Heat Treat My New 440C Stainless Firing Pin?

[calinb]

I machined a new percussion cap firing pin and milled a breech plug for a cap nipple so I can hunt with my CVA Optima Muzzleloader in Oregon.  I made the firing pin from 440C stainless and the gun goes bang.  I'm wondering if I should harden and temper the pin.  440C is pretty tough stuff, as delivered from Speedy Metals:

Tensile Strength (PSI)  Yield Strength (PSI)  Reduction of Area    Elongation in 2"   Brinell Hardness
     110,000                          65,000                  25                    14                   235

I have access to an oven and I ordered some 309 stainless tool foil but I'm not sure whether or not to heat treat.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

-Cal

[trotterlg]

I would say that, for the few times you will drop the hammer on that pin, just leave it as it is.  Larry

[gunnut69]

I'd go with larry on this one. If the pin shows any peening or bending at some point it can be tempered at that point.

[calinb]

Thanks guys!  Yeah--I'll keep an eye on it and, if it starts to deform, I found a tempering table for 440C that goes down to  43 (Rc).