Pneumatic release pins

I've done an awful lot of fixture work, and I've never seen anything quite like that. Do you need the pin to stay in place to allow for manual removal once the plunger is actuated, or could you just make up a "shot pin" screwed to the end of the cylinder rod, so it removes the pin upon actuation, and returns to lock when de-actuated. Maybe actuation of the ball-lock is a redundant step that could be eliminated.

i want to attach this "pin" to the end of a cylinder and that cylinder mounted 90 degrees to another. Part transfer 4 inches or so.
i can do this when my part is horizontal, hole is vertical and part rests on shoulder of pin, however.....
Description of problem....part is vertical, threaded hole is horizontal. I want to transfer this part into space to be picked by a gripper. while transferring i dont want to loose the part (hence the ball)
Operation: base cylinder extends (horiz), pin cylinder extends (vert) into part, base cylinder retracts, gripper grips part, pin cylinder retracts leaving part.