Firing pin not hitting center, half bullets not firing

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Smoovbiscuit

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I got a cobra fs 380 and when I tried it almost half the bullets failed to fire. I noticed the firing pin isn't hitting center.

Could the ammunition be the issue? I tested one box of sellier & bellot 380 92 grain fmj.

Or is it the firing pin?
 
It is the gun. The Cobra is one of the cheapest guns on the market, and this is reflected in the quality control. If you can, take it back to where you bought it and exchange it for another one. Keep doing that until you get one that works. This should not take many tries if you stick to round-nose, full-metal-jacket ammunition, because these are very simple guns.

Just for the record, though, I would suggest you get a refund, if possible, save up another $100-$125, and then get something of much better quality, like a Hi-Point. Hi-Points are also very simple, but they have a much better reputation for reliability. They are kind of bulky, though.

Or save up the refund and another $150-$200 and get something of better quality AND far more modern design, like a Ruger LCP or a Kel-Tec .32 or .380. The Kel-Tec .32s are very cheap these days, and they are reliable with "hollow point" expanding bullets, which is what all policemen in the US use now. I would rather have a .32 with hollow points than a 380 with RN-FMJ, but that is a personal preference and the subject of much argument.

Hollow point ammunition does cost more, but if you are really tight for money, you are not going to be shooting it much anyway. And if you become able to practice more, a Hi-Point, a Ruger or a Kel-Tec will be more durable than a Cobra anyway.

PS - I am NOT going to tell you that a Cobra is junk. It is decent value for the money, BUT it costs very little money. There are times when you really HAVE to have something, like a car or a firearm, and the cheapest may be all you can get, But just like with cars, if you wait a while and save up some more money, you will be much better off (and money ahead in the long run).

I apologize if I am telling you things you already know very well. I am getting older, and I seem to do that more and more. Good luck!
 
My new computer is not conducting searches right now, so I can't find the link to a Hummer70 post directly related to this. But, the further off center the firing pin strike, the more likely a misfire. And the greater the energy requirements to create ignition. George Frost shows tables of off center firing pin hits and the frequency of primer misfires.


The primer is composed of a cup, primer cake, and an anvil. The anvil is pointy. The primer cake is pinched between the cup and anvil and a firing pin strike on the cup, dead center above the anvil, is what you want. The further the firing pin strike is away from the anvil, the greater the chance of a misfire.


Last week I sent a Ruger #1 in 35 Whelen back to Ruger exactly for this problem. I get misfires and looking at the primer hits, there is a lot of firing pin impact eccentricity. I am hoping they will fix this, hoping I can talk to a technician.


I would call up the manufacturer and tell them that your pistol misfires (with factory ammunition!) and that the firing pin strikes are visually, well off center. This is a manufacturing defect of the firearm, not an ammunition defect.
 
On the Lorcin and Cobra design, the firing pin also ejects. So it's not your usual firing pin.

P.S. That said, if the gun fails to fire, it's obviously broken and needs a fix.
 
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Wow, Hamfisted. I had no idea LCPs were priced so low. That will really cut into the business of outfits like Cobra and Jimenez.
 
I would also presume it's the firearm and has zip to so with the ammunition.

Since there are some suggestions as far as inexpensive compact handguns go, I'll toss in my .02 and suggest the Taurus PT-111 G2.
It's a 12+1 9mm that has a great reputation from those who actually own one (or several). I bought mine NIB at some online shop while on a ridiculous sale of $179. They can usually be found under $200.

Mine serves as what some may call a tackle box pistol. It's seen around 500 rounds (not much, I'll admit) and has yet to displease. It's proven just as reliable yet more accurate, in my paws anyway, than some of my other more expensive pistols.

They are a stellar deal. I did spend a few extra bucks to purchase a steel guide rod as that's the only weak link reported.
 
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There ARE differences in primer sensitivity as well as construction that can make some less tolerant of a less than dead center hit....so there might be nothing that the gun manufacturer can do and if you want the thing to be reliable another brand of ammo might be the only way out. Some guns use the same basic slide assembly with .32 or .380 and the larger diameter puts the pin a bit low...but it should still fire if the primer is sensitive enough.
 
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