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View Full Version : A different take on reliability - Guns you've personally seen fail



beltjones
03-06-2011, 10:26 PM
I'm not impugning anyone's integrity, but you only need to read through the 2000 round challenge thread a few times before you start to get the sense that either very few guns ever have problems, or people have selective memories when it comes to how their pistols perform.

This isn't a "let's bash pistol X" or "let's argue about whether Y is a good pistol" idea, instead I was hoping for more empirical data about the types of malfunctions you've seen and the guns they occurred in. It might be interesting to see if any patterns emerge that people weren't aware of previously.

I think the way to do it is to list the following:

Gun:
Setting:
How did it fail:
What was the remedy:
Was it your pistol or someone else's:

Notes:

F-Trooper05
03-06-2011, 10:48 PM
Obviously there's a million examples that I could pop off, but here's the most recent...

Gun: SIG P226 X-Five
Setting: USPSA match
How did it fail: Multiple stove pipes
What was the remedy: N/A
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes:
Last Sunday at a USPSA match a guy had a somewhat new P226 X-Five and I counted at least five stove pipes throughout the course of the day. The guy was a big SIG fan and he was pretty bummed to say the least. I'm not sure what he did to remedy the issue, but I should see him again next week and I'll be sure to ask him.

Kyle Reese
03-06-2011, 10:48 PM
I'll bite.

Gun: Glock 19 Gen 3
Setting: TLG's Get SOM- 27 Feb 2010
How did it fail: Slide lock spring broke during the class
What was the remedy: JV had an extra one handy and the pistol was repaired during a break
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes- This Glock 19 had been my "standby" gun for several years, meaning it's been shot alot and maintenance (including the replacement of small parts) was sometimes overlooked. All that came to a head when I faced up the berm, locked and cleared my Glock 19, let the slide go forward and the slide proceeded to fly OFF the pistol. :rolleyes:

Gun: PT M&P 9
Setting: NRA Range, March 2011
How did it fail: Trigger Spring broke
What was the remedy: Replace spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

orionz06
03-06-2011, 10:55 PM
Gun: M&P Pro 9mm
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: 2-3 FTE's
What was the remedy: Polish chamber/replace extractor
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: I had a good bit of Winchester white box ammo left over from a few years ago and my USPc would have no issue with it, but the M&P did. I saved the brass from the failures and the rims were smaller, combine that with the extractor of the M&P at the time and the failure was very likely.

I polished the chamber and the problem did not occur since and I have gone through that ammo. Included in the ammo that was shot post-polish were many cases that had smaller diameter rims than the FTE cases.

Pennzoil
03-06-2011, 11:22 PM
Gun: Glock 26 Gen3
Setting:2,000rd challenge / drills
How did it fail: multiple failures to return to battery
What was the remedy: New recoil spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes:
Bought this NIB to move into carry role and put my Glock 26 Gen2.5 into training/back- up role. Got 1100rds into the challenge and pistol would not fully return to battery on it's own power. Cleaned/inspected to find recoil spring felt extremely light. Replaced recoil spring gun is running fine now.

Red Leader
03-06-2011, 11:51 PM
Gun: Rock Island GI 1911
Setting: range
How did it fail: failure to return to battery resulting in the case rim jumping ahead of the extractor. Several failures. Also failure to return to battery resulting in a 3 point jam - several when the pistol was brand new.
What was the remedy: adjust the extractor tension and shoot it more
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes:
Once I learned a little more about 1911s (this was my first one), I checked the tension on the extractor and it was extremely tight. Once that loosened up the failures started to dissipate.


Gun: XD-45 service
Setting: range
How did it fail: Had 1 failure to return to battery and one stovepipe..
What was the remedy: break-in and new extra power AGP magazine springs.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: Failures were in the first 50 rounds or so. With the FTRB, the round didn't get stripped from the magazine all the way, so just a little bump fed it. I should have cleaned it before using it. No issues after replacing magazine springs.


Gun: Jennings 9mm
Setting: out in the country
How did it fail: blew apart and the slide ejected right off the back of the gun with force.
What was the remedy: the gun kind of remedied itself - it made sure no one else had the misforture of shooting it again.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: someone else's.

Notes: my friend was firing this pistol at the time of its catastrophic failure. God was on our side - on the last few shots he was shooting from the hip. If it had been about two shots prior, it would have ejected off right back into his head.

Joe in PNG
03-06-2011, 11:54 PM
Gun: CZ-52
Setting: Florida cow pasture
How did it fail: Broken trigger spring
What was the remedy: Hold upside down and shake. Later, replaced spring. Later, replaced gun.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Glock 27
Setting: Regular practice
How did it fail: Slidelock with 1~2 rounds in mag.
What was the remedy: Change hand position
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine
Notes: Seems my thumb was engaging the slide lock under recoil with the gun nearly empty. I moved my SH thumb, problem solved.

Gun: High Standard Dura-matic 101 .22lr
Setting: Regular practice (every time I shoot the thing)
How did it fail: FTF after @50 rounds
What was the remedy: Clean at 40 rounds; need to figure out why it does that!
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine
Notes: Yeah, it's old. I probably need a new mag for it. I've already replaced all the other springs.

Mitchell, Esq.
03-07-2011, 07:07 AM
Gun: Glock 19
Setting: Tactical Response Fighting Rifle
How did it fail: Broken slide-lock spring
What was the remedy: Replaced slide lock.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

JV_
03-07-2011, 07:17 AM
My MP9 has failed the 2000 round challenge a couple of times. Come to think of it, the only time it passed was the first one that started at 500 rounds.

Gun: M&P 9
Setting: pistol-training.com class
How did it fail: Apex Trigger Spring Broke @ 4260 rounds
What was the remedy: Replace spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: M&P 9
Setting: NRA Range
How did it fail: Apex Trigger Spring Broke @ 6205 rounds
What was the remedy: Replace spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

I'm currently reevaluating my choice in trigger springs.

JDM
03-07-2011, 07:29 AM
S&W 1911 PD
Range
Multiple light primer strikes.
My gun
It was traded away after a couple weeks of this nonsense. I'm pretty sure these were induced by the way I held the gun and the grip safety. I've spoken with the new owner a couple times and he says it runs great for him. Shame too, I really liked that piece.

Glock 20
Range
Multiple failures to return to battery
My gun
Traded for a gun that fit my hand better so I wasn't limp wristing.

Colt commander
Range
Several failures to feed.
My gun
Broke in the pistol, then it ran fine until traded.

S&W M&P .45
Range
My gun
With one particular Mag if you loaded all 10 rounds, the spring would kink and it wouldn't feed. I sent one mag back to Smith and got a new one, but the same problem happened. I traded the gun with the one reliable mag in on a third Gen G19.

Suffice to say I pretty much stick with
9mm Glocks now.

gtmtnbiker98
03-07-2011, 07:30 AM
Gun: G19
Setting: AFHF
How did it fail: Improper assembly of slide stop
What was the remedy: Corrected assembly issue
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's


Gun: G34
Setting: AFHF
How did it fail: Light primer strikes
What was the remedy: Dirty striker channel, cleaned per factory spec.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's


Gun: M&P 9 Pro
Setting: Sanctioned Match
How did it fail: Failure to extract
What was the remedy: Replaced extractor and sold the POS
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

gtmtnbiker98
03-07-2011, 07:31 AM
Obviously there's a million examples that I could pop off, but here's the most recent...

Gun: SIG P226 X-Five
Setting: USPSA match
How did it fail: Multiple stove pipes
What was the remedy: N/A
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes:
Last Sunday at a USPSA match a guy had a somewhat new P226 X-Five and I counted at least five stove pipes throughout the course of the day. The guy was a big SIG fan and he was pretty bummed to say the least. I'm not sure what he did to remedy the issue, but I should see him again next week and I'll be sure to ask him.Oh, the curse of the internal extractor.

turbolag23
03-07-2011, 09:34 AM
Gun: Glock 23
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Slide locked open after every shot
What was the remedy: Installed slide lock spring properly
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: Installed #3.5 connector and didnt get the slide lock installed properly

Gun: Glock 27
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Multiple off center primer strikes
What was the remedy: work in progress, recoil spring, extractor next?
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: Purchased gun used 2-3k rounds later having multiple off center primer strikes, less frequent after recoil spring replaced, extractor looks pretty worn, will see if that fixes issues.

Frank B
03-07-2011, 10:06 AM
Gun: Glock 30
Setting: Andy Stanfords Combat Week Austria 2003
How did it fail: Broken slide-lock spring
What was the remedy: Replaced slide lock spring later / proceed with my backup G19
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine


Notes: The gun was still working, but it was really hard to rack the slide.

YVK
03-07-2011, 10:14 AM
Kimber 1911, 5 inch, external extractor model
Range.
Failures to eject.
Sent to smith, corrected, recurred at 5K rounds, traded at a loss and with full disclosure.

P7M8.
Range.
Two failures short time apart: broken firing pin bushing, broken drop catch safety spring, at approx 7.5K.
Pistol continued to fire with a broken bushing until I disassembled it. The drop safety spring prevented gun from cycling.
Repaired/replaced under HK warranty, I was/am the owner.

SW1911, 5 inch.
AHFH class.
Multiple failures to feed (fully return to battery) from a slidelock reload.
Gun wasn't mine, don't know what caused it.

Kahr, 4 inch steel model, don't know exactly the name.
John Farnam class.
Turned into a single shot, failure to extract and feed.
Not my gun, don't know the cause.

Saw another Kimber not work in a class, but wasn't close enough to know what went wrong.

mlk18
03-07-2011, 12:35 PM
Gun: Glock 22
Setting: Summer Firearms Refresher
How did it fail: Multiple varied malfunctions
What was the remedy: See below.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Department owned

Notes: 2 year old Glock 22's (approx. 3,000 rounds through each). Agency issued sidearms. Had multiple failures by multiple guns at a summer qualification. Had to replace several parts on over 90% of the guns, every gun needed a new striker assembly and guide rod / spring. We have since replaced numerous parts during routine inspection and maintenance, usually on Glock's dime. Interestingly enough our G23C's and G22C's have not had the same problems.


Gun: Ruger P89DC
Setting: Private Shooting Range
How did it fail: Extreme sub-par accuracy and approx. 10-12" off POA
What was the remedy: Returned to Ruger, they replaced with new pistol and no explanation.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

jslaker
03-07-2011, 01:03 PM
Gun: S&W Sigma Series
Setting: Georgia State DNR Range
How did it fail: FTE
What was the remedy: Return to manufacturer; extractor replaced.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Friend's father.

Notes: This gun belonged to a buddy of mine's dad. Partway through our range trip, he started experiencing constant FTEs and asked me to look at the gun. Locked the slide back, immediately saw that the extractor claw was broken off entirely. He was feeding brass cased ammo at the time, Monarch from Academy, IIRC.

Gun went off to S&W, they replaced the extractor sent it back to him.

Gun: S&W Sigma Series
Setting: Georgia State DNR Range
How did it fail: FTF
What was the remedy: Return magazines to manufacturer, replaced.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Friend's father.

Notes: Same gun as before, next range trip. He began experiencing stoppages almost out of the gate. I looked at the gun again for him, and saw that the mode of failure this time were FTFs, apparently caused by the rounds nosediving badly in the magazine during feeding. Magazines went back to S&W, and were replaced. I don't believe he had any problems after that. I do know that he remarked that he wished he'd gone ahead and spent the extra $150 or so to buy a Glock as he'd only owned the gun a few months at that point.

Pennzoil
03-07-2011, 01:22 PM
Gun: Glock 19 Gen3 (2 pin frame)
Setting: range playing with Burris Shotcam
How did it fail: Repeatable failure to feed
What was the remedy: +10% wolf magazine springs or remove 7oz Burris Shotcam
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: Got pictures and video of this one. I used multiple magazines even a new one and still had issues till I got +10% springs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoBlIviIV7w


Good thread.
Looks like I need to add a spare slide lock and slide lock spring to my spare parts kit when I go to Glockmeister this week.

BNg47
03-07-2011, 01:33 PM
Fusion Firearms Tact-5 (1911) in .40 S&W
-----------
First range visit was 710 rounds, of which roughly half were failure to feeds and failure to ejects.

Thumb safety could not be put in the "safe" position.

Slide failed to lock back on last round at least 60% of the time.

Gun was later converted to 10mm and problems were fixed by me.

TCinVA
03-07-2011, 02:09 PM
I'm not impugning anyone's integrity, but you only need to read through the 2000 round challenge thread a few times before you start to get the sense that either very few guns ever have problems, or people have selective memories when it comes to how their pistols perform.


It's true that a number of people do have selective malfunction remembrance syndrome, but if you look through that thread the majority of the pistols reported are 9mm Glocks, M&P's, and P30's...probably the three best handgun options on the market at the moment. Even at that, there are plenty of malfunctions reported.

My P30 has, so far, not experienced a malfunction of any sort. The M&P I reported in the thread has encountered problem, one failure to extract and several failures to fire (bad Russian ammo that wouldn't fire on a second strike or from another gun)...but none took place within the 2,000 round challenge period.

I'm not skeptical about what we're seeing in the 2,000 round challenge thread to this point as it's consistent with what I've seen in similar threads on other boards and overall is consistent with what I've seen on the range.

As for what I've seen break, darn near everything. I think the only weapons I have not witnessed a malfunction with are the P30 and the HK45...and I've only seen a few of those weapons in classes compared to everything else.

BWT
03-07-2011, 02:35 PM
... I don't have to look far.

DW CBOB, spurred portion of the hammer broke off and hit the ceiling. Failures to Feed from weak magazine springs, etc.

G21 Gen 3, started having light primer strikes (firing pin channel needed to be cleaned)

BCM Mid-Length AR (though, honestly, I would attribute to ammo and magazines, because the issue went away when I A) started cleaning it in appropriate interval and B) replaced all of the "problem" followers with Magpul anti-tilt), had two rounds FTF (feed, not fire), where the bullets were pushed back into the cartridge, and I've had a stuck case shooting Wolf.

My Arsenal SGL21-71 that's currently at Arsenal... haven't shot that yet, but, the safety detent wasn't milled out enough, causing it to stick to a very severe degree, the significance is that it pushes up against the dust cover and is wearing the finish off the selector. We're hoping for the best on that when it gets back. Don't know if I'd consider that reliability... Maybe it shouldn't be in the list.

I've seen FTF (Failures to Fire) from dud primers in every gun I own. (I'm not even going to mention rimfires) (Ever notice that? when someone says FTF, Is that a Failure to Feed or a Failure to Fire? How about FTE? Failure to Extract or Failure to Eject?)

Something I've learned, Warranties should be a very serious consideration when buying a firearm, every gun I've ever bought over $500 has had some "quirk" or issue that could've or has gone back to the manufacturer for.

turbolag23
03-07-2011, 02:45 PM
G21 Gen 3, started having light primer strikes (firing pin channel needed to be cleaned)



I dont want to get too far off track but what do you use to clean the firing pin channel? I've typically used a long q tip with rubbing alcohol but what do you use if there is some debris thats a little more difficult to remove?

Kyle Reese
03-07-2011, 03:34 PM
I use a Q Tip with a dash of M PRO 7 (or whatever I have on hand at the time), and ensure the channel is bone dry upon reassembly.


I dont want to get too far off track but what do you use to clean the firing pin channel? I've typically used a long q tip with rubbing alcohol but what do you use if there is some debris thats a little more difficult to remove?

Slavex
03-07-2011, 04:58 PM
Gun:CZ Shadow
Setting: Fast Fundamentals/AFHF 2010
How did it fail: Multiple Stove pipes
What was the remedy: initially a stronger extractor spring, upon proper inspection, a new extractor
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: this pistol has since done multiple 2,000 round challenges, once with no cleaning until 6,120 rounds. 100% my own fault for not noticing the extractor was broken even before attending Todd's courses.

Gun: XD 9mm
Setting: Skills and Drills
How did it fail: failure to feed, extract and eject
What was the remedy: none could be found, numerous attempts at warranty repair resulted in no improvement regardless of ammo used
Was it your pistol or someone else's: a students pistol

Notes: I have yet to see an XD go 300 rounds without failure at my weekly classes. It has also been at least 1 year since the last time I saw one at class.

3-7-77
03-07-2011, 05:23 PM
Gun: Springfield Armory XDm .40

Setting: PD Qual and Pistol Training

How did it fail: Multiple FTF, occasional double feed. In testing, I found as the slide was moving forward when cycling, the firing pin would not retract (striker not resetting in time), causing the rim of the round being fed to hang up on the exposed firing pin.

What was the remedy: Sent pistol back to SA with a description of the issue. They had it back in 3 weeks. Our officer used her G19 while it was away. She shot better with the G19 and IIRC sold the SA after it was repaired.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else.



Gun: Gen 2 Glock 17

Setting: PD Qual and Training

How did it fail: The trigger could not be pulled without extreme force.

What was the remedy: Detail strip and clean. The trigger assembly was filthy, I don't think the pistol had been broke down during 15 years of heavy use. A quick 15 minute clean and it was back up and running again.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else



Gun: Kimber TLE-RLII

Setting: PD Qual and Training

How did it fail: Multiple FTF

What was the remedy: Replace the recoil spring. This officer had logged over 15K rounds, and didn't seem to know that a recoil spring was something that should ever be changed. We replaced it with a spare spring I had (that had about 5K already logged) and that fixed the issue. Despite my urgings, I think he is still using my spare.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else



Gun: Kimber TLE-RLII (2 of them)

Setting: PD Qual and Pistol Training

How did it fail: Multiple FTE and Double feeds

What was the remedy: These were both during Kimber's external extractor days. Both pistols were returned to Kimber, who replaced the external extractors with the latest version. Both pistols came back running well.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else.



