Few parts on your breech-loading firearm are as vital to functional operation as the firing pin. Without it, or if it breaks or deforms, your gun might as well be an expensive prop with moving parts.
All the same, firing pins do not have infinite lifespans. They are subjected to great stress with every pull of the trigger, and sooner or later, most will break and need to be replaced. Typically, they last for tens of thousands of rounds (or more) before they need to be replaced, though.
Still, they do break. These are small, relatively fragile parts that are machined from tiny billets of steel, and there are two main reasons that they can fail.
Probably the more common of these is improper heat treatment. If the firing pin has not been properly tempered, it can snap when the gun is fired.
The second and (likely) less common of the two issues is improper metallurgy. If the chemistry of the steel in a firing pin is not consistent, it will not take a proper heat treatment or temper even if the process is aptly applied. Consequently, firing pins with low-quality steel chemistry can also either snap or deform.
In either case, there is an issue. But the problem of an old firing pin that’s exceeded its useful lifespan does not need to be attributable to the fault of the manufacturer. Parts like this get old, and like springs, will eventually need to be replaced.
My MP5 Firing Pin Failed. I Need a New One. Where Can I Get It?
If you’re one of the lucky folks that has an HK MP5 or a different model like an SP5, HK94, MP5K, SP5K, SP89, or MP5SD, visit Zenith Firearms to get new parts.
Not only do they carry MP5 firing pins (which are compatible with the above platforms as well as with their own ZF-5, ZF-5P, and ZF-5K platforms) but they carry a wide range of other HK MP5-compatible parts and accessories.
Their MP5 firing pin, designed for 9mm roller-delayed blowback firearms, is made from premium steel and features an FNC treatment for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance.
FNC, or ferritic nitrocarburizing, is a proprietary type of case hardening in which carbon and nitrogen are diffused into the surface of ferrous metals (in this case, steel). This process vastly improves the surface integrity of the firing pin.
Specifically, FNC treatments improve the scuff and scratch resistance of the surface, the corrosion resistance of the firing pin, and most importantly, the fatigue properties of the steel. In other words, FNC-treated firing pins are tougher and longer lasting.
If you’re going to replace your MP5’s firing pin, do it with one that exhibits peerless quality.
And, while you’re on their website, don’t miss a chance to check out their other MP5 parts and accessories.
Their collection of parts for the HK MP5 (which are also compatible with a wide range of variants in addition to Zenith Firearms’ ZF-5) includes but is not limited to barrels, muzzle devices, stocks, guide rods, takedown pins, and other hardware.
They also carry a wide range of MP5 accessories such as magazines, 2-point slings, cases, and much more. Take a look through their collection. If you need a new MP5 firing pin, chances are your gun is old enough to need some other upgrades, too.
You can learn more about their MP5 parts and accessories on their website (ZenithFirearms.com). Take a look through their catalog and get in touch with them directly if you have questions or need assistance at 434-202-7790 or at Info@ZenithFirearms.com.
