The Mini-14 "firing pin issue." What gives?

[mannyrock]

Dear Guys,
 
  You are going to have to explain this one to me.   Every time I read a review about the Mini-14, I see the comment that if the firing pin breaks, you can't buy a new one, and you have to send the rifle back to Ruger to get it replaced.
 
    So, my question is, why doesn't somebody just make replacements?   Are you telliing me that if a guy is a metal smith, with some CNC equipment, he can't copy and makes something as ridiculously simple as a firing pin?    On the cable shows, I see those folks at the custom gunshop in Louisianna make entire rifles, including the receivers, in the back of their shop with their CNC equipment.
 
     And if a smith can make one, then he can surely make a couple of hundred and sell them.  Given the tens of thousands of Minies out there, and this nagging problem, I'll bet he would sell them all in very short order.
 
    So, what kind of BS is this, that a firing pin is so "complicated" that only Ruger can make them?
 
    The only possible reason I can think of, is that perhaps the pin is of such a unique design, that it was patented, and so only licensee's of Ruger's patent can make them. Hard to believe, especially since the Mini design is now going on 40 years old.
 
  So, again, what gives?

Mannyrock
 

[gunnut69]

Refering to a parts blowup, the pins design appears fairly simple.. The most likely problem is liability.. Firing pins in autoloading rifles can create dangerous situations if they break, slamfires are possible, even firing out of battery! That's the likely cause..and one would have to sell a lot of firing pins to make the liability worthwhile.                       

[Bugflipper]

You can buy aftermarket ones from Glend Arms. The reason Ruger wants it to come back is for tolerance issues. Their spec is .028-.038" protrusion. They are usually .05-.07" stock. They need to be trimmed, radiused and polished. Otherwise it may pierce primers and potentially cause injury.

[Dee]

Gun rag writers cause more frustration than ex-wives. They throw that crap out there, and send some into a tail spin. I have owned 7 or 8 mini 14s, and have never even heard of a firing pin failure on one. I'm sure it has most likely happened. Somewhere?
Enjoy your mini 14. It ain't a one holer, but it shoots every time.

[Ranger99]

what he said. . . . ^^^^^^