Gun: Gen 3 Glock 22 and Gen 3 Glock 27

Setting: PD Qual and Training

How did it fail: Multiple FTF

What was the remedy: Replace magazine springs and recoil springs. Both these pistols were 10+ years old and had never had the mag or recoil springs changed.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else.

beltjones
03-07-2011, 06:13 PM
Gun: Glock 17

Setting: IDPA Classifier

How did it fail: Broken trigger spring

What was the remedy: Hold the gun upside down. Seriously, that worked to reset the trigger. Otherwise he had to replace the trigger spring.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else.

Gun: Fusion Commander in .40 (1911)

Setting: Practice Range

How did it fail: The gun absolutely refused to feed anything. The rounds wouldn't even slide on to the breechface. Upon inspection, I noticed they had fitted a 9mm slide onto the frame (with a .40S&W barrel).

What was the remedy: Sent it back to Fusion, they "fixed." it.

How did it fail pt 2: The gun came back with a new slide fitted to the frame and barrel, but there was a big dished out area under the feed ramp, and it turns out the slide/frame fit was so tight that it was galling. I posted pictures to ask for help on a certain forum and was immediately banned.

What was the remedy: I sent it to Joe Chambers and he fixed it. It wasn't cheap, but it's a great gun now provided I don't try to shoot federal ammo out of it.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

Gun: Glock 34.

How did it fail: Light primer strikes.

What was the remedy: Took it apart and ran a couple of Q-Tips down the firing pin channel. It was full of oil and sludge.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's.

JonInWA
03-07-2011, 08:42 PM
I've had only a few, but they've been memorable:

1. A Walther P5C, whose mainspring strut was embedded in a polymer piece, and totally dependant upon its integrity for proper functioning (a different metal-to-metal support is employed on the larger P5). For some reason, Walther seemed absolutely compelled to use plastics that did not play well with common US solvents; the component structurally failed (crystallized and fractured) rendering the strut unsupported and the gun totally unfunctional.

Anecdotally, I heard/read someplace that the SAS insisted that the polymer part be replaced with a metal one for their P5C contract pieces.

2. A Beretta 8357 Cougar, which was totally seized up after a cumulative total of some 120 shots were fired through it during a steel plate match (with only some 6-18 rounds being fired consecutively at any given time during the evening). The gun was cleaned and lubed prior to the match, but evidentaly the lube was either insufficient or had evaporated off. I switched to Wilson's UltimaLube, with a thicker viscosity, which solved that problem, but then I ran into other chambering/ejection issues. ToddG and I had some very detailed discussions on the Couger/PX4 concept and execution; the ended up departing from my inventory (which was a shame-theoretically the rotating barrel was a great marriage with the .357 SIG cartridge, and the Cougar's ergos were actually quite good-amazingly similar to the SIG-Sauer P225 (to the point of the guns being interchangable holster-wise).

3. A CZ 75B obtained back in the day before CZ USA had the US concession; the gun repeatedly experienced mid-magazine failures, despite being sent back to the CZ vendor for inspection and repair. Whatever they did didn't catch; the problem remained.

4. Exactly the same issue as above with a CZ 83 in .380 obtained during the same period (mid 1990s as I recall). A subsequent CZ 75B and CZ 83 (in 9 X 18 Makarov) obtained from CZ once the US branch of CZ was established performed without issue.

5. A sear issue with a Browning Standard Hi-Power in .40 resulting in hammer follow; the gun was sent to Browning and repaired, but the exquisite trigger pull it had was lost in the repair process...

6. Endemic magazine issues with my SIG-Sauer P225, causing failures to chamber from the first round on a magazine relad with repeated magazines over time. Pressure over time exerted on the feed lips caused minute feed lip spreading, subtly altering the angle of the top cartridge in the magazine; that combined with the slower slide velocity when reloading from slidelock (as opposed to the higher velocity of the slide when reciprocating after firing) failed to sufficiently strip the top cartridge from the magazine, resulting in a very ugly tied-up gun, as not only did the cartridge fail to chamber, but the rear portion remained in the magazine, renedering it extremely difficult to strip the magazine out...The solution was to download long-term magazines by 1-2 cartridges, and/or rotate magagines out periodically, unloading the "resting" magazine.

7. On a Gen 2 SIG GSR XO, The plunger tube became unstaked at the rear of the tube, jamming the safety in the on-safe position, rendering the gun unfireable. SIG replaced the plunger tube (when it became unstaked, I probably had less than 2K rounds through the gun, and SIG had specifically designed the tube to be semi-enclosed in a milled trough in the receiver, to preclude exactly this sort of thing from happening)...ah well, it's a 1911...

Those are the memorable ones...the ones that occurred irrespective of preventive maintenance (or more correctly, in spite of or before scheduled PM of specific components).

All of the above guns were mine, with the issues occurring with me personally. All the guns weere obtained by me brand new, with the exception of the Walther P5C, which I obtained used, but it appeared to have been very lightly used prior to my getting it.

Best, Jon

JodyH
03-07-2011, 10:02 PM
I RO in IPSC/IDPA.
I've seen everything fail.
The worst offenders have been 1911's and XD's.

As for my personal "failures":
My Gen 2 Glock 17 chipped the extractor at around 100k rounds which caused constant double feeds, that is the only one I can remember being a catastrophic failure.

jslaker
03-07-2011, 10:30 PM
The worst offenders have been 1911's and XD's.

Sometimes I hate confirmation bias for being accurate.

BWT
03-07-2011, 11:19 PM
I dont want to get too far off track but what do you use to clean the firing pin channel? I've typically used a long q tip with rubbing alcohol but what do you use if there is some debris thats a little more difficult to remove?

Tooth pick/paper clip.

I haven't found a way I'm really happy to use to clean the firing pin channel in any gun... Normally I wet a cleaning patch in solvent and kind of push it in there with a toothpick or paper clip, (in pistols anyway) and then I push it out, and then I run dry patches and rinse, some, let the slide dry, oil and reassemble.

That's what I've found to be the best system... I'm honestly curious what other people are doing?

Maybe a Dental pick might not be a bad idea? I don't think there are any piper cleaners that are small enough or stiff enough to clean carbon. It's just a hard place to clean, honestly.

BigT
03-08-2011, 12:24 AM
I dont want to get too far off track but what do you use to clean the firing pin channel? I've typically used a long q tip with rubbing alcohol but what do you use if there is some debris thats a little more difficult to remove?

I've always used a Q tip dipped in Methelated Spirits or something similar that will evaporate fast.

JSGlock34
03-08-2011, 10:20 PM
Gun: Smith and Wesson 1911
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Magazine release cracked in half
What was the remedy: Replace magazine release
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: In the middle of a 'Bill Drill' the magazine fell right out the pistol. I figured that I hadn't properly seated the magazine when I loaded that it must have worked loose under recoil. I reloaded, fired one round and then that magazine dropped to the ground. I stopped and inspected the pistol, realizing that the magazine release was no longer exhibiting tension. Turning the pistol on its side, half of the magazine release fell right out of the pistol, the other half still being retained by the retaining screw. It had cracked in half. I found this surprising as I wouldn't consider the magazine release a high stress or wear part.

A quick call to S&W resulted in the immediate shipment of a replacement part under their lifetime warranty. But having experienced an example of 'bad MIM', I replaced the part with an Ed Brown model and had no additional problems.

jthhapkido
03-09-2011, 12:57 PM
Last Sunday at a USPSA match a guy had a somewhat new P226 X-Five and I counted at least five stove pipes throughout the course of the day. The guy was a big SIG fan and he was pretty bummed to say the least. I'm not sure what he did to remedy the issue, but I should see him again next week and I'll be sure to ask him.

Shooting really light reloads?

DonovanM
03-11-2011, 04:27 PM
Just in the past 2 weeks...

Gun: Glock 34 Gen3
Setting: USPSA match weekend before last
How did it fail: Striker spring broke, FTF every round
What was the remedy: Replaced spring, good as new
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: SIG P226ST
Setting: USPSA matches, happened last weekend and weekend before
How did it fail: FTFeed. Rounds stopped feeding in the magazine. Picked up mag, rounds were stuck about midway up, follower was lodged somehow.
What was the remedy: First time, I hit it really hard which dislodged the follower, emptied it, cleaned it. 2nd time it happened, I threw the mag in my ammo box and marked it with a silver sharpie. It might have just gotten dirty, but I cleaned it after dropping it in the mud each time, and the rounds all chamber checked fine. I set it aside for now and will test it further. I would just buy a new magazine, but I can't afford one.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Colt XSE Railed 1911
Setting: USPSA match
How did it fail: FTFeed
What was the remedy: http://gunnuts.net/2011/03/07/1911-reliability/ http://gunnuts.net/2011/03/07/uspsa-match-video-colt-1911-rail-gun/
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Longhorn
03-12-2011, 09:27 PM
Gun: M&P40
Setting: Dept Qualification practice
How did it fail: FTFeed
What was the remedy: See post
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

We had an invitation by our Academy LT to come out and run some drills while the Reserves were out qualifying, and I'm never one to pass up shooting the Counties ammo...

Went out, ran some drills with Federal 180gr FMJs then moved over to the covered range and had to switch to their frangible ammo.

Do some basic stuff, then move onto the qualification string. Get some rounds put downrange then click instead of bang. This was the 2nd time I had shot the gun, and first with frangible so I just T.R.B'd it, then 1-2 more shots and another failure. Grab my other mag, insert and proceed to shoot some more and another failure. Total of 3 failures on this string.

Shot some more FMJs later that day, and all were flawless (thru 4 separate mags) as were the 174 rounds I put through last weekend.

Overall, it feeds what "I" train with. The frangible is S.O. ammo and I only have to use that on 1 range. Hell, I still qualified without counting the 3 failures...;)

MattInFla
03-13-2011, 06:08 PM
Gun: S&W 686
Setting: IDPA Match
Issue: Failure to fire (multiple)
Remedy: Return to shop for new mainspring.
Owner: Someone else

While SSO on a stage, I was running a revolver shooter through a stage. She had just gotten the gun back from the gunsmith, and it repeatedly failed to fire with light primer strikes.

SecondsCount
03-13-2011, 07:25 PM
Gun: S&W 686
... She had just gotten the gun back from the gunsmith, and it repeatedly failed to fire with light primer strikes.
Gunsmith probably put a light spring in it. Most of the guys that I shoot with that run S&W trigger jobs with light springs reload with Federal primers and the guns seem to run fine.

MattInFla
03-13-2011, 07:38 PM
Gunsmith probably put a light spring in it. Most of the guys that I shoot with that run S&W trigger jobs with light springs reload with Federal primers and the guns seem to run fine.

Yeah, she had specific reloads for it, but the smith had taken it just a smidge too far to the light side on the spring.

Matt

SEV
03-15-2011, 10:32 PM
Gun: S&W M&P 9
Setting: Indoor IDPA match
How did it fail:FTE, Multiple times, Stove pipe
What was the remedy:Cleaning
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Just as a note,this pistol became one of my little experiments. I carried this gun everywhere with me, acres of mowing, yard work, tree planting, hay bails and horses. So this gun of mine starts growing fur inside of it, and it was nasty. All I fired through it was cheep factory ammo. I got 6000 rounds down the pipe with out a cleaning or lube and with zero failures. Somewhere between 6000 and 6200 rounds, it started to hick-up. After a good cleaning and a little love, the only thing I needed to replace was the firing pin spring because of lite primer strikes. I have had no problems with this gun and I am between 8500 and 9000 rounds through it.

atmiller
03-18-2011, 01:56 PM
Gun: Beretta Neos
Setting: woods behind house
How did it fail: trigger did not reset after firing
What was the remedy: sent back to Beretta to fix. They did not reimburse me for shipping, although it was a brand new gun
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: As stated, this was a brand new gun, and occurred on the 5th shot. Beretta fixed the problem, but they should have reimbursed my shipping costs.

atmiller
03-18-2011, 01:57 PM
Majority of my failures have been ammo induced, either from reloads, or bulk pack .22s.

MattInFla
03-18-2011, 02:19 PM
Gun: First Generation Glock 21
Setting: Range
Malfunction: Multiple FTFs
Remedy: changed ammo
Whose gun: mine

Had a Glock 21 that absolutely hated Blazer aluminum cased ammo. Failed to feed at least once or twice a box. Using brass cased ammo, though, it was reliable as a hammer.

TR675
03-18-2011, 03:47 PM
Gun: M&P40 (MPA serial #)
Setting: Multiple range sessions
How did it fail: FTF due to light primer strikes; slide locks back randomly in middle of magazine, slide fails to lock back randomly on empty mag
What was the remedy: S&W replaced striker assembly; slide lock problems were noticed after pistol's return and have been remedied by switching to an M&P 9mm.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: M&P9
Setting: Tom Givens/Rangemaster Instructor Certification Class
How did it fail: failure to return to battery
What was the remedy: switched to a magazine that was not full of Oklahoma red dirt
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

For the M&P 9, the mag the gun choked on was so full of dirt that rounds were bound up in the middle of the magazine and the follower would not rise. So the fact that it worked for as long as it did was actually pretty impressive.

Gun: lightly customized Colt Defender
Setting: range practice session
How did it fail: the last unfired round in each magazine was stripped out of the mag at such high velocity it ricocheted off the feed ramp and stuck in the ejection port bullet up. This was consistent and repeatable.
What was the remedy: put the pistol in the gun safe, pretend I have better taste in defensive guns
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

RikWriter
03-18-2011, 05:51 PM
Smith and Wesson 4506
Malfunction: Wouldn't cycle with +P loads.
Solution: Replaced the spring.

Beretta Tomcat 32ACP
Malfunction: Repeated FTF and FTEs.
Solution: Got rid of it.

Glock 17
Malfunction: Wouldn't strike the primers of Egyptian surplus 9mm with sufficient force to ignite them. My friend's HK P7M13 fired them just fine.
Solution: Didn't use Eqyptian surplus 9mm anymore.

Smith and Wesson 442 Airweight Centennial 38 Special
Malfunction: Cylinder jammed up due to fouling.
Solution: Disassembled and cleaned it thoroughly.

Smith and Wesson 686 .357 Magnum
Malfunction: Cylinder out of time, jammed up.
Solution: Had a local smith fix it.

Kimber Classic Stainless 45ACP
Malfunction: Numerous FTFs and FTEs with some sort of cheap, off-brand ammo...something like USA ammo or something like that.
Solution: Didn't buy any more of that ammo.

CZ75 9mm
Malfunction: Numerous FTEs from a friend's full-size 9mm.
Solution: He got rid of it.

turbolag23
04-04-2011, 12:19 PM
Had my 19c fail to return to battery, slide was stuck on the round (wwb 100rd pack) removed to find this. would you blame the ammo or the gun?

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab259/CWPspeed3/19c/DSC_8417.jpg

JV_
04-04-2011, 12:36 PM
Ammo. I've seen the same from my Federal 124 AE.

JonInWA
04-04-2011, 02:39 PM
In my last box of WWB 9mm Value Pack, there was one round where the bullet was reversed in the cartridge case; I guess it could be considered a 9mm wadcutter...

Needless to say, the round was not fired.

Best, Jon

JHC
04-04-2011, 03:28 PM
Reaching back decades for some:

Detonics combat master (snub .45) - fed 185 JHP but not hardball reliably
Star PD - fed ok but I shot it too much. Wasn't made for that pounding. Went to hell.
Colt Detective Special x 2: owned two of them that went out of time within 1000 rounds of DA shooting.
Taurus .41 magnum snub: even with mid-range loads, it couldn't hold lock up and the cyclinder would spin/skip in DA fire.
Glock 20: even with clean dry striker channel, had occassional light primer hit. Not 100% confident in the ammo however, always happend with GA Arms ammo I don't use anymore if it's offered free.

orionz06
04-05-2011, 07:04 AM
HK P30 with a bunch of letters at the end.

Normal string of fire with Federal AE FMJ's, just at random. No other known issues with the gun, less than 2 cases through it.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/orionz06/b1b9fa77.jpg

nwhpfan
04-05-2011, 11:39 PM
Gun: Kimber TLE 5"
Setting: Indoor Range
How did it fail: At least 1 in every 25 rounds-Failure to return to battery, failure to eject-round tilted towards the ejection port-still hooked on the extractor.
What was the remedy: Bought a USP 45 (seriously- long saga with Kimber, they sent me a new pistol and I sold it without firing it.)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.
Notes:

davebee456
04-11-2011, 11:42 PM
Sig P226R Brand New To Me...Within 100 Rounds Extractor fell out at range causing Double feed jam rendering the gun useless traded it at a loss for a Glock 26OD.

XD45 Had at least 4 Failure to Feed's in the first 100 rounds..Sold It.

Kel Tec P3AT Jammed every other shot..Paper Weight.

Dan Wesson CBOB 1911 would fail at least once every 100 rounds a FTF a FTE etc even after trips to factory.

Glock 30SF had several FTRB fails for me brand new in 200 rounds traded it in on a M&P45 I am testing now at my local range.

thats about it.

steve
04-12-2011, 09:31 AM
Gun: P239 9mm
Setting: Qualification
How did it fail: Continuous Feed Problems
What was the remedy: Swap out bad magazine (Magazine was new)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: P226 .40
Setting: Qualification
How did it fail: Failure to Extract
What was the remedy: Worked itself out
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Gen417 non-counter-bore
Setting: Plinking
How did it fail: Stovepipe
What was the remedy: Read the internet and see it wasn't my limp wrists
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Colt 1991 .45
Setting: Plinking
How did it fail: Feed issues after I monkeyed with the gun to make it better
What was the remedy: Took off aftermarket parts and ran stock
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

MikeO
05-07-2011, 12:39 AM
Gun: issued M15 (S&W .38)
Setting: USAF range
Failure: Cylinder would not rotate
Remedy: pistol replaced


Gun: various issued M1911A1s (USAF GI and Match Pistols)
Setting: USAF ranges
Failure: Minor parts breakage (bushings, firing pin stops, links)
Remedy: parts replaced

Gun: issued M9
Setting: USAF range
Failure: extractor chipped
Remedy: part replaced
Note: Pistol was fired about 200 rounds a day for 5 days. On day 3 noticed rounds were not ejecting normally, just kinda dropping to right, but continued to function for >600 rounds.

