I have a Mossberg Model "L" that has broken firing pin. The frontal part that tapers off to strike the cartridge has been sheared off. Would it be possible to just weld on a new one and trim down the excess, or would it be better to machine an entirely new firing pin?

I have drilled out and silver-soldered anew tip into a ton of firing pins over the years and it always worked out OK. Regards, Bill.

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Mossberg Model "L"

I think what ever means you have available to use is most likely the easiest.

Because I have lathe I most likely machine one.

If I didn't have one I most likely drill and solider one

Use the lathe to drill and shape after soldering--a lot more efficient than making a complete new one and probably a little better.

Like Leeper I have silver soldered literally hundreds of drill bit butts into firing pin bodies and hammers to reclaim them. I'm no engineer so I can't say that there is a mechanical reason for it, but I would swear that the soldered in ones actually OUTLAST the original machined ones. Possibly the steel is better and is a contributing factor or maybe there is some mechanical advantage that I'm not seeing, but I have wasted many a moment pondering about it over the years.

Thanks all! I don't know if there is quite enough metal to drill out a whole to solder the actual pin diameter at the end. What I might try is to cut it down further before it tapers in, essentially cutting it in half. I don't have a lathe, but for small parts like this, I have been experimenting with chucking it up in my drill and using a file to get it down to the correct dimensions. If this doesn't work, its off to the gunsmith.

A soldered pin does not have the same stress riser that a machined pin would have.

Usually, a soldered pin is a stronger/higher quality steel than the original pin. The lack of stress risers is also very important. I have done many and never had one come back.....Tom