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longfastglass 0 Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 The problem is that the spring is captured meaning that it does not come off the pin. This makes the fabrication process a little harder Hopefully Tony at Tromix can find something he can work with to come up with a solution. He has a TON of experience!!! I am still working on my Russian connection. Anyone have any Russian (or surrounding area) friends with family still over there? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Battosaii 99 Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 why not weld a new tip back on the broken firing pin and shape it with a dremel? atleast it will be a temp fix Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longfastglass 0 Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 That is a GREAT suggestion!!! I wonder how well it would stay? That thought briefly crossed my mind but I dismissed it thinking it would not work. I will find a welder tomorrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CJS3 3 Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 There has to be a way to remove the spring. As you said, a firing pin couldn't be machined with the spring in place. The photo you posted looks like the spring could be removed by "unscrewing" it off the front of the firing pin. Hard to tell just from a photo, but they got it on somehow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE VILLIAN 55 Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Did u try gunbroker.com? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longfastglass 0 Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Nothing on Gunbroker. With a little manipulation I was able to get the spring off the pin. For some reason I was afraid to screw it up - like that made any sense. Off to the machine shop tomorrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Its a problem. Someone has to be able to make these up not like its all that complicated. I've tried finding them from Russian sources and came up empty and aggravated back in 09. Bolts are even worse. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longfastglass 0 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Well, I have decided to try my hand at fabricating my own. I ordered some oil hardened rod from Brownells. There should be enough in one rod for a little trial and error... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunset_Va 2 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) The parts problem is one of the drawbacks to owning a Saiga 308. I wish you luck at finding that part. I wonder if any of the AK based 308 rifles like the Yugo would share the same firing pin? But that being said, it would be just as hard finding a firing pin for that AK also. I own a Saiga 308, so this topic interests me greatly too. And of course the firing pin spring is removable, found that out when I stripped one of my S308's down for refinishing. Edited September 30, 2011 by Sunset_Va Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basic13 3 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 (edited) Here is my pin Edited October 15, 2011 by Basic13 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryan6864 11 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 This is the only thing that scares me about the .308 you cant find parts anywhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) Does ANYONE have information on how to obtain a replacement firing pin for a .308??? With all the Saigas on the market there must be somewhere to get a pin besides Russia! I have talked to Brain at Dinzag Arms as well as several other places with no success. Fabricating one does not look feasible as the spring is captured. The AK47 spring is completely different as well so that is out. HELP!!! An AK74 non-spring captured firing pin should work without the spring. Yes, these are cheap and easy to buy. See KVAR You can use a non spring pin in your rifle. My Vepr also has a captured firing pin spring, but I have tried installing a regular AK74 firing pin with no problems. Just beware of the softer primers and perhaps be extra carefull when using them. http://www.k-var.com...&cat=288&page=1 $11.19 Edited October 11, 2011 by my762buzz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basic13 3 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) Great news Edited October 15, 2011 by Basic13 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) This episode confirms that an AK74 firing pin will work in the 7.62x39, 5.45x39, .308, and 223 versions. The 12 guage version is definitely a weird two piece firing pin. Edited October 11, 2011 by my762buzz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 By the way, the M1 garands and M14s have a free floated firing pin. Just from looking at the size, if a primer is too soft for a M1 or M14(.308) it might be too soft for an AK74 pin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 So who is going to try the Kvar East German pin in their 308? Asked Kvar for dimensions on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) So who is going to try the Kvar East German pin in their 308? Asked Kvar for dimensions on it. Length 3.382 inches Width 0.146 inches Thickness 0.065 inches Also, I have some actual Izmash saiga 7.62x39 extractors that are 0.270 inches wide-side facing out and 0.525 inches long. The radius cut on the blade fits a .308 case head recess very tightly. From looking at a .308 bolt head on another thread, I would be willing to bet that they might work in a .308 bolt. Unfortunately, I don't have a .308 bolt to try them out. Anyone with a .308 bolt and a micrometer might be able to check the dimensions on the extractor against the ones above of the 7.62x39 extractor. Edited October 11, 2011 by my762buzz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 (edited) Well aint you just the patron saint of timely info! Thanks! The extractor would be good news and they can be modified to fit if too tight. I do the same with my Marlin boltie, the Savage extractors are steel not Injection Molded as the Marlin and just need a bit of material removed to fit. Excellent all the way around. That takes care of the two most common things that could go wrong on a bolt. Edited October 12, 2011 by Rhodes1968 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basic13 3 Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Also, if a 74' firing pin will not work (I dont see any reason why it wouldn't) you should be able to weld material onto a 74' FP and shape it exactly like a captured spring Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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