Gun: new HK P30
Setting: private range
Failure: numerous FTF w variety of ammo
Remedy: traded away w full disclosure

Gun: oooold S&W Sigma 380
Setting: private range
Failure: frame cracked
Remedy: S&W replaced free under warranty w new M908 9mm

There are waaay more, but my fingers are tired...

orionz06
06-27-2011, 11:34 AM
Gun: S&W M&P fullsize 9mm with Apex DCAEK and competition striker spring. Polished internals.
Setting: Long distance shooting
How did it fail: Failure to reset, over 10 of them. 2 instances in the prior weeks. To be objective, let's call it 15.
What was the remedy: The dog leg on the trigger bar had closed up, the solution was to open it.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

Notes:

One of the things that I had been monitoring was the little ear/dog leg on the trigger bar. For some reason I neglected checking it long enough for it to close up and cause failures. The end solution was opening the gap up to a known good dimension from the past. Based on the frequency of failures compared to now after fixing it I am certain that it is resolved. I am seeking a spare trigger bar to modify permanently so it will not close.

SecondsCount
06-27-2011, 11:43 AM
.....

One of the things that I had been monitoring was the little ear/dog leg on the trigger bar. For some reason I neglected checking it long enough for it to close up and cause failures. The end solution was opening the gap up to a known good dimension from the past. Based on the frequency of failures compared to now after fixing it I am certain that it is resolved. I am seeking a spare trigger bar to modify permanently so it will not close.
Those trigger bars are typically pretty tough. If yours moved at all during use then it either came from the factory soft or it has gotten soft from being previously bent. A replacement bar would definitely be in order.

orionz06
06-27-2011, 11:44 AM
Not sure, but I am gonna try to get one and weld the loop closed.

ranburr
06-27-2011, 02:49 PM
Gun: Ruger Redhawk 357 mag
Setting: Casual range shooting
Failure: blew up in my hand on round number six
Fix: sent it back to Ruger
My pistol, have talked to three other people over the yrs that had this happen with this model. All had flawed castings.

Gun: M&P 9mm
Setting: Numerous ranges
Failure: Numerous strikers broken and extraction issues.
Fix: Replaced parts and worked over by Dan Burwell
My personal pistol, still have no confidence in the gun.

Gun: Custom 1911
Setting: Range
Failure: Swinging link worked it's self apart.
Fix: Took a punch and hammered a divot into it
My personal pistol

Gun: M16A2
Setting: Deployment Range
Failure: Double Feed
Fix: Immediate action drill followed by a trip o armorer
Issued weapon.


I don't know of any brand or model that I have not seen go down at some point. Most guns today seem to work pretty well out of the box. I am bad about customizing everything I own. But, I try to send my stuff to the better gunsmiths that specialize in a particular platform. Eddie Jimemea does my 1911 work, Jim Miossi does my CZ work, and Scott Springer does my XD work. I don't have issues with any guns these guys work over.

Mitchell, Esq.
06-27-2011, 10:00 PM
Gun: S&W M-49 J frame
Setting: Range
Failure: Broken hand spring
Fix: gunsmith - revolvers go down HARD
Mine

orionz06
07-20-2011, 11:41 AM
Gun: S&W M&P fullsize 9mm with Apex DCAEK and competition striker spring. Polished internals.
Setting: Long distance shooting
How did it fail: Failure to reset, over 10 of them. 2 instances in the prior weeks. To be objective, let's call it 15.
What was the remedy: The dog leg on the trigger bar had closed up, the solution was to open it.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

Notes:

One of the things that I had been monitoring was the little ear/dog leg on the trigger bar. For some reason I neglected checking it long enough for it to close up and cause failures. The end solution was opening the gap up to a known good dimension from the past. Based on the frequency of failures compared to now after fixing it I am certain that it is resolved. I am seeking a spare trigger bar to modify permanently so it will not close.

It now fails most every time, even dry fire. When I hold the trigger to the rear it will not reset, when I let it go forward it will reset. This indicates to me that the trigger bar geometry might be way outta whack. I will order a replacement and take the chance to respring the trigger anyway.

I did manage to get 300-500 trouble free rounds out since the trigger bar adjustment. I then experienced what I can only conclude to be light strikes as I do not recall a dead trigger or a failure to fire, just that I tap-racked. Later in the day I accounted for every unfired round that came out of the gun. The same ammo had a FTF in another gun, in addition another user of this forum experienced a FTF from recent production ammo of the same make.

This caused me to tweak the bar a bit and I think I may have overdone it a little. Update this evening when I dismantle it and compare it to my working M&P's.

1986s4
07-21-2011, 09:49 AM
Gun: Steyr M9
Setting: Everywhere I used it
How did it fail: FTE
What was the remedy: sent to Steyr twice with no joy, sold with full disclosure
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Armalite AR-24 9mm
Setting: Range break in
How did it fail: FTE
What was the remedy: sent to Armalite twice, came back first time looking like a used gun, finished polished off all over. Still didn't work so back it went. Armalite admitted they knew nothing about pistols. Sent me a new one which I sold immediately w/o firing
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: HK USPc .45
Setting: Range training, IDPA matches
How did it fail: FTE and refusal to accept full 8 round mag with slide closed/down
What was the remedy: Sent to HK twice. They replaced the extractor which did not cure FTE. Mags still refused to be seated full. Sold with full disclosure.
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine

Gun: These were Khan G17 mags
Setting: IDPA match
How did it fail: Competitor had three of these mags fail in the same way during same stage; base plate failed, ammo, springs etc, all over ground.
What was the remedy: Use real Glock mags!
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else

Josh Runkle
07-22-2011, 02:26 AM
I think I've seen most everything fail at some point...I am simply reviewing this one since it is very new to the market, and many people have not shot it yet.

Gun: Sig P290
Setting: Indoor Range, Blackwing Shooting Center, Delaware Ohio
How did it fail: Failure to go into battery with factory American Eagle 115g ammo.
What was the remedy: Tap, Rack!
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Range Gun. Chief Range Safety Officer said there were only approximately 200 rds through the gun prior to my usage.

Notes: I rented the firearm simply to do a quick mental note of features/function in case any students asked me about it. I was excited about it when it came out, and was largely unimpressed shooting it. Accuracy was incredible, ergonomics for my hands were terrible (though they might be great for someone else). Function was terrible. Round #5 was a failure to feed/failure to go into battery (at first I thought it was a failure to go into battery, then it appeared to be a failure to feed). I loaded 5 rounds into a 6 round magazine, and planned to shoot 100-150 rounds through it (I was also shooting a few other guns that day). Round number 4 fed in nearly all of the way, but was caught in what appeared to be too steep of a feeding angle (like some 1911's and various other guns). It also appeared to be caught on part of the right side of the chamber. While it was a failure to feed, the round is a common factory round and was inspected before usage. The firearm was nearly in battery, and I am going to call failure to go into battery on this one, even though it appears to be a ftf. I stopped at 5 rounds and was done with the gun immediately. Obviously, if I owned it, I would have put at least another 2,000 rounds through it, and it is very possible that it would have functioned flawlessly the next 1,995 rounds (though I doubt it). As I had other stuff to shoot for the day, I just gave up on it and moved on. Any problems in the first mag on a gun that hasn't been shot a lot tend to make you lose confidence very quickly. For an "official" review, I wish I had shot it more to give something more defined. Anyone else had problems or positive function with this gun yet?

Andy T
07-22-2011, 02:25 PM
Gun: Glock 26 with ~ 3000 rounds through it
Setting: Range practice
How did it fail:
During reloads with the slide locked back, if closing the slide with the slide stop, I would experience 100% FTF on the first round.
If sling shooting the slide, the gun would work ok.
Remedy: Replace recoil spring
Whose gun: Mine

Tamara
07-22-2011, 06:01 PM
Oh, I can contribute a bunch to this thread...

Gun: Glock 31
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Lower barrel lug sheared.
What was the remedy: Send pistol back to Glock.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: It was the store's.

Gun: SIG P-228
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Roll pin sheared, causing the breechblock to bow like a banana and crack at the midpoint.
What was the remedy: Send pistol back to SIG.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: It was the store's.

Gun: Walther P-22
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Slide suffered catastrophic failure at rear of front cocking serrations, allowing the ass end of the slide to fly into the customer's teeth.
What was the remedy: Send pistol back to S&W. Apologize profusely to customer. Pray that they don't sue.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: It was the store's.

There's an assload more where these came from, not even counting the other P-22s... :p

Tamara
07-22-2011, 06:07 PM
Gun: Springfield Armory Custom Shop PX9111 Professional Model
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Crappy oversized "A-Merc" 230gr ball jammed gun up tighter than Dick's hatband trying to be forced into match chamber.
What was the remedy: Used rubber mallet to beat slide on $2400 pistol open because customer had tried to save $3/box on ammo.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Customer's gun.

Tamara
09-29-2011, 01:35 PM
Oh, forgot this one from when I was down in TN a couple weeks ago:

Gun: Charter Arms Undercover
Setting: Indoor range
Issue: Apparently "5 or 6 grains of Red Dot, I think" is a bit much for a small-frame Charter .38. Or any .38, for that matter.
Remedy: Put all pieces of gun that could be found into box.
Owner: That guy over there with the stitches in his hand.

pdb
09-29-2011, 03:52 PM
Gun: EAA Witness .45 steel frame, full size
Setting: Plinking in the woods.
How did it fail: Failure to feed.
What was the remedy: Switched back to ball ammo from Winchester SXT 230gr JHPs.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine, even though I'm embarrassed as hell about it.

Gun: Norinco 1911A1
Setting: Plinking in the woods
How did it fail: Failure to feed
What was the remedy: Switched back to ball ammo from Winchester Silvertips. It's liked everything else so far.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: H&K USP40F
Setting: Range plinking
How did it fail: Failure to feed
What was the remedy: Switched to a different brand of ammo other than Federal JHPs.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone elses.

Gun: Parts bin AR-15
Setting: 2 day carbine class
How did it fail: Failure to eject
What was the remedy: Remove magazine, remove 31st round from a 30 round PMAG, note how smoothly everything works now.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

WDW
09-29-2011, 05:54 PM
Gun: Colt Defender 9mm
Setting: Indoor Range
How did it fail: Fired out of battery
What was the remedy: I gave it back from whence it came

I was @ my LGS and my friend who works there hands me a Colt Defender 9mm & a box of ammo. He says go try it out. I would never carry such a bastard, but I figured it would be fun to shoot. I got 4 rds off and on the 5th it fired out of battery and the case exploded in my face, burning me pretty good. The gun FTE and was locked up pretty good. I cleared it and put it back upstairs, swearing off the platform forever.

Kyle Reese
09-29-2011, 09:52 PM
Gun: Glock 17 Gen 3
Setting: Indoor Range
How did it fail: Failure to extract
What was the remedy: Immediate action

The weapon in question is my stalwart Gen 3 Glock 17, cleaned, lubed with Slide Glide and unfired since being cleaned last Sunday. The malfunction occurred tonight at the NRA Range. Ammunition used was Federal Champion 9mm. Malfunction took place at round #4.

I fired 100 rds of Aguila 124 grain FMJ and 100 rds of Federal American Eagle 124 with no issues.

JConn
09-29-2011, 11:10 PM
cleaned

Well there's your problem :cool:

orionz06
10-07-2011, 07:53 AM
Gun:M&P9
Setting: Super Dave class
How did it fail: FTF due to mud in the gun
What was the remedy: Cleaned the mud out.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: M&P9
Setting: Super Dave class
How did it fail: Front sight slid out of the dovetail
What was the remedy:Grabbed my Glock short term. Measure both slide and sight, replace out of spec part, peen in place.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: G17 RTF2
Setting: Super Dave class
How did it fail:Multiple Failures to return to battery due to mud and grit.
What was the remedy: Hosed it out.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Nephrology
10-10-2011, 08:31 AM
I'll just stick with mine, and the ones that were exclusively equipment related (i.e. not shooter induced)

Gun: Gen3 G17 RTF
Setting: Multiple range trips
How did it fail: Failure to return to battery
What was the remedy: Properly reinstalled firing pin plunger safety - I had not properly affixed the firing pin plunger safety spring to the safetyplunger, resulting in excessive tension on the trigger bar. Flawless since.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Gen3 G21
Setting: Multiple range trips
How did it fail: Light strikes
What was the remedy: Not sure, never did anything about it and sold it. It was to be fair mostly with reloaded ammo whose primers might not have been well seated.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Tanfoglio TZ-75
Setting: Multiple range trips
How did it fail: Constant FTE and FTF
What was the remedy: Sold it, fuck that gun. New mag might've helped though.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

guymontag
10-18-2011, 09:31 PM
I'll list all the malfunctions I've encountered.

Gun: Glock 17 & Glock 19
Setting: Local Range
How did it fail:1 Failure to Eject (Each pistol only exhibited one occurrence)
What was the remedy: TRB
Ownership: Family member's pistols
Notes: I've shot around ~250 rounds each through these pistols. These failures were shooter induced, via "limp wrist", however I thought I'd include them.

Gun: CZ-75B
Setting: Local Range
How did it fail: 4 Failures to Eject (Blazer Aluminum Cased), 1 Failure to Eject (Wolf), 2 Failures to Fire (Tula)
What was the remedy: TRB
Ownership: My pistol
Notes: I'm nearing 4K rounds on this particular pistol. One 50 round box of Blazer Aluminum yielded the 4 FTE and after research I discovered the standard CZ extractor spring abhors aluminum cases; the touted solution is the stronger Wolff offering. The diminishing availability/increasing price of Blazer Aluminum led me to keep the CZ stock. The failures with the Tula (one 50 round box) were interesting. After collecting the spent steel cases I noticed deep and consistent primer strikes. One of the two FTF rounds ignited with a second strike, the other did not. I dropped the hammer on the latter four total times, completely crushing the primer. I shot 200 rounds of Tula around four weeks later, uneventfully. I'm partial to the pistol ergo I only hold 5 malfunctions against it; for better or worse.

Gun: Rock Island Armory M1911 GI
Setting: Local Range
How did it fail: ~10 Failures to Feed
What was the remedy: Process of Elimination - Magazines, Ammo
Ownership: My pistol
Notes: The majority of these failures occurred within the first 300 rounds, and after discarding the stock ACT magazines and purchasing Checkmate magazines, the problems dispelled. It's digested over 1K rounds, however I did experience a few additional failures to feed from Speer hollow points.

Gun: Browning Buckmark
Setting: Local Range
How did it fail: 15 Failures to Feed/Three Point Jam
What was the remedy: Different Ammo and Firearm Maintenance
Ownership: My pistol
Notes: I've recently gone over 3K rounds with this pistol. 14 of the 15 failures to feed were Remington Golden Bullets (bulk), the remaining 1 failure was Federal Automatch. I've ceased using Remington GB, but I think a loose sight base (which secures the slide) exacerbates the issue. I've now applied teflon tape to the screws and used nail polish as an adhesive for the lock washers. I've had a few dud rounds and a few low powered rounds but I won't expound on those.

I'll see if I can remember any others.

Pennzoil
12-09-2011, 03:46 PM
Gun: Walther P22 made in 2004
Setting: normal range trip plinking
How did it fail: Slide cracked and front half fell off
What was the remedy: New slide on order
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Wife's

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/9848/waltherslide.jpg

ToddG
12-09-2011, 09:21 PM
Ouch! Hope no one was hurt, Pen!

farscott
12-10-2011, 09:45 AM
I have a few.

1) Gun: Colt Government Model
Setting: My outdoor range
How did it fail: Mag catch failed, dropping magazine on the ground. May have been exacerbated by many "Tap, Rack, Bang" drills.
What was the remedy: Swap to another pistol. Fit new catch.
Ownership: My pistol

2) Gun: Sig P220
Setting: My outdoor range
How did it fail: Multiple failures to feed with multiple 230-grain loads narrowed down to one magazine
What was the remedy: New magazine spring
Ownership: My pistol

3) Gun: Series '70 Colt Government Model smithed by Robar with Roguard upper and NP3 lower.
Setting: Local sheriff's range
How did it fail: Suddenly grouped to the far left when starting a new class portion
Remedy: Used a Glock 17 for the rest of class. Drifted sight back into position, cleaned set screw, applied thread locker. I guess I moved the sight when I was rolling around on the ground during another portion of the class. Gun is no longer a carry gun.
Ownership: My pistol

Pennzoil
12-10-2011, 12:27 PM
Ouch! Hope no one was hurt, Pen!

No one got hurt luckly. The target 7yrds down range had metal stuck in it at eye level even though the slide looks like a clean break. We didn't feel anything come back at us and had eye protection on as always.

The wife had a good chance at catching a slide in the face as the slide returned to battery with round in the chamber and the front sight actually stayed on the slide portion that was attached to the gun so it wasn't really visually apparent to the wife that she lost part of her gun. When I was clearing the gun the slide came off the rear of the gun with ease and to me it looked like every thing was in place for the pistol to fire again which probably would of been a disaster.

