Firing pin

The firing pin is part of the trigger system of cartridge firearms. It is usually made ​​of a metal pin, which strikes on firing of the gun on the portion of the cartridge in which the ignition means is accommodated. In centerfire cartridges this is the primer, with rimfire cartridges the edge of the case base, in Flobertpatronen the entire case base.

Also, the trigger mechanism of a hand grenade or mine is called a firing pin.

Function

The firing pin is driven either by the striker spring which is tensioned upon actuation of the closure or deduction, or being pushed by the impact of a striking piece (Hahn, hammer ) or by the flow of the closure on the ignition fuse.

In many zuschießenden weapons systems, there is no separate firing pin, but this is a structural part of the closure or the hammer.

Upon impact of the firing pin on the primer created by the pressure of a chemical reaction leading to the explosion of the primer, which in turn serves as an initial ignition of the propellant.

In modern weapons, the firing pin is usually performed by the closure piece and the breech block to the primer.

History

An early form of the firing pin, the firing pin, which was introduced by Dreyse for the first military breech-loaders.