My wife doesn't get the range much so she had my undivided attention for a change and I said cease fire as she was stopping anyway to inspect the gun due noticing the gun felt different.

mizer67
12-10-2011, 07:37 PM
1.) Gun: M&P 9mm Full Size
Setting: Outdoor Range, Randy Cain class
How did it fail: FTRBs, Rear sight shook loose, dead trigger
Remedy: Replaced RSA, replaced rear sight; used red loctite and peened in place, replaced sear spring and sear housing block; used Apex extra powered sear spring
Ownership: My gun

2.) Gun: M&P 40 Full Size
Setting: Outdoor Range, Competition
How did it fail: Light primer strikes, broken striker, broken slide stop, broken trigger spring
Remedy: Replaced striker spring with extra power spring, replaced broken parts
Ownership: My gun

3.) Gun: M&P 9mm Pro 5"
Setting: Outdoor Range
How did it fail: Rear sight shook loose, large number of light primer strikes, F2 Feeds (1 bad magazine)
Remedy: Sent gun back to S&W where they replaced the striker, striker block, offending magazine and rear sight
Ownership: My gun

4.) Gun: Glock 17 Gen4
Setting: Outdoor Range
How did it fail: Multiple stovepipes, broken slide stop
Remedy: Sent it to Glock. Extractor and ejector were replaced with new 30274 ejector. Replaced the broken slide stop.
Ownership: My gun

45R
12-12-2011, 01:13 AM
Gun: SIG P220C
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail: Failure to Extract
What was the remedy: Sent back to Sig. They polished up the feed ramp
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine


Gun: SIG GSR 1911
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail: Failure to Fire/ Failure to Extract
What was the remedy: Sig took the pistol back after 3 failures to repair the gun.
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine


Gun: SIG P229 40SW
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail: Failure to Fire
What was the remedy: Firing pin replaced.
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine

Gun:Kimber 1911
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail:Failure to Extract with non US ammo
What was the remedy: Shoot US made ball
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine


Gun: Kimber 1911
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail: American Eagle ammo was loaded too hot. After the superhot round went off, gun stopped working
What was the remedy:Kimber sent back to factory
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Range gun

Gun: XD9C
Setting: Regular use front sights drifted loose.
What was remedy: Sell the POS. :)
My Pistol.

Gun: Glock 17
Setting: TD2 of Carbine course
How did it fail: Failure to Extract with CCI Blazer Ammo
What was the remedy: Grab slide and "punched" the handle to eject offender. Only failure this gun has ever seen.
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine


Gun: Ruger MKII and Ruger 10/22
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail: Failure to extract (chronic)
What was the remedy: Ruger sent replacement extractors. They had a bad batch for a little while so I ended up buying a aftermarket extractors. Problem Solved.
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Mine

Gun: Beretta 96
Setting: Regular Day at the range
How did it fail: Slide Stop broke while shooting
What was the remedy: Replace part
Was it your pistol or someone else's:Friend

Pennzoil
02-03-2012, 01:31 PM
Gun: S&W M&P 9mm FS
Setting: normal range trip/Drills happened during DOTW 18 Draw & Reloads
How did it fail: right side of slide release cracked casing failure to lock back on empty magazine
What was the remedy: break off right side and will replace with new part
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Second time I've broken a slide release on this pistol in the same location. I keep spares now but not sure if I'll replace it right away as I don't use the right side ever. After breaking off the slide release the pistol ran fine.

I holstered up after the reload drill when I had a failure to lock back and pick up my magazine on the deck. When I went to remove the pistol back at the bench to inspect it was stuck in my Shaggy holster with the slide release bent out wedged against the shaggy wedge.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4480/slidestop3.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6881/slidestop2.jpg
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9857/slidestop1.jpg

bdcheung
02-03-2012, 01:39 PM
That's pretty nuts, but it's not the first time I've heard of that part failing.

How do you normally release the slide from slidelock?

Are you a righty or a lefty?

Pennzoil
02-03-2012, 01:44 PM
That's pretty nuts, but it's not the first time I've heard of that part failing.

How do you normally release the slide from slidelock?

Are you a righty or a lefty?

I'm left handed but shoot right handed :p I use the left side slide release from slidelock. I never use the side that broke which is why the finish looks like new on that side.

bdcheung
02-03-2012, 01:49 PM
I'm left handed but shoot right handed

freak.

;)

The other times I've read about the right-side slide release lever breaking off, it was with lefties who used the slide release lever to put the gun in battery from slidelock. My personal theory is that there's some torquing going on, as the slide catch is located on the left-side and depressing on the right-side is asking a rather thin metal part to transfer all the force to the opposite side of the slide.

I was always taught to release the slide by racking it, not using the slide release, to minimize problems like this.

But in your case that doesn't sound like the likely cause.

On the flip side, I've been told that the M&P will function fine with only half a slide release assembly (so long as it's the left side that is intact).

shootist26
02-03-2012, 02:42 PM
Gun: Para Ordnance compact 1911 (forget the exact model)
Setting: intro to IDPA class taught at local club
How did it fail:
-multiple failure to return to battery and failures to eject. One failure locked up the gun so bad the slide had to be taken off with a round still in the chamber (don't ask me how that happened) because they could not retract it. Weapon had 7 or 8 failures in a 200 round class:rolleyes:
What was the remedy: ??
Was it your pistol or someone else's: somebody else's thank god

ExMachina
02-14-2012, 08:51 PM
Gun: Smith & Wesson revolver (model unknown)

Setting: CHP Qualification

How did it fail: something broke...on the inside...

What was the remedy: it was dead-in-the-water; guy had to borrow someone else's gun to complete the qualification

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's



Gun: another Smith & Wesson revolver

Setting: CHP Qualification

How did it fail: bbl/cylinder gap was too tight and gun locked up after 10-15 rounds

What was the remedy: guy had to borrow someone else's gun to complete the qualification

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's


These both occurred at the same qualifying event. Best part was that the day before, on day one of the course, the instructor told everybody that revolvers could not fail and that an autoloader were an accident waiting to happen...woops!

Sin-ster
02-15-2012, 05:32 AM
If I had to list them all, it'd take an entire page...

So the "breakage" highlights, of pistols specifically (and not mags or other firearms), from the past 8-10 months...

Gun: FNX-40 two tone.

Setting: Indoor public range.

How did it fail: Case head separation -----> blown extractor, dumped mag guts, slide rail lifted out of the frame, trigger group dislodged, locking block pulled up, takedown lever contorted, polymer frame cracked something fierce. (Tula ammo-- maybe 10 rounds after the guy was talking about how awesome it was.)

What was the remedy: Helped gunsmith to remove slide and extract broken shell; extractor never located; instructed the owner to send the pistol back to FN, and do their best to leave out what ammo they were using. No follow up.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's.

Notes: More of an ammo failure than the gun, but the damage to the pistol was surprisingly extensive, having seen the same happen in other firearms without nearly as much destruction.



Gun: PMR 30

Setting: Same range, different day.

How did it fail: Out of battery ignition.

What was the remedy: Gun was sent back; returned with entirely new top end. Had the same malfunction within 500 rounds. Returned again, sold with full disclosure.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's.

Notes: Still kinks to iron out of a mag-fed .22 WMR pistol design. Sucks, too-- they're fun to shoot.



Gun: Taurus PT-1911

Setting: Same range, another different day.

How did it fail: Multiple FTE and FTF reported by owner; verified by my own hand. Gun was literally spitting chunks (not flecks) of metal.

What was the remedy: Stripped and cleaned of the massive pieces of material. Gun continued to suffer the same issues-- including the puking out of its own guts. Sent back to manufacturer; response still pending.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's.

Notes: I have never seen anything like it...


Gun: FNP 45 Tactical

Setting: Semi-personal sand pit, shared training session.

How did it fail: Pin in the trigger (not the trigger pin) that attaches the face to the bar walked out and prevented the gun from firing.

What was the remedy: Tapped back in with a punch; happened again in ~1k rounds (elsewhere); tapped back in with a punch; reported as stable since then, across the next couple thousand.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's, but I observed the same thing in my own before it got too extreme.

Notes: Upsetting to find it's pretty common, including in my own pistol of the same make and model.


Gun: Gen 3 G21 (can't recall the pin count; non-picatinny rail)

Setting: Sanctioned USPSA match, Level 1/Local

How did it fail: Tip snapped off of the striker.

What was the remedy: Replaced with a spare.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's.

Notes: That gun has seen some use. Factory striker, only polishing of its contact surface with the trigger bar. Investigated channel and hole in the breach face-- nothing out of the ordinary. Never even heard of one breaking in that spot-- especially the factory unit.


Gun: 3-pin Gen 3 G22

Setting: Pre-POST Certification, indoor range for practice.

How did it fail: FTE and FTF city.

What was the remedy: Gun belonged to a motorcycle officer who hadn't touched it since the previous quals. Road grit and rust had basically filled it; I had a standing pile on the work mat after field stripping. Rust was from the sights and extractor plunger spring, wiped clean from the tenifered surfaces. Test fired with rusty plunger spring and had no issues, but replaced it for good measure. Also replaced RSA, as it was very gritty under hand manipulation of the slide. Lubed with TW-25 to hopefully resist such accumulation and drying out in the future. Respectfully browbeat the owner for such carelessness.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's, who should have certainly known better.

Notes: Unlike the common Glock torture tests, the crud that accumulates in a gun that's carried every day does not fling free after the first round is fired. The "perfect" sized pieces find their way into nooks and crannies and don't go away, allowing other junk to build up on top of it until you run into a real problem. Rust drippings exacerbate this. Note that lint and body oils can have the same effect-- so show your carry gun some love.

EzGoingKev
03-18-2012, 05:03 PM
Gun: 3rd Gen Glock 23 w/ Surefire x300 installed
Setting: Local Range
How did it fail: Multiple failure to feeds by one shooter
What was the remedy: User error
Ownership: Mine
Notes: Failures were caused by shooter error, improper grip or "limp wristing".

I was shooting with a friend of mine. He was shooting his issued Sig .40 and I was shooting my Glock. Prior to shooting I had rebuilt all the magazines with the #9 followers and Wolff +10% springs as I had read of people having issues with the light installed and the common fix was install #8 or newer followers (#9 are the current spec) and use the Wolff extra power mag springs.

I had fired about 400 rounds that day with the pistol and did not have any malfunctions. My friend and I switched up pistols and he had multiple failure to feeds where the bullet would feed at an incorrect angle and jam up on the nose. In all cases all that was needed was to pull the slide slightly to the rear so the nose angle would decrease and then would feed into the chamber. I took my pistol back and I put another 200 rounds through it without any issues.

I wanted to share this as I had read about "Glock wrist" and improper grip with the Glock but I have never had any issues with any of mine. Having witnessed this issue firsthand I am not as likely to dismiss grip problems like I would before. Seeing how I could shoot the pistol all day without any issues but my friend couldn't empty one magazine without an issue definitely showed me that in some cases the source of the problem can be the user.

Johnkard
03-19-2012, 06:06 AM
I'm very happy to see that This listing is nearly free of Sig pistols. Excellent endorsement for their reliability.

As for what I've seen fail:

Taurus Beretta clone:

>Private Rock Quarry

>Purchased by a good friend as a cheap training substitute for a Beretta.

>Multiple stovepipes.

>Solution, don't buy one?

Five-Seven:

>Private bay in a public range

>Brand new shooter attending his first class with a new 5.7mm arsenal (pistol and civilian smg).

>Stovepipes and a sighting issue, whatever the poor guy did, none of his rounds seemed to hit anything...even when His gun did manage to cycle properly.

>Solution: no useful information, we left off assuming he was limp wristing.

Nephrology
03-19-2012, 06:18 AM
I'm very happy to see that This listing is nearly free of Sig pistols. Excellent endorsement for their reliability.

As for what I've seen fail:

Taurus Beretta clone:

>Private Rock Quarry

>Purchased by a good friend as a cheap training substitute for a Beretta.

>Multiple stovepipes.

>Solution, don't buy one?

Five-Seven:

>Private bay in a public range

>Brand new shooter attending his first class with a new 5.7mm arsenal (pistol and civilian smg).

>Stovepipes and a sighting issue, whatever the poor guy did, none of his rounds seemed to hit anything...even when His gun did manage to cycle properly.

>Solution: no useful information, we left off assuming he was limp wristing.


Got one for you.


Gun SIG Sauer P220
Setting Local IDPA match
How it failed Double feed caused by lint in the feedway.
Remedy Teeth-grittingly embarassing malfunction clearance by a new shooter. I think his total time on that stage was like 3 minutes when everyone else cleared it in 30 seconds or so.

MRW
03-20-2012, 01:44 PM
Gun: Gen 3 Glock 22 manufactured circa 1997
Setting: Outdoor Range Qualification/Training
Malfunction: Front sight fell off
Remedy: Armorer put on a new front sight
Owner: Department

The night sights were original to the pistol so they were about 10 years old at the time.

Gun: Berreta 92FS
Setting: Academy Range Qualification/Training
Malfunction: Barrel split/developed a crack on along the chamber
Remedy: New barrel was obtained
Owner: Someone else

The shooter reported she felt something "off" about a shot she took and immediately told instructor. The made the pistol safe and inspected it and found the crack. The pistol had a A LOT of rounds through it prior to the malfunction.

Gun: Glock 30
Setting: Range Practice
Malfunction: 3 FTRB's in the first 100 rounds
Remedy: Got rid of a bad magazine. All FTRB's were with one magazine which had the metal liner separate from the plastic outside of the magazine. The plastic covering was also bulged slightly. Got rid of the magazine and the pistol has been good to go with other magazines.
Owner: Mine

Pennzoil
03-08-2013, 04:07 PM
Gun: S&W M&P 9mm FS again
Setting: range trip to shake off the rust before Pike Pannone covert carry class
How did it fail: APEX trigger return spring seared
What was the remedy: replace with new part
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Second time I've snapped a spring the day before a class. Once with a Glock now once with my M&P.

http://imageshack.us/a/img836/9616/trsbreak.jpg

Dan_S
03-08-2013, 04:35 PM
Lets see now...

Gun: Arsenal SLR106
Setting: Private range
How did it fail: Failure to extract spent case
What was the remedy: Application of my boot heel to the charging handle
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: AKs don't fail? Really?




Gun: Ruger SR556
Setting: Private range
How did it fail: (1) Multiple failures to extract casing, (2) bolt carrier grinding out chunks of aluminum from upper receiver.
What was the remedy: (1) Tap out casings with rod from muzzle end, (2) no solution.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Tight tolerances, eh?


Gun: Bushmaster AR15
Setting: Public range
How did it fail: Stuck casing, bolt locked up
What was the remedy: After prying the bolt open, tapping the casing out with a rod
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Another tight chamber...


Gun: Glock 19 Gen. 3
Setting: Various
How did it fail: Stovepiping, brass to face, failure to eject, erratic ejection, etc
What was the remedy: Ongoing issues
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: N/A

Gun: Glock 34
Setting: Public Range
How did it fail: Brass to face, erratic ejection, etc
What was the remedy: N/A
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes:N/A

HCM
03-08-2013, 06:30 PM
Gun: SIG P229R DAK .40
Setting: Agency Qualifications
How did it fail:
Take down lever broke at attachement point to the "barrel" of the part, allowing the lever to spin 360 dgrees. Weapon still fired and functioned but the weapon could not be safely re-holstered or field stripped without tools.
What was the remedy: Armorer Replaced lever
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Agency issued
Notes: i have seen about 8 of these, all with 2005-2006 production SIGs

Gun: SIG P229R DAK .40
Setting: Agency Qualifications
How did it fail:
Shooter dropped weapon with the slide locked open while attempting emergency reload (fumble). Slide lock lever bent on impact and slide was stuck in the locked open position.
What was the remedy: Armorer Replaced slide lock lever
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Agency issued
Notes:

Gun: SIG P228 DAO converted for Simmunitions
Setting: Agency FoF Training
How did it fail:
Shooter expended all rounds and while at slide lock, dove for cover behind 55 gallon barrel (like a head first baseball slide) to perform emergency reload. Slide lock lever bent on impact and slide was stuck in the locked open position.
What was the remedy: Armorer Replaced slide lock lever
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Agency issued
Notes: A back up gun would be handy right about now.......

Gun: HK USP Compact LEM .40
Setting: Agency Qualifications
How did it fail:
Firing pin broke
What was the remedy: Armorer Replaced Firing pin and firing pin spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Agency issued (to me)
Notes: Older pistol, this was a known issue and the subject of a prior agency armorer notice and replacement program. Apparently the angle / radius of part of the original FP's lead to cracks/ breaks when stressed. Replaced part was re-designed by HK.

jon volk
03-08-2013, 06:44 PM
Gun:WASR3
Setting:range
How did it fail:failure to extract
What was the remedy:cleaned the filthy thing
Was it your pistol or someone else's:mine


Notes:Ran brass without issue, switched to wolf steel case for 2k rounds. Switched back to brass and couldn't get more than 2 consecutive rounds to extract. Scrubbed the chamber, all was good.


Gun:XDSC 9mm
Setting:range
How did it fail:failure to lock back last round
What was the remedy:sold it
Was it your pistol or someone else's:mine

Notes:around 4k rounds in it started to not lock back on the last round. Despite Internet claims that it was hand position, it would consistently do it with no appendage even close. Sold it for an S&W 3953

Gun:g17 3rd gen
Setting:range
How did it fail:brass to face, one reverse horizontal stove pipe
What was the remedy:ongoing
Was it your pistol or someone else's:mine

Notes:Only 1.5k into this one but I've seen one stoppage by backwards horizontal stove pipe. Outside of that, I get smacked in the forehead with brass and even have over the left shoulder ejection on video.

Glock's gonna Glock I guess

HCM
03-08-2013, 06:44 PM
More of an ammo failure than a weapons failure - had a case head separation last week.

No apparent damage to the weapon. the case head was extracted / ejected and was found on the ground.

Ammo was Federal .40 cal 180 Grain JHP
Weapon was agency issued SIG P229R DAK

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMG_1587.jpg
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMG_1589.jpg
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMG_0321.jpg

HCM
03-08-2013, 06:56 PM
Gun: S&W M&PL Pro 9mm
Setting: range
How did it fail: Dead trigger while firing Win Ranger 147 grain JHP
What was the remedy: Returned to S&W for repair
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine
Notes: N/A


Gun: S&W M&P FS 9mm
Setting: range
How did it fail: Failure to feed while firing Win 147 Gr JHP.
What was the remedy: tap - rack - followed by proper clean and lube
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine
Notes: Operator induced - gun was dirty and not properly lubed.

HCM
03-08-2013, 07:22 PM
Gun: Remington 870 police
Setting: Agency Quals
How did it fail: Ring that secures the front of the barrel to the magazine tube broke.
What was the remedy: new barrel required
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Agency
Notes: Most likely cause - magazine cap not properly tightened. This is a newer gun and it appears the barrel ring is now epoxied to the barrel rather than soldered.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0052.jpg
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0050.jpghttp://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0049.jpghttp://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0051.jpg

Spr1
03-08-2013, 08:16 PM
Gun: Remington 870 police
Setting: Agency Quals
How did it fail: Ring that secures the front of the barrel to the magazine tube broke.
What was the remedy: new barrel required
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Agency
Notes: Most likely cause - magazine cap not properly tightened. This is a newer gun and it appears the barrel ring is now epoxied to the barrel rather than soldered.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0052.jpg
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0050.jpghttp://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0049.jpghttp://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/IMGP0051.jpg

Epoxy?? Remind me not to buy a new Remington.

secondstoryguy
03-08-2013, 11:29 PM
Epoxy?? Remind me not to buy a new Remington.

Remington's 700s arn't much better. I've seen a few bolt handles fail (mostly post 2008 production guns) and come off at the attachment to the bolt body.

2alpha-down0
03-11-2013, 11:44 AM
Gun: HK P7M8
Setting: Range practice session
How did it fail: Drop safety catch spring broke, rendering gun inoperable
What was the remedy: Replace spring (no easy task, BTW)
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Spikes/LMT AR15
Setting: Gun club tour as a prerequisite for membership. Basically proving that I can safely send bullets in the right direction.
How did it fail: Gun doubled once and also fired a three-round burst. Bill Springfield 4lb trigger job gone wrong.
What was the remedy: Replace FCG
Your gun or someone else's: Mine
Notes: Beware these kinds of trigger jobs.

Moshe Dayan
03-11-2013, 02:13 PM
Gun: HK USP 45c
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Repeated failures to feed with HST and various ball ammo
What was the remedy: None so far. The gun was given to me and I don't really like it, so I haven't been overly concerned with making it work.
Your gun or someone else's: Mine
Notes: You would expect better from an $800+ handgun...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a248/LegumeOfTerror/usp45/DSC00513.jpg

Gun: Glock 20 SF
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Failure to feed somewhere between 100 and 150 rounds or 180 gr. FMJ
What was the remedy: Cleared the malfunction and haven't had and more issues yet
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a248/LegumeOfTerror/IMAG0673_zps34f12e86.jpg

Drang
03-11-2013, 02:16 PM
Gun: M1 Garand
Setting: Ft Lewis Recreational Range
How did it fail: Doubled, tripled
What was the remedy: Replaced sear, also gas plug.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: In front of the range safety, of course.
First gun I bought, paid $20/week for 10 weeks, picked it up on my 18th birthday.:cool:
Heavily sporterized, previous owner replaced GI sights with Williams Guides, and had some of the metal polished and blued, fugly birch (oversized?) stock, so I've been debating getting a glass stock for it, not like I'd be bastardizing a CMP rifle.

Rex Kramer
03-11-2013, 02:31 PM
Gun: Glock 32
Setting: Range Practice
How did it fail: Slide Lock Broke
What was the remedy: Sent it to Glock to get fixed
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: The slide lock (not to be confused with the slide stop) broke during a range session. If you dry fired it, the slide would come off the front. Oddly enough, the gun would shoot fine.

Same gun:

Gun: G32
Setting: Range Practice
How did it fail: Multiple failures to fire
What was the remedy: New firing pin
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Firing pin was chipped/damaged and wouldn't ignite some primers. Was fixed when sent to glock to get the slide lock replaced.






Gun: FNX9
Setting: Range Practice
How did it fail: When the gun (frame) was warm (like sitting in the sun warm, not from firing warm), the gun would not fire in DA mode
What was the remedy: Sent gun to FN. Entire gun was replaced.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Video of the failure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-AGI_-a06E

Thread on FN forums about it: http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-fnx/20761-fnx-9-apparently-won-t-fire-when-s-warm-outside-vid.html




Gun: M&P9
Setting: IDPA/Range Practice
How did it fail: Failure to Extract
What was the remedy: Tap/Rack/Bang and went on.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Only failure in thousands of rounds.

JohnnyRico
03-12-2013, 02:44 PM
Gun - STI Trojan 9mm
Setting - WASIDPA Championships, 2012
How did it fail - piece of grip safety broke and deactivated said safety. was noticed at safety check and was dq'd
Remedy - new grip safety
My Pistol

Works just fine now!

ssb
03-13-2013, 03:03 AM
In October 2012, I was able to find a Gen 2 G19. This was the first pistol that was truly mine; I was (and am) pleased with it for the $350 I spent. Having said that, it's had some issues. I'm a broke college student that's new to CCW, but I'm now most of the way through the 2,000 round challenge (~1700rds currently) with this pistol.

Gun: Gen 2 Glock 19
Setting: At home, detail stripping the weapon for cleaning
How did it fail: Extractor chipped
What was the remedy: Replacement extractor -- LWD, LCI w/ spring-loaded bearing
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

I noticed this while detail stripping and putting the parts in an ultrasonic cleaner. I had personally fired <200 rounds through the weapon at the time. I am honestly unsure if I bought the pistol like this or if it occurred somewhere in that short time. Most of the ammunition fired was Tula 115grn FMJ. I had not experienced a malfunction with the pistol as of that time.

Gun: Gen 2 Glock 19
Setting: School indoor range
How did it fail: Squib load with Tula 115grn FMJ. Symptoms: 1.) I did not hear/feel a bang 2.) Upon clearing the gun, a spent casing was ejected. Field-stripped the gun and noticed a bullet approx. 1" down the barrel.
What was the remedy: A wooden dowel rod, a hammer, and elbow grease. Stopped buying Tula.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

This occurred around round 650 according to my notes.

Gun: Gen 2 Glock 19
Setting: Range in Memphis area
How did it fail: Slide failed to lock back. I believe this to be magazine-related. The pistol does not exhibit this on any of my other five G19 mags or three G17 mags, and the problem mag is an older, ban-marked LEO only magazine. Magazine was tried in two other G19s to confirm.
What was the remedy: Relegate the mag to range-only use and continue shooting. Will replace the spring and follower soon to see if it functions normally.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

This occurred around round 1600. Ammunition was a mix of 124grn FMJ reloads over 4.3grn of Red Dot (my hand loads) and Federal Champion.

Gun: Gen 2 Glock 19
Setting: My grandparents' land/improvised shooting range
How did it fail: Factory front sight disappeared
What was the remedy: Install the Trijicon HDs that arrived a few days later.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

This occurred around round 1700.

---

I was flush with cash and decided to buy a new G19 in February.

Gun: Gen 3 Glock 19 Jan 2013 MFG
Setting: School indoor range
How did it fail: Inconsistent ejection and brass-to-face with Federal Champion.
What was the remedy: Ongoing.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

This has only showed itself with Federal Champion 115grn FMJ. It does not occur with:
- My hand loads (124grn FMJ/4.3grn Red Dot)
- Tennessee Cartridge Company factory reloads (common ammo around me -- 115grn FMJ, feels fairly lightly loaded)
- 124grn PMC Bronze FMJ
- Aguilla 117grn JHP
- Speer Gold Dot 124grn +P (my carry ammo -- 50rds tested)

The pistol only has approx. 350 rounds through it at this time. I'll continue to watch for this. I'm currently trying to find some other common 115grn factory target loads (WWB, Tula, etc.) to test through the pistol, but selection and supply are limited.

---

Gun: Taurus .38 snub
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Out of time
What was the remedy: Returned to Taurus. Received back. So far, so good.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: A friend's

---

Gun: Kel-Tec PF9
Setting: My grandparents' house
How did it fail: Multiple failures to feed.
What was the remedy: Various voodoo remedies as suggested by Kel Tec aficionados + trip to Kel Tec.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: My dad's.

The pistol apparently functions well now, but it sits in the safe; he replaced it with a S&W 642. He claims he trusts it, but all he seems to carry now is the revolver. I can't remember the last time I've seen him shoot it.

HPFlashman
03-20-2013, 09:46 PM
Gun: Smith&Wesson M19-3
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Several cylinder binds, both in single and double action
What was the remedy: Strip down and clean, change of ammo.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: I was shooting some issued Fiocchi brand 158 grain 38s. Lots of unburned powder of cylinderform could be found more or less everywhere in/on the gun. Lot was pulled and destroyed, never heard back from the ammo fellows if they had done any enquires into the ammo.

ssb
03-27-2013, 02:28 AM
Gun: Gen 2 Glock 19
Setting: Range
How did it fail: 2x double-feeds/failures-to-extract
What was the remedy: See below
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

I was finishing up my range session and I made the decision to fire some of my carry ammunition (Speer Gold Dot 124grn +P) for proficiency. As the ammunition I had in my mags had been cycled a few times (this batch loaded in mid-February 2013), I took the first four rounds from each magazine and loaded them into one of the 17rd magazines I had been using for range use. I topped the carry mags off and went back to the firing line with the range mag loaded to five rounds (intention was to fire two five-round groups and make an attempt at the FAST drill).

The first two rounds fired fine. The third round fired with no noticeable difference, but the slide was locked back. I had what appeared to be a double feed, but upon clearing it I noticed the third round had been fired. Questioning myself, I stripped the pistol to check for a barrel obstruction. Nothing there. The following two rounds fired fine.

I repeated this once more with the same magazine, with the same result. The third round was, again, left in the chamber unfired.

At this point I switched to another magazine, my carry reload (17rd OEM magazine). All five rounds fed and fired fine. I repeated this with the mag I carry in the gun (15rd OEM magazine) with the same success.

Due to my location, I do not have regular access to my pistol (college campus -- pistol stored off-campus). I was in a hurry tonight, but I will have the opportunity to inspect the pistol either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. As a precaution, I have set aside all ammunition that had been loaded in my carry magazines and swapped to a different lot of ammunition. I am considering carrying my Gen 3 G19 (same sights and mag release, but lacks the grip work) until I can diagnose and repair this problem. This leads me to my question:

Below are the possible causes I believe may have led to this and the details of the pistol. If any of you have input as to something I may have missed, I would appreciate if you could share.

Pistol specs: Gen 2 G19 1996 mfg. Trijicon HD night sights. Vickers magazine release. Stippling and trigger guard undercut. Grip Force Adapter. 4.5lb connector, NY1 return spring, G17 smooth-faced trigger. LWD Gen 3 extractor w/ LCI. OEM spring-loaded bearing for same (note: replacement due to chipped OEM extractor discovered Nov 2012). OEM 15rd and 17rd magazines.
Lubricant: Froglube
Last cleaning: November 2012 (note: pistol was at the tail end of the 2000rd challenge. Prior to this, all parts had been placed in an ultrasonic cleaner, oiled, and lubricated)
Approx. rounds fired: 1950
Rounds fired that night: 50 rounds of 124grn FMJ over 4.3grn of Red Dot (reloads)

Possible causes?
- Magazine-induced. I view this as possible, but unless I'm mistaken double-feeds generally occur with two live rounds, not a fired casing and a live round.
- Dirty chamber or extractor. The gun has seen a lot of cheap, dirty ammunition through it over the past few months. However, why did the stoppage occur on the same round twice? Why didn't it occur with two known to be good magazines?
- Ammunition-related. Possible bullet set-back from re-chambering? Why didn't it occur with the reloads I had fired previously?
- Shooter induced. I'm not exactly the most proficient shooter out there, but is this even possible?
- Worn springs. I have no idea of the gun's history prior to my purchase. All I know is that the serial number leads to a police department that bought it in 1996. It has a lot of holster wear, but internally it appears fine.

Again, any input would be appreciated.

dickmadison
03-29-2013, 01:06 AM
Gun: Berreta 92FS
Setting: Handgun Tactical/Defensive firearms class
How did it fail: I'm not sure the technical term, but during decocking, the decocking bar/safety that is suppose to prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin broke and resulted in the hammer striking the firing pin, resulting in an accidental/negligent discharge. Luckily the firearm was wasn't pointed at anyone but the shooter was a little shaken because he was halfway in the midst of bringing back to his holster so the gun was coming towards him pointing at the ground.
What was the remedy: He said he had to send it to an armorer to get it fixed
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes: Lesson, decock with the gun pointed in a safe direction.

HCM
09-11-2016, 10:14 PM
Bumping an old thread which deserves a re- boot.

Gun: Colt Wiley Clapp Government.45
Setting: Range
How did it Fail: Slide stop pin broke.
What was the remedy: punch to remove broken slide stop. Will need new slide stop.
Was it yours or someone else's ? Mine

Brought the gun out out for a 9/11 range trip. After approximately 25 rounds the slide stop pin broke. Could not retract the slide. Ammo was Speer Frangible.

Gun was purchased used in 2015 and appeared to have a low round count. I've put approximately 400 rounds through it.

10426

10427

Tabasco
09-12-2016, 12:32 AM
This is how I learned not to trust gun mag reviews....

Remember the Star Firestar? First subcompact 9mm (circa 1993).

Bought one when they came out; first, and second trip to the range had multiple Failures to extract and stovepipes.

Returned to retailer, who sent it back to Interarms in VA to get fixed.
Stolen from UPS in transit on return, retailer gave me a new one.

Same story at the range...

Traded it in for a used S&W M36 .38 2" snubby.

Never made that mistake again.

LockedBreech
09-12-2016, 01:13 AM
Gun: Berreta 92FS
Setting: Handgun Tactical/Defensive firearms class
How did it fail: I'm not sure the technical term, but during decocking, the decocking bar/safety that is suppose to prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin broke and resulted in the hammer striking the firing pin, resulting in an accidental/negligent discharge. Luckily the firearm was wasn't pointed at anyone but the shooter was a little shaken because he was halfway in the midst of bringing back to his holster so the gun was coming towards him pointing at the ground.
What was the remedy: He said he had to send it to an armorer to get it fixed
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes: Lesson, decock with the gun pointed in a safe direction.

Wow. I'm a little ashamed to say that I've always used my Beretta and Sig decockers without even considering that this could happen. Good lesson.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HCM
09-12-2016, 01:43 AM
Gun: SIG P 229R DAK 40
Setting: Range
How did it Fail: Spring box in the nose of the slide broke off..
What was the remedy: Gun permenantly taken out of service.
Was it yours or someone else's ? Someone else's.

Gun was run for ten years on the original recoil spring - round count is unkown but estimated over 20k rounds. SIG recommends recoil spring change every 3k to 5k rounds in .40 cal.

10433

10434

10435

HCM
09-12-2016, 01:48 AM
Gun: SIG P229R DAK. 40 cal
Setting: Range
How did it Fail: Firing Pin Positioning Pin Broke.
What was the remedy: Will need new FP positioning pin.
Was it yours or someone else's ? Someone Else's

10436

10437

10438

OlongJohnson
09-12-2016, 07:44 AM
Gun: Berreta 92FS
Setting: Handgun Tactical/Defensive firearms class
How did it fail: I'm not sure the technical term, but during decocking, the decocking bar/safety that is suppose to prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin broke and resulted in the hammer striking the firing pin, resulting in an accidental/negligent discharge. Luckily the firearm was wasn't pointed at anyone but the shooter was a little shaken because he was halfway in the midst of bringing back to his holster so the gun was coming towards him pointing at the ground.
What was the remedy: He said he had to send it to an armorer to get it fixed
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes: Lesson, decock with the gun pointed in a safe direction.

I've heard of this happening on other guns, but figured the decocker barrel turning sideways would be strong enough to make a Beretta immune.

I like the Sig decocker especially for the reason that the hammer rides it gently back up against your thumb, rather than dropping and being caught against a stop.

GardoneVT
09-12-2016, 11:34 AM
Gun: Berreta 92FS
Setting: Handgun Tactical/Defensive firearms class
How did it fail: I'm not sure the technical term, but during decocking, the decocking bar/safety that is suppose to prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin broke and resulted in the hammer striking the firing pin, resulting in an accidental/negligent discharge. Luckily the firearm was wasn't pointed at anyone but the shooter was a little shaken because he was halfway in the midst of bringing back to his holster so the gun was coming towards him pointing at the ground.
What was the remedy: He said he had to send it to an armorer to get it fixed
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes: Lesson, decock with the gun pointed in a safe direction.

This situation confuses me.

The Beretta has three safety mechanisms; the firing pin block actuated via the trigger, the manual safety itself ,and the physical obstruction of the firing pin when the slide mounted safety/decocker is engaged.

All three would have to fail for a 92 to ND in the fashion described. Even if the physical blockage of the firing pin failed somehow - very unlikely given the design and robustness of that part- the separate firing pin block would still prevent firing the weapon.

This is not to discount the need to keep the four rules prominent when decocking any pistol, but I'm very skeptical things happened exactly as described. I'm thinking the shooter had a standard , human ND and blamed the gun for it.

ReverendMeat
09-12-2016, 01:40 PM
This situation confuses me.

The Beretta has three safety mechanisms; the firing pin block actuated via the trigger, the manual safety itself ,and the physical obstruction of the firing pin when the slide mounted safety/decocker is engaged.

All three would have to fail for a 92 to ND in the fashion described. Even if the physical blockage of the firing pin failed somehow - very unlikely given the design and robustness of that part- the separate firing pin block would still prevent firing the weapon.

This is not to discount the need to keep the four rules prominent when decocking any pistol, but I'm very skeptical things happened exactly as described. I'm thinking the shooter had a standard , human ND and blamed the gun for it.

This is what I was thinking too. I don't see any possible way that the safety lever could be rotated down to successfully decock the pistol with the firing pin plunger maintaining alignment with the firing pin, given the piece that trips the decocking lever is the same piece that holds the plunger. Very curious.

Tamara
09-12-2016, 02:02 PM
This is how I learned not to trust gun mag reviews....

Remember the Star Firestar? First subcompact 9mm (circa 1993).

Bought one when they came out; first, and second trip to the range had multiple Failures to extract and stovepipes.

Returned to retailer, who sent it back to Interarms in VA to get fixed.
Stolen from UPS in transit on return, retailer gave me a new one.

Same story at the range...

And yet it didn't teach you to not to trust 9mm subcompacts, or Spanish guns, or Interarms, or semiautomatic pistols? Maybe the one the reviewer had ran fine? I've owned a couple that worked okay (for the admittedly low round counts I put through them.)

TR675
09-12-2016, 02:44 PM
Gun: Ruger 22/45
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple FTE's and FtF's (failure to feed) on multiple range trips
What was the remedy: stop using lithium grease to lube it and start using oil. Been great after that. The grease got mixed with firing residue and turned into a thick paste that choked the gun up ASAP.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Colt 6920
Setting: Range
How did it fail: true double feed (tried to feed two live rounds) on two separate range trips.
Remedy: deadline the bad pmag causing the double feeds.
Mine or whose or what: mine

Gun: M&P 9FS
Setting: Ken Hackathorn class
How did it fail: FTE when using another student's +p+ Ammo during a night shoot; it continued to run fine using PMC ball.
Remedy: ignore the problem in the short run, it popped up again later (below).
Mine or what: mine

Gun: M&P 9FS
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple strange FTE's (with spent rounds ending up mouth down in ejection port and twice re-chambered backwards. Also, multiple FTF with hollow point ammo. Ball fed just fine. This was the same gun I used in the Hack class. It hadn't been cleaned in multiple thousands of rounds (mostly PMC bronze) and at least one class before it just started crapping the bed at that range session. It was so filthy there were several millimeters of crud on the feed ramp. Hollowpoint bullets hit the ramp and literally dug into the crud and hung up the feed cycle. I expect that the FTE issues were due to a combo of crud in the chamber and under the extractor.
Remedy: A good cleaning, spring changes. The gun has not been run hard since.
Mine or whose or what: mine.

Gun: Remington 870P
Setting: range
Fail: FTE and FTF when using cheap birdshot.
Remedy: don't use cheap birdshot. The gun runs slick using good quality ammo. One day I will home the chamber and see what that does.
Mine or what: mine.

Gun: Glock 17 3rd gen
Setting: range
Fail: solitary FTF on first range trip
Remedy: Tap rack bang. The failure hasn't repeated itself over thousands of subsequent rounds. I'm willing to call this a bum round of ammo.

Gun: S&W M&P9c
Setting: ECQC
Fail: Magazine feed issues using an Arredondo extension on a compact mag (they are not compatible IME).
Remedy: get yelled at by Craig for futzing with gun during shooting evolution, eye poke target, switch to backup mag, deadline extension and start using full-sized mags with X-products sleeve on them as "extended" compact mags.

Takeaway: MEAL is a great diagnostic tool for more than just AR's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bigghoss
09-12-2016, 03:22 PM
Gun: Beretta M9
Setting: bi-annual range qual
How did it fail: broken locking block
What was the remedy: armorer replaced
Was it your pistol or someone else's: government property issued to someone else


Gun: Taurus 605 .357 snubby revolver
Setting: indoor range
How did it fail: Cylinder latch stuck
What was the remedy: disassemble, drive catch out with a punch, and deburr hole.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Sold it and bought a Ruger SP101 and never looked back.


Gun: Ruger P345
Setting: target practice
How did it fail: Hammer would drop after each shot, effectively making the gun a DAO
What was the remedy: Sent back to the factory, safety was replaced
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

HCM
09-12-2016, 03:24 PM
Gun: S&W M&PL Pro 9mm
Setting: range
How did it fail: Dead trigger while firing Win Ranger 147 grain JHP
What was the remedy: Returned to S&W for repair
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine
Notes: N/A


Update on the S&W M&PL Pro 9mm - The dead trigger was repaired but during the test fire upon it's return, the rear sight came loose and was sliding out of the dovetail under recoil. Tried tightening the set screw but it did not help. even with the set screw locked down the rear sight could be moved with just finger pressure. Gun was returned to S&W a second time. No issues since the second return.

Duelist
09-12-2016, 04:12 PM
GUN: Star Firestar .40 S&W
SETTING: indoor range, B-27 targets, IIRC
FAILURE: gun normally ran fine and was accurate, but suddenly, in the middle of a range session, started making two distinct groups high right and low left, with random hits between, and no predictability for any of it.
CAUSE: The screw that held the rear sight in place stopped staying put in the hole in the slide. I tightened it. It came loose in the next mag. Star had gone out of business since I bought the gun, parts weren't available. Gunsmith said he could fix it, but quoted me half the original value of the gun.
FIX: traded in on a S&W model 10
OWERSHIP: mine

GUN: Ruger 10/22
SETTING: My kitchen table
FAILURE: Reciever plug screw crumbled when tried to remove it to install scope base
FIX: Stripped receiver of barrel and all action parts and mailed to Ruger. The removed the screw, and refinished the flaking reciever.
OWNERSHIP: mine

GUN: Ruger MKII Standard .22 Auto
SETTING: Regular cleaning the gun after a brick or two of ammo - untold thousands of rounds through the gun
FAILURE: Recoil spring assembly broken - one of the ears that goes around the assembly pin had sheared off and disappeared. Gun still functioned normally.
FIX: Called Ruger to order replacement. They mailed it to me gratis, even though I expected to pay for it.
OWNERSHIP: mine

GUN: KelTec P11
SETTING: a bathroom stall
FAILURE: gun slid out of leather holster and hit the tile, knocking the plastic rear sight out of the dovetail
FIX: pressed the sight back in place, pulled head out of butt and traded for a real gun with real sights
OWNERSHIP: mine, for my sins

GUN: Taurus 85
SETTING: dry fire practice
FAILURE: broken firing pin return spring
FIX: return to Taurus, who replace broken spring. Owner stopped dry firing without snap caps.
OWNER: someone else

GUN: Kimber Custom TLE (IIRC)
SETTING: indoor range
FAILURE: failure to eject or extract - the case head was trapped between the feedlips of the mag, and the case acted like a stovepipe otherwise
FIX: field stripped gun, adjusted extractor
Ownership: someone else

I've not counted ammo failures.

I've seen a lot of different failures as an RSO. Every brand of gun seems like it can, or will, if not maintained, or especially if it has aftermarket parts. One interesting one required a TRB for almost every shot, but I didn't diagnose the gun. Another was a new shooter with an XD .45 single stack. Constant malfunctions. Gun was a loaner, and was filthy. Another shooter helped clean it, and it ran fine after.

ReverendMeat
09-12-2016, 06:24 PM
Ignoring issues that I've posted about in the 2k challenge thread:

GUN: S&W 586-3
SETTING: Indoor range
FAILURE: Cylinder and yoke fell out
CAUSE: Loose screw
FIX: Tightened screw
OWNERSHIP: Mine

GUN: SIG P229 .40 (AWB era mfgr)
SETTING: Outdoor/indoor ranges
FAILURE: In order, multiple Failures to return to battery, 1 FTExtract, 2 FtRtB, 1 FTEject, 1 FTExtract
CAUSE: Bought used. Doing 2k challenge, gun fell into dirt after the first FTE causing the FtRtBs, wasn't cleaned after, possibly causing last two failures.
FIX: First FtRtB fixed by replacing recoil spring. Later gave up on 2k challenge, detail stripped and cleaned, left unshot for over a year. Put a whopping 75 rounds through it last month without issue.
OWNERSHIP: Mine

GUN: Steyr AUG
SETTING: Friend's backyard (fucking poison oak..)
FAILURE: 2 short strokes
CAUSE: Wolf ammo + standard gas plug setting.
FIX: Less shitty ammo
OWNERSHIP: mine

GUN: Walther PPS M1 9mm
SETTING: Indoor range
FAILURE: 2 FTExtract during first range trip with Magtech 9A 115gr
CAUSE: Beats me.
FIX: Kept shooting, no further issues for the next ~400 rounds.
OWNERSHIP: Was mine, now stolen.

Not going to bother listing rentals or other people's guns. Too many to remember.

SAWBONES
09-12-2016, 06:42 PM
FWIW:

Gun: H&K P7M8
Setting: range use and training courses plus CCW.
How did it fail: never has, yet. Not once. Ever.
What was the remedy: not applicable
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: bought new, 1985. Shot uncounted tens of thousands of rounds. Kept assiduously clean, including the gas piston flanges. Never a bobble, misfire, failure of ANY kind.

RevolverRob
09-12-2016, 06:43 PM
I'll play:

Gun(s): Colt Agent and a Colt Cobra
Setting: Outdoor Range; standard practice.
Failure: Cylinder lock-up and gun had to be forced open by smacking the cylinder with my palm.
Cause: CCI Blazer .38 Special ammo with non-existent crimp + alloy frame = perfect recipe for bullet pull. It happened first in the Agent and then replicated it in the Cobra to confirm my theory.
Solution: Stop shooting CCI Blazer .38 ammo.
Ownership: Both Mine.

Gun: Kimber 1911
Setting: Outdoor range shooting steel
Failure: Failure to feed and extract
Cause: Failure to extract caused by bad tension on internal extractor. Failure to feed unknown cause.
Fix: Tension extractor. Gun was sent back to Kimber for FTF issues; Kimber claimed to have reamed the chamber and polished the feedramp. This did not solve it.
Ownership: My father's gun. Sold with full disclosure, unknown if the FTF issue was ever resolved.

Gun: Browning Hi-Power
Setting: My office, cleaning the gun.
Failure: Ruined recoil spring guide assembly. Discovered when I disassembled the gun for cleaning.
Cause: I installed it upside down and ruined it. Gun ran fine with slide-stop installed. Once I removed the slide-stop the guide assembly collapsed.
Ownership: Me.

Duelist
09-12-2016, 07:00 PM
Oh, why not one more? AR15. Puchased upper, home assembled lower.
Doing a 2-gun Zombie shoot.
Double feed that locked up the action and magazine in the gun.
Transition to pistol, finished stage.
RSO and I wrestled the magazine out of the mag well, which popped the rounds loose.
Cause: cheap surplus mag with stupid black follower.
Fix: borrowed 2 PMags for remainder of event, bought some and some followers to replace all surplus mag followers. Never another bobble out of that rifle that wasn't due to crappy ammo misfiring.

Nephrology
09-12-2016, 11:29 PM
Documenting a string of failures with a gun I used to own:

Gen 4 Glock 23
Total roundcount in my hands: 1512
Failues: ~5-6
Notes: Failed across a variety of bullet weights, seemed to do worse with the TLR-1 mounted. Happened across multiple intervals & range trip, could not be isolated to a single parts failure or defect. Replacing recoil spring and magazines did nothing to help. Final straw as a FTF with 180gr Federal HST when the gun was shot with a TLR1 mounted. Gun was sold with full disclosure.

For comparison, my Gen4G35 just hit 1k rounds failure free.

1slow
09-13-2016, 08:01 AM
2 different HK P7 M8s: HK P7 M8 broke right side magazine release, HK P7 M8 broke part of the squeeze cocking mechanism. One of them also had the plastic heat shield fall off. Both were in light use by my wife. When 2 of 4 I had broke in light use she went to HK P2000 SK LEM 9mm.
In contrast my earlier 1984 P7 never gave any trouble.

Hambo
09-13-2016, 09:21 AM
This is what I was thinking too. I don't see any possible way that the safety lever could be rotated down to successfully decock the pistol with the firing pin plunger maintaining alignment with the firing pin, given the piece that trips the decocking lever is the same piece that holds the plunger. Very curious.

Agreed. I think there's more to that story.

Gun: HK P7M8
Setting: range training
Failure: Striker collet broke
Cause: No idea, but it happened a lot to several M8 and M13s. Interestingly they will still function, sort of, after such breakage.
Fix: Carry spare collet in range bag.
Owner: Me

Gun: HK P7M13
Setting: class
Failure: heat shield came off, unable to locate
Fix: Carry spare heat shield in range bag
Owner: Me

Gun: Beretta 92F, 1988 made in Italy
Setting: during cleaning
Failure: firing pin broken in half, did not affect function. This happened at year 26 of ownership, unknown rounds downrange.
Fix: Order new firing pin and learn to tear down Beretta slide
Owner: Me

Gun: SA 1911 .45, unsure of model
Setting: match
Failure: front half of slide went downrange
Fix: I suppose he sent it back to SA.
Owner: Dude at match. Only included because it was pretty impressive to watch it happen.

L-2
09-13-2016, 10:11 AM
I've had problems with several firearms over the years. Here are major ones.

Gun: Doublestar DSC1911 railed 1911 (do not buy)
Setting: range
How did it fail: several detail items, including hammer follow, barrel bushing soft or out of spec, sights off, breech-face cut too high, cut/shortened mainspring.
What was the remedy: $800 of further gunsmithing as the company wouldn't even take it back to look at it.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: This gun is now one of my favorites only because it now shoots so well and I took the chance on a gunsmith to get it to work. My direction was if you can't get it to work, destroy it and give me a letter stating so.

Gun: Glock 23gen3
Setting: range
How did it fail: broken left rear rail
What was the remedy: frame replacement by Glock
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: This is a semi-known problem with Glocks made between 9/01 and 5/02, identified with a 3-alpha s/n starting with "E", e.g., Exx123US. Glock admitted the steel used in the molded in rails was substandard. Glock claims some % of failures under 1%, but these failures seem to occur somewhere over 5K rounds. People on this forum may find it hard to believe many folks never reach that round count on an individual gun.

Gun: G31gen3
Setting: range
How did it fail: left rear rail broke off
What was the remedy: frame replacement by Glock
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: This gun was built ~2011/2012 and was out of the ill-fated bad rail era, yet it still broke.

Gun: G27gen3
Setting: range
How did it fail: both rear frame rails broke off
What was the remedy: Glock shall replace this frame at its convenience
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: I bought this gun used from a friend who'd bought it new. He'd only put ~1K rounds through it in 15 years. I put another 5100 rounds through it in 2 months and both rails broke off 3 days ago. As I type, Glock has just received this gun for replacement via FEDEX.

Gun: S&W 442
Setting: range
How did it fail: internal pin, probably hammer pin broken
What was the remedy: replacement of entire gun by S&W
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: light strikes, trigger "not feeling right"

Gun: Glock 29gen3
Setting: range
How did it fail: intermittent "Phase 3" malfunctions, which is a spent case being pulled above the ejector, missing it, then the slide trying to close, stripping off the next round, but the spent casing is still held horizontally by the extractor, causing a weird failure to eject.
What was the remedy: trade the gun in at a Glock LE Distributor for a G30gen4
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: This wasn't one of my best deals as I traded a good Kimber TLE II 5" for both the G23gen3 and this G29gen3 listed here.

Gun: Colt O4691 Commander .45
Setting: range and home examination while cleaning
How did it fail: frame cracking, left & right side ahead of slide stop hole
What was the remedy: return to Colt, hopefully for replacement (Colt has had it now for 2 weeks)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: At 6K rounds I noticed the crack forming. At 9K rounds the crack had doubled in length to ~1/4". I decided to return it as the crack was worsening. This is actually the 2nd trip back. The 1st trip was just the slide for a front sight which was loose with not enough material left to re-peen the tenon. Colt replaced with a new front sight.

Gun: Marlin 1894SS .44 Mag
Setting: range
How did it fail: lever bent merely while shooting
What was the remedy: return of firearm (2x for this problem) for lever replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: When new, this rifle experienced "Marlin Jam", a situation where the lever jams into the bolt locking up the action. Trip #1 and Marlin fixed that problem. I didn't shoot the gun for a few years once getting it back but the lever now worked well, without jamming. Now, shooting it again, I noticed the lever would slowly bend each time a round went off, until the rear of the lever touched the stock, but was unable to depress the "trigger safety block", the built in trigger safety. Trip #2 and Remington/Marlin merely reshaped the existing lever and sent the gun back. The metal was still too soft and within 5 rounds the lever was bent again. Trip #3 and Remington/Marlin replaced the entire lever. Patience is required with this company as shipping takes a week in each direction and Remington/Marlin has a contract with UPS which requires them to pickup the gun at the shipping point vs. me dropping off the gun at UPS. UPS may take all day to arrive for pickup (& re-delivery).

********
Gun: various
Setting:
How did it fail:
What was the remedy:
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: I've had other minor issues where parts break or guns wear out needing gunsmithing. I've just listed the major ones and for guns I owned. Further, all my six 1911 guns I've owned needed to have things done/fixed/corrected, which were beyond my abilities, although my abilities have improved over the years.

psalms144.1
09-13-2016, 10:45 AM
Oh, where to start?

Gun: S&W 940 (1990 vintage)
Setting: Home
How did it fail: unable to unload after loading, discharged during the unloading process
What was the remedy: Sent to S&W for repair, they refunded my purchase cost
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Colt Combat Elite .45 ACP (1992 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Multiple failures to feed, extract, eject
What was the remedy: Sold to someone willing to tinker
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Beretta M9s (multiple, IIRC, 6 or 7 out of 12 assigned) (2000-2001)
Setting: training sessions/range use
How did it fail: broken safety levers, broken locking blocks
What was the remedy: Returned to higher echelon for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: USAF's

Gun: Sig M11 (2004ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: front sight fell off after "armorer" installed incorrectly (from the right side of the dovetail)
What was the remedy: Returned to HQ armory for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Government

Gun: S&W 940 (Circa 2003)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: cylinder bound up during firing, was able to unload and make safe
What was the remedy: Sent to S&W for repair, they replaced it with a 642 at my request
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: S&W 638 (2008ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: lint/debris/general trash bound up hammer in hammer channel
What was the remedy: Cleared hammer channel with compressed air, detail stripped, cleaned, reassembled, and removed from ankle carry application
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: S&W 642 (2009ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: shot out of time, started showing excessive shaving of lead on one side of the forcing cone.
What was the remedy: Taken out of service, returned to S&W who rebuilt and retimed on "911" service - returned within 7 working days
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Sig P239 DAK .40 S&W (2008ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject. Failure to return to battery. Slide lock issues (early lock back and failing to lock back on empty)
What was the remedy: Returned to HQ Armory for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Gov't issued

Gun: Mk18 (2009ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Multiple failures for feed/extract/eject. Perfectly clean carbine would begin to bobble at 150-200 rounds fired, and require extensive cleaning to return to function.
What was the remedy: Returned to Crane for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Gov't issued

Gun: Gen4 G19 (2010)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP. BTF. Occasional stove pipes
What was the remedy: Sold with full disclosure to someone who wanted a range toy
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#2) (2010)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: 3rd Gen G19 (#3) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#4) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF. MULTIPLE stove pipes
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: 3rd Gen G19 (#5) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement (replaced with a Gen4 G21 which was later sold, unfired)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#6) (2012 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Occasional BTF with all types of ammunition tried
What was the remedy: APEX FRE, worked for approximately 2,000 rounds, then BTF returned. Installed HRED and FRE, currently free of BTF.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Mossberg 500 (2012)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Improper assembly resulted in action bars bending on use.
What was the remedy: Removed from service and returned to HQ Armory for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Gov't issued

Gun: Gen4 G19 (2015 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: repeated BTF
What was the remedy: none yet
Was it your pistol or someone else's: another agent in my squad. Still evaluating

I'm not even going to TRY to catalog all the failures I've seen over the last several decades resulting from bad maintenance, bad ammunition, and bad magazines - I'd be typing until way after I'm dead...

Tamara
09-13-2016, 11:09 AM
Gun: Gen 3 G32 (2015 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Aftermarket Lone Wolf guide rod used in conjunction with 20# ISMI recoil spring failed when rear cap backed out due to lack of locking compound on threads. Rod fell out of front of gun, but not before bending in the process.
What was the remedy: Replaced Lone Wolf multipart guide rod with White Sound Defense 1-piece guide rod.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

10475

Malamute
09-13-2016, 12:31 PM
Gun: Springfield 1911A1

Setting: Informal range

How did it fail: Bought used. After about 500 rds without problems, it started having ejection problems every few mags. Changed extractor to "bulletproof" one (don't recall maker, Wilson?), adjusted it per instructions of gunsmith and online wizards. Local supposedly 1911 experienced gunsmith couldnt figure it out. Continued to get worse until I couldnt get through 1 mag without several failures to feed and eject. Used variety of mags that worked in other guns before and after, none worked reliably. Ammo was WWB 230 gr fmh and reloads with 230 gr rn cast at factory vel which Id used in all my past 1911s without issue. Ended up selling with notice of problems. Really really wanted to just send it cartwheeling out into the middle of the river.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes:


Gun: G19, not sure if gen 1 or 2. One pin frame

Setting: Informal range

How did it fail: Magazine didn't feed cartridges, meaning follower was not moving in mag, cartridges were below level of lips and loose in mag body. Had two original non-drop free mags that came with the gun, which I used as range mags and spares. Both ended up failing the same way. Never took them apart and cleaned them, which I should have. Springs felt wimpy also. Tossed in drawer and figured id get new springs and try them, but so far after 8 years I haven't. Newer mags work fine.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Notes: Guns ahs been fine other than old junky worn out magazines.


Gun: Whitworth Mauser 375 H&H

Setting: Informal range

How did it fail: Bolt dropped empty much of the time before kicking it out. Never ejected energetically. Also had factory follower come up through the rails once or twice. Very weird. Installed magnum follower from Brownells and it didn't do it again, but I never shot it much.

Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: I studied a friends Winchester model 70 in 375 and noted a difference in the rear receiver bridge inside. His had a clearance groove to allow the case to move farther before getting kicked off the extractor by the ejector. I duplicated that in mine with a dremel and it started ejecting very well. Didnt have troubles again, though didn't shoot it much.


Have had several cheap grade AKs fail to feed and eject. One required a little dremel work to make a small radius in the bolt face lip. It worked fine after that. Had a 5.45 that didn't eject well. Cases dribbled out rather than being the usual secondary projectiles method of ejection. Think it also had some failures to pick up new round in mag. Finally figured out that the US made cheapo replacement gas piston head was undersized compared to every other one I could measure or get info about. Called company and they sent new piston of correct head diameter and gun functioned fine with vigorous ejection. The gas block hole (piston cylinder part) and piston diameter are the one point where AKs need to be close tolerance apparently. Have had more import cheap to decent grade AKs fail to function than ARs. ARs have mostly been Colts though, and rifles.

Had bolt over base feed failure on an AK, the mag catch had been ground to fit reg mags from the low caps and they ground too much and the mags wouldn't seat far enough up to feed all the time. Replaced mag catch and it worked fine.

Saw a couple 5.45 AKs that looked like they had used a sledge hammer to seat the barrels, the muzzles were slightly mushroomed. Surprisingly, they never shot well. Yes, they came from that importer company that infamous for problem guns.

Nephrology
09-13-2016, 02:46 PM
How did it fail: Magazine didn't feed cartridges, meaning follower was not moving in mag, cartridges were below level of lips and loose in mag body. Had two original non-drop free mags that came with the gun, which I used as range mags and spares. Both ended up failing the same way. Never took them apart and cleaned them, which I should have. Springs felt wimpy also. Tossed in drawer and figured id get new springs and try them, but so far after 8 years I haven't. Newer mags work fine.


If you mail those mags to Glock with a note explaining the problem and a name/number/return address, they should send you replacement mags in the mail for free.

HCM
09-13-2016, 03:54 PM
If you mail those mags to Glock with a note explaining the problem and a name/number/return address, they should send you replacement mags in the mail for free.

If they are pre-ban mags, it might be worth trying new springs and followers. If they work, they would be valuable to shooters in MA.

Dcowboyscr
09-13-2016, 05:13 PM
SIG P239 .40 started ejecting live rounds. Also when the slide would lock back for an empty mag I'd find a live round on top of the magazine feed lips. 1,100 rds through it.

My gun.

Changed recoil spring.


Walther PPK-S NIB failure to feed even FMJ. Sent back to Walther. Came back with same problem. LGS took it back and gave me a Glock 19 nib.

RevolverRob
09-13-2016, 09:18 PM
Gun: Gen4 G19 (2010)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP. BTF. Occasional stove pipes
What was the remedy: Sold with full disclosure to someone who wanted a range toy
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#2) (2010)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: 3rd Gen G19 (#3) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#4) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF. MULTIPLE stove pipes
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: 3rd Gen G19 (#5) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement (replaced with a Gen4 G21 which was later sold, unfired)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#6) (2012 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Occasional BTF with all types of ammunition tried
What was the remedy: APEX FRE, worked for approximately 2,000 rounds, then BTF returned. Installed HRED and FRE, currently free of BTF.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (2015 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: repeated BTF
What was the remedy: none yet
Was it your pistol or someone else's: another agent in my squad. Still evaluating

I'm not even going to TRY to catalog all the failures I've seen over the last several decades resulting from bad maintenance, bad ammunition, and bad magazines - I'd be typing until way after I'm dead...

Holy moly Batman...You are required to run a Gen4 G19?

Otherwise I cannot imagine going through SIX Gen4 G19s to get one that works maybe...probably...maybe.

Seriously...that's a nightmare scenario.

psalms144.1
09-14-2016, 03:51 PM
Holy moly Batman...You are required to run a Gen4 G19?

Otherwise I cannot imagine going through SIX Gen4 G19s to get one that works maybe...probably...maybe.

Seriously...that's a nightmare scenario.I know, and I hate to trot it out. GLOCK tried to take care of me, at least they kept sending me replacements (not that any of them worked). It drove me into the arms of HK for a long while...though I'll freely admit that up until last week, a G19 was on my hip every day (now replaced with a VP9 that I'm putting through its paces.)

rangerover
09-14-2016, 08:47 PM
Oh, where to start?

Gun: S&W 940 (1990 vintage)
Setting: Home
How did it fail: unable to unload after loading, discharged during the unloading process
What was the remedy: Sent to S&W for repair, they refunded my purchase cost
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Colt Combat Elite .45 ACP (1992 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Multiple failures to feed, extract, eject
What was the remedy: Sold to someone willing to tinker
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Beretta M9s (multiple, IIRC, 6 or 7 out of 12 assigned) (2000-2001)
Setting: training sessions/range use
How did it fail: broken safety levers, broken locking blocks
What was the remedy: Returned to higher echelon for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: USAF's

Gun: Sig M11 (2004ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: front sight fell off after "armorer" installed incorrectly (from the right side of the dovetail)
What was the remedy: Returned to HQ armory for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Government

Gun: S&W 940 (Circa 2003)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: cylinder bound up during firing, was able to unload and make safe
What was the remedy: Sent to S&W for repair, they replaced it with a 642 at my request
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: S&W 638 (2008ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: lint/debris/general trash bound up hammer in hammer channel
What was the remedy: Cleared hammer channel with compressed air, detail stripped, cleaned, reassembled, and removed from ankle carry application
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: S&W 642 (2009ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: shot out of time, started showing excessive shaving of lead on one side of the forcing cone.
What was the remedy: Taken out of service, returned to S&W who rebuilt and retimed on "911" service - returned within 7 working days
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Sig P239 DAK .40 S&W (2008ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject. Failure to return to battery. Slide lock issues (early lock back and failing to lock back on empty)
What was the remedy: Returned to HQ Armory for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Gov't issued

Gun: Mk18 (2009ish)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Multiple failures for feed/extract/eject. Perfectly clean carbine would begin to bobble at 150-200 rounds fired, and require extensive cleaning to return to function.
What was the remedy: Returned to Crane for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Gov't issued

Gun: Gen4 G19 (2010)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP. BTF. Occasional stove pipes
What was the remedy: Sold with full disclosure to someone who wanted a range toy
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#2) (2010)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: 3rd Gen G19 (#3) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#4) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF. MULTIPLE stove pipes
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: 3rd Gen G19 (#5) (2011)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: multiple failures to feed/extract/eject with issued 147gr JHP and/or M882 NATO FMJ. BTF.
What was the remedy: Returned to GLOCK for replacement (replaced with a Gen4 G21 which was later sold, unfired)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Gen4 G19 (#6) (2012 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Occasional BTF with all types of ammunition tried
What was the remedy: APEX FRE, worked for approximately 2,000 rounds, then BTF returned. Installed HRED and FRE, currently free of BTF.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: mine

Gun: Mossberg 500 (2012)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Improper assembly resulted in action bars bending on use.
What was the remedy: Removed from service and returned to HQ Armory for replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Gov't issued

Gun: Gen4 G19 (2015 vintage)
Setting: Range
How did it fail: repeated BTF
What was the remedy: none yet
Was it your pistol or someone else's: another agent in my squad. Still evaluating

I'm not even going to TRY to catalog all the failures I've seen over the last several decades resulting from bad maintenance, bad ammunition, and bad magazines - I'd be typing until way after I'm dead...


Just curious. What was the issued 147g ammo? Did the 19's work with other JHP's? Other FMJ's? Thanks

psalms144.1
09-14-2016, 08:50 PM
Just curious. What was the issued 147g ammo? Did the 19's work with other JHP's? Other FMJ's? ThanksIssued JHP ammo is A260, which is VERY accurate, and VERY lightly loaded (though that has changed over time). The issued ball is NATO standard (hot - +P equivalent). Unfortunately, I didn't take the time or spend the money to try too many other loads.

BehindBlueI's
09-14-2016, 09:09 PM
GUN: Glock 22 Gen 3
SETTING: Newly issued pistol at in-service
FAILURE: Repeated FTF with a weapon mounted light attached
CAUSE: Dunno, but a lot of them had the same issue.
FIX: Replaced with Gen 4
OWNERSHIP: Gov't


GUN: GP100 Wiley Clapp
SETTING: Outdoor range, new gun
FAILURE: Cylinder would begin to drag on forcing cone after the gun heated up.
CAUSE: Improper tolerances from factory
FIX: Ruger corrected the issue.
OWNERSHIP: Mine

GUN: Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP
SETTING: Indoor range, new gun
FAILURE: Multiple failures to fire
CAUSE: Gun manufactured out of spec
FIX: Ruger swapped out the cylinder and returned it, still out of spec, Ruger replaced the entire firearm. It sort of worked.
OWNERSHIP: Mine

GUN: Sig P226 SCT
SETTING: Outdoor range
FAILURE: Front fiber optic fell out
CAUSE: I didn't stay on top of the maintenance and the recoil spring was worn, so the slide was jarring to a stop more than it should
FIX: Sig replaced the sight, no questions asked
OWNERSHIP: Mine

GUN: Sig P226 SCT
SETTING: Outdoor range
FAILURE: Decocker lever broke where the spring inserts into the lever
CAUSE: Honest wear and tear, 2009 manufactur and a lot of use.
FIX: Sig is shipping a replacement, no questions asked
OWNERSHIP: Mine

LockedBreech
09-14-2016, 10:16 PM
I know, and I hate to trot it out. GLOCK tried to take care of me, at least they kept sending me replacements (not that any of them worked). It drove me into the arms of HK for a long while...though I'll freely admit that up until last week, a G19 was on my hip every day (now replaced with a VP9 that I'm putting through its paces.)

In the arms of a Heckler

Fly awaaaaaay from heeeeee


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HCM
09-16-2016, 02:22 AM
Gun: SIG P-229 R DAK .40
Setting: range - annual night fire / low light qualification
How did it fail: broken extractor (hook)
Remedy - returned to national armory - issued spare gun as replacement
Your gun or someone else's: Govt issue.

All our SIGs are short extractor - I was told they are all bar stock extractors per contract. In ten years this is the first SIG extractor I've seen break.

10615

10616

GardoneVT
09-16-2016, 02:52 AM
Gun :FIE .380
Setting : Indoor Range
Failure:Catastrophic Frame Failure.
Cause :Pot metal frame composition reached end of life during normal operation.
Fix: Customer returned the pile of parts to the scrap heap it was always destined for.
Ownership: Range Customer.
10617

RevolverRob
09-18-2016, 01:50 AM
Oh I just remembered a couple I didn't want to remember.

GUN: Rock Island Armory 1911
SETTING: Outdoor range of friend. Doing timed drills.
FAILURE: Ran a reload and slapped in a surplus GI 1911 magazine...and then all my ammo was on the ground, giving me a single-shot gun.
CAUSE: Blew out the welds on a 1911 magazine floorplate.
FIX: Replaced blown mag with a Wilson 47D
OWNERSHIP: Mine (Gun was later given to my father, who used it in a self-defense, gun never choked with hardball or 230-grain White Box JHPs).

GUN: Lorcin 380
SETTING: Outdoor range, normal practice
FAILURE: Repeated FTF
CAUSE: Piece of crap gun.
FIX: Sold with full disclosure at a gunshow.
OWNERSHIP: Dad's

Gun: Erma-Werke RX22
Setting: Outdoor Range
Failure: Slam fire when slide was dropped on a loaded magazine. Results? Empty magazine
Fix: Clean the gunk out of the firing pin channel, replace firing pin spring, and lubricate.
Ownership: Mine until Stolen

Gun: Pre-Remington Marlin 336 with cross-bolt safety
Setting: Outdoor Range
Failure: Front sight flew off.
Fix: Replace sights with XS ghost rings.
Failure: Discover in process that Marlin barrel has dreaded cant. (prior to this gun had a scope on it)
Fix: Needed. I intended to send it to Marlin to fix, but I made this discovery right around the time things got REALLY bad with Remington-Marlin. And it doesn't seem to have improved considerably since instead I may send it to Lew Bonitz and have it fixed...correctly.

OlongJohnson
09-15-2017, 10:54 PM
Gun: S&W SD9VE
Setting: my work bench, during cleaning
How did it fail: Captured guide rod recoil spring assembly self-disassembled itself.
What was the remedy: Called S&W the next business day and they sent me a new RSA.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

Notes: Not while shooting, but a mechanical failure that took the pistol fully out of service. The washer (which is at the frame end) unsnapped from the rod under the recoil spring force while the assembly was sitting on my bench, as I had the pistol disassembled for cleaning. Washer went flying out the door and down my driveway, presumably. Couldn't find it. I have done some searching on the blue forum, and it's apparently understood that this failure mode can happen from time to time. People keep spare RSAs on hand, not simply due to expecting to wear out the The pistol was used, new to me, and appeared to have maybe a magazine or two down the pipe. I had not fired it yet.


Gun: Beretta 96D
Setting: square range
How did it fail: Consistent nose-down failure to feed, with 5-7 rounds in any of several magazines. More or fewer rounds, it would operate normally.
What was the remedy: Removed the Wilson Combat Shok-Buf. It's never had a hiccup since then.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine.

Notes: I've forgotten off the top of my head, but it may also have a one-step stiffer recoil spring in it to help with the .40 pounding the front of the frame. It may be that the combination of Shok-Buf and spring is the problem. This pistol is a PD trade-in from CDNN. It really likes 165 gr Critical Defense - notably more accurate even at small numbers of yards than any of the several FMJs I've tried.

car541
09-15-2017, 11:43 PM
Here are a few recent ones I have seen

Gun: Glock 20 gen 3
Setting: Qualification session
How did it fail: case head separation, blew the extractor and magazine out if the gun
What was the remedy: made user buy some factory ammo
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Glock 17 gen 3
Setting: Officer involved shooting
How did it fail: extractor tip broke off after firing 13 of 18 rounds in gun causing stovepipe
What was the remedy: chunked gun on the ground and went for his backup after type III malf clearance failed, suspect was wounded and hid in the woods until a K9 found him
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Sig P220 ( stainless slide with internal extractor)
Setting: Qualification session
How did it fail: extractor stopped holding well enough to eject, numerous fail to eject and fail to extract
What was the remedy: sent back to factory, but trust was lost, bought a glock
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Walther PPQ
Setting: tactical shooting class
How did it fail: stopped locking back on empty magazine. magazine followers on 2 mags found to have slide stop engagement tabs snapped off
What was the remedy: Walther replaced magazines and factory rep was sent magazines to analyze failure (they were VERY responsive)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Glock 19
Setting: Basic class cadet's new gun
How did it fail: front sight couldn't be tightened sight hole had machining error making hole too large
What was the remedy: Glock replaced slide for free (they were VERY responsive)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Kimber 1911
Setting: Qualification
How did it fail: slide stop shaft broke, gun spontaneously field stripped when fired
What was the remedy: point, laugh, install Wilson combat bulletproof slide stop
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: M&P 9
Setting: Tactical shooting class
How did it fail: Aftermarket "bargain" extra capacity baseplate failure, unloaded magazine onto ground
What was the remedy: factory baseplate and spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Sig P229
Setting: Basic class cadet's gun
How did it fail: new gun, slide stop broke after about 50 rounds at base of fingerpad. Gun still worked, just couldnt be locked back
What was the remedy: replaced part, no further problems
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Glock 26
Setting: attempt to qualify
How did it fail: little spring under the takedown latch broke in half. whole top end of gun thrown to ground 2 feet in front of shooter when fired
What was the remedy: replaced spring. (as a trivia item the 26 and 27 have a completely different slide lock spring than the 17,19,20,21,34,22,23 and 35 and it was n backorder for like a month before the replacement showed up)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: several springfield XD's
Setting: general use
How did it fail:the roll pin through the top of the slide that acts as a firing pin stop broke after alot of dryfire practice.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Glock 22 (several)
Setting: attempt to qualify
How did it fail: Trigger bar return spring breakages
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Bucky
09-16-2017, 06:34 AM
As someone who shoots matches every weekend, I could probably post one... every weekend.

My own personal most recent.

Gun BFG Glock 23 Gen 4:
Multiple failure to feed with a few rounds left.
Where: reoccurring range trips.
Resolution: New magazine springs.

This was a tough one to diagnose. Mostly because the mags gave me no issues in my Gen 3. With the new springs, the Gen 4 is now running well.

gtae07
09-16-2017, 08:05 AM
In random order:

Gun: Sig Mosquito
Setting: Multiple ranges
How did it fail: How didn't it fail? Stovepipes, failure to extract, double feed, nose-up failure to feed, light primer strikes, failure to cycle completely...
What was the remedy: Eventually completely tore down the slide, ultrasonic cleaned, and polished every moving surface. Honed chamber. Modified extractor outer profile to let it seat better. Polished hammer face and rounded bottom of slide for easier operation. Polished slide rail contact area, lubed with dry moly spray. Tried to clean up breech face as best as possible (previous owner dry-fired it and peened the surface). Put recoil spring in right. Made a big difference; didn't fix it completely but it's a lot better than it was--previously was getting a malfunction about two out of three rounds. I refuse to buy mini-mags; .22s should run on bulk ammo.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine, but soon to be someone else's (multiple interested buyers!)

Gun: Taurus PT-111 Pro
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Very first round through the gun didn't fire. Even tried "restrike" in DA mode.
What was the remedy: Tap, rack, bang. 1000 trouble-free rounds since.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine, later sold to brother-in-law.

Gun: Ruger LC9s
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Slide would lock open before magazine was empty
What was the remedy: Realized my right thumb was riding the slide lock lever. Moved thumb.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: CZ-82
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Rear slide slid right out of the dovetail
What was the remedy: Temporarily reinstall to find and mark zero, reinstall permanently with Locktite
Was it your pistol or someone else's: My brother's

Gun: AR-15 with Ciener .22 conversion
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Stovepipe locked up the bolt assy tight. Turns out it was bone dry (oops!)
What was the remedy: Pry case out, remove kit. Disassemble, polish all sliding surfaces. Reassemble with lube. Will try on next range trip.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine

Gun: AR-15
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Case stuck in chamber, rim ripped off by extractor
What was the remedy: Hammer case out with cleaning rod. Thoroughly clean chamber after shooting cheap Russian steel-case ammo.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine

Gun: 1909 Argentine Mauser
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Basketball-size pattern at 25 yards, tumbling bullets
What was the remedy: Sporterized conversion from 7.65 Argentine has the wrong bore size for a .30-06. Needs a new barrel. Will do that when I eventually get around to it.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine (inherited from Grandfather)

Gun: Glock 19.4
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Magazine fell out after first shot following reload not from slide lock
What was the remedy: Instructed wife on how to properly seat magazine. She then proceeded to pinch her hand between grip and magazine floor plate, resulting in blood blister. Instructed further on a grip to avoid that (oops)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: My wife's

Gun: Sig P320 Compact
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Brass to forehead/face, three times in a row
What was the remedy: Unloaded gun, returned to rental counter. Wife bought G19 instead.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Range rental

Gun: Ruger 10/22
Setting: Appleseed class
How did it fail: Empty case embedded in left ring finger (ouch!)
What was the remedy: Wrap finger in paper towel and masking tape. Don't put fingers in front of ejection port.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Ruger 10/22
Setting: Appleseed class
How did it fail: Stovepipes, failures to extract
What was the remedy: Switch to Marlin 880 for remainder of day. Disassemble, thoroughly clean, and relube with better lube that didn't gunk up under heat and get sticky.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Ruger 10/22
Setting: Various
How did it fail: Nose-up failures to feed using 25-round magazines
What was the remedy: Stop using 25 rounders except for plinking
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Walther CCP
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Multiple jams, unsure of exact failure method (was watching wife from outside). I think the slide was sticking.
What was the remedy: Return to rental counter for thorough cleaning. Bought G19 instead.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Range rental

Gun: Glock 22 with RMR, unknown generation
Setting: Defensive pistol class
How did it fail: Stovepipe, double feed (separate events)
What was the remedy: Not sure; instructor dealt with it. I suspect it was technique-induced (limp wrist or something--he was a new shooter)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Pistol belonged to one of my coworkers; he let his roommate borrow it for the class

Gun: Mosin-Nagant with scope clamped to sight dovetail
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Drifting impact point, followed by scope mount sliding off dovetail due to recoil
What was the remedy: Reinstall scope mount, used set screw through top to lock in place better.
Was it your rifle or someone else's: Mine, later sold to brother-in-law

Gun: Something in .45ACP, that's all I remember
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Double- then triple-fired
What was the remedy: Shooter got this face :eek: disassembled gun and put it away to get fixed
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Guy at the next table over


Gun: P3AT
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Actually, it didn't, which surprised me. Pocket carried it for several years without ever shooting or cleaning it or even unloading (I know, I know), was full of pocket lint and crap. Fired several magazines without a hiccup.
What was the remedy: Cleaned it, treating it better from now on.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

ranger
09-16-2017, 09:01 AM
Gun: SIG 320 Compact (pre recall)
Setting: Private outdoor range, IDPA bay
How did it fail: Failure to extract, 1 out of 50 rounds
What was the remedy: Sent back to SIG, SIG replaced extractor and extractor spring
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Colt 1911 45ACP
Setting: USPSA match circa 1987
How did it fail: 2 shot bursts with one trigger pull
What was the remedy: Multiple Master class and other experienced shooters helped remedy (reassembled after cleaning with leaf spring wrong). Most were trying to see how they could replicate :).
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: Colt M16A2 5.56
Setting: Trench clearing LFX, Fort Irwin, CA, National Training Center, Desert Storm Mobilization
How did it fail: Catastrophic failure (aka blown up), joint between upper receiver and barrel extension.
Background: Days of running live fire trench clearing operations of a Heavy Task Force - mix of M1A1 Abrams and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. M1s fired an HE into the trench entry point followed by Infantry assault. Lots of dust and debris. Conjecture: M16A2 very dirty after multiple runs, jammed, soldier cleared jam but left projectile in the barrel, rammed in next round, overpressure.
What was the remedy: Turned into arms room for rebuild/destruction. Soldier drew new weapon.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Rifle issued to one of my soldiers, belonged to GAARNG courtesy of US Army

Glenn E. Meyer
09-16-2017, 11:38 AM
Best fails:

1. SU-16 - Keltec 223 rifle. Stock cracks in half on shooter.

2. My G42 - Wouldn't chamber the first round out of the box. Then jammed consistently and fired out of battery. Smoke and flames out of the ejector port. Scared the crap out of me. Back to Glock - still a jammer and in discussion with them.

3. Taurus PT-22. Jammed on every type of ammo reasonably available. It would eject entire live rounds. It slammed shut on some, bending the 22 LR in half. That scared me too.

Those are the major exciting fails I've experienced beyond the usual jams and fun from watching guys who put in triggers and shot their special reloads.

Radar Love
09-16-2017, 02:37 PM
Gun: Glock 26
Setting: IDPA match
How did it fail: failure to go into battery
What was the remedy: tap/rack
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: GP-100
Setting: Outdoor range
How did it fail: Failure to extract .38 special cartridges with one cartridge became lodged under ejector star, binding action.
What was the remedy: Immediate: depress ejector and pry cartridge our w/ pocket knife. Long term: polish cylinders
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Gun: GP-100
Setting: IDPA match
How did it fail: Primer not properly seated caused cylinder to bind; revolver completely locked up.
What was the remedy: Remove defective ammo; stop using cheap reloads.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

notes: I love revolvers but they can fail. I used to work at the firearms counter of a big box store and every time a customer would try get their wife to buy a revolver because they "never jam" I would try to explain that they can. Of course, they usually ignored me and bought a J-frame.

Edit: just remembered these:

Gun: Mossberg 500
Setting: shotgun class
How did it fail: unknown; bound up completely when student attempted to cycle action.
What was the remedy: Instructor was unable to clear action, went to armory for disassembly.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Gun: Remington 870
Setting: Gun store receiving room
How did it fail: Bolt wasn't attached to anything and was bouncing happily around the chamber.
What was the remedy: Return to Remington, sell customer used Wingmaster at a much better price.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

HCM
06-16-2022, 02:20 PM
Bumping this thread:

P320 front BUIS walking out under recoil

90253

90254

90255

9025590256

OlongJohnson
06-16-2022, 03:48 PM
Beretta in TN may not be able to cut a front sight dovetail the right size or level across the slide, but at least they peen them to hold the sight in before it goes out the door.

LockedBreech
06-16-2022, 04:34 PM
I don't have many contributions to this thread, I've always had pretty good luck with guns, but I suppose I should contribute the ones I do have.

1.) Beretta Bobcat Inox. My first and only Gallatin Beretta, now sold. It liked to stovepipe. Not uncommon with those guns, but it even did it with high pressure ammo. I still would have kept it, just needed cash. The annoying stovepipes next to my brother's flawless Ruger SR22 made it less appetizing to keep.

2.) Sig Sauer P226. Choked with both the .40 and 357 barrels. I don't blame the 226, I was running it bone dry out of the box (certified pre owned), found it later they're like Berettas. I'm sure if I'd had a layer of Slip on there it would have been fine. I regret selling this one and wouldn't have but I was paying off my student loan. Of course, it was also a bad Cohen-era Sig so maybe it really DID suck.

3.) M&P40 with .357 Sig Barrel. Bought this extra barrel for my surplus Detroit P.D. first-gen M&P. Choked on Speer Lawman and Speer Gold Dot and it's not like there are tons of great alternatives in that caliber. The .40 barrel runs great. I only paid $75 for the barrel, so no big loss, but I've been sitting on 200-300 rounds of quality .357 Sig carry and range ammo for years despite the fact I'll most likely never own one again. Ah well, ammo keeps forever if you take care of it, and maybe one day I'll try .357 Sig again. I see why they don't make the M&P in .357 Sig anymore. Aside from being a boutique caliber, it just did not run for me.

That's it. No other issues come to mind. And I've had probably 30-40 handguns. That's why I'm a pretty strong believer in "buy a good brand, use quality lube and ammo, don't be lazy with maintenance" as the fix to 99.9% of pistol issues.

M2CattleCo
06-17-2022, 08:16 AM
Lately:

Glock 43s and 43Xs have fail to ejects with 124 and 147gr duty ammo with multiple shooters. Consistent enough to write-off the whole Glock single stack platform as garbage.

Sammy1
06-17-2022, 08:56 AM
Gun: P320 carry manufacture date of 2017
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Dead trigger, took out the FCU and trigger bar was snapped in half
What was the remedy: Sent back to Sig
Was it your pistol or someone else's: My gun

Notes: Second time this pistol went back to Sig. First was failure to extract. Extractor assembly replaced, apparently newer design, "rolling upgrades".

Spartan1980
06-17-2022, 09:20 AM
I don't have many contributions to this thread, I've always had pretty good luck with guns, but I suppose I should contribute the ones I do have.

3.) M&P40 with .357 Sig Barrel. Bought this extra barrel for my surplus Detroit P.D. first-gen M&P. Choked on Speer Lawman and Speer Gold Dot and it's not like there are tons of great alternatives in that caliber. The .40 barrel runs great. I only paid $75 for the barrel, so no big loss, but I've been sitting on 200-300 rounds of quality .357 Sig carry and range ammo for years despite the fact I'll most likely never own one again. Ah well, ammo keeps forever if you take care of it, and maybe one day I'll try .357 Sig again. I see why they don't make the M&P in .357 Sig anymore. Aside from being a boutique caliber, it just did not run for me.


Ditto for me. Mine will run a few mags of my very slightly downloaded reloads flawlessly. About 3-4 mags, then starts choking and if you continue it will progress to a full failure to extract leaving the case in the chamber. Full power Gold Dot starts in with the shenanigans on the second mag. Scrubbing the chamber fixes it but the process starts all over as soon as shooting resumes. I talked to APEX and they couldn't promise their extractor would fix it. The .40 barrel? Same, it runs like the energizer bunny with that barrel in it, reloads, factory, light bullet, heavy bullet, it eats everything. Very disappointing, as that .357 barrel is extremely accurate. I bought a surplus P229 DAK to replace it.

LockedBreech
06-17-2022, 09:43 AM
Ditto for me. Mine will run a few mags of my very slightly downloaded reloads flawlessly. About 3-4 mags, then starts choking and if you continue it will progress to a full failure to extract leaving the case in the chamber. Full power Gold Dot starts in with the shenanigans on the second mag. Scrubbing the chamber fixes it but the process starts all over as soon as shooting resumes. I talked to APEX and they couldn't promise their extractor would fix it. The .40 barrel? Same, it runs like the energizer bunny with that barrel in it, reloads, factory, light bullet, heavy bullet, it eats everything. Very disappointing, as that .357 barrel is extremely accurate. I bought a surplus P229 DAK to replace it.

My totally uneducated, shot in the dark working theory is that it has something to do with the unlocking issues the first-gen M&Ps had that contributed to poor accuracy in 9mms. For some reason, with heavy-for-caliber .40 and .45, the M&Ps have always been end of the world reliable and pretty accurate, but 9mm accuracy has struggled and .357 Sig didn't function. So maybe a function of round velocity? Just a complete guess.


Gun: P320 carry manufacture date of 2017
Setting: Indoor range
How did it fail: Dead trigger, took out the FCU and trigger bar was snapped in half
What was the remedy: Sent back to Sig
Was it your pistol or someone else's: My gun

Notes: Second time this pistol went back to Sig. First was failure to extract. Extractor assembly replaced, apparently newer design, "rolling upgrades".

I am very fond of my M17B but I am glad that 1.) I bought an LE-purchaser one and 2.) I waited until mid-2022. Those earlier ones do seem to be where most of the issues are concentrated.


Lately:

Glock 43s and 43Xs have fail to ejects with 124 and 147gr duty ammo with multiple shooters. Consistent enough to write-off the whole Glock single stack platform as garbage.

I love Glocks, but my 43 was not a love story for me. Had a Shield 1.0, carried the 43 for about 1.5-2 years and went back to the Shield (2.0 this time). Something about the 42 and 43 just never meshed with me. Maybe as simple as my fairly big hands.

I was carrying 147-gr HST with it and did not heavily vet it, so that's alarming. Good reminder for me not to be lazy or trust a brand name.

LockedBreech
06-17-2022, 09:45 AM
Double tap, sorry.

claymore504
06-17-2022, 10:08 AM
Gun: FNX-45 & FNP-40
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Would not fire in DA after a while
What was the remedy: Replaced Frame / Replaced gun
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes: This was a known problem I found out. The polymer frames would become extremely soft when they got hot. This was enough to cause flex int he frame and prevent double action fire. On the FNX-45 I could deform the grip just by squeezing it. FN replaced my FNP-40 with a FNX-40 free of charge since I bought the FNP new. As for the FNX-45 that I purchased used, I just had to cover shipping and they replaced the frame.

Gun: P320 Compact 9mm
Setting: Sig Academy Pistol Course
How did it fail: Double feed
What was the remedy: Cleared malf and kept going
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

[B]Notes: This P320 C had about 300 rounds on it when I went to the course. Had never had an issue before. Was running Fiocchi 115 gr. After the course I cleaned the extractor channel really good and did not see an issue. never had an issue after that until i sold the pistol.

OlongJohnson
06-17-2022, 11:04 AM
Gun: P320 Compact 9mm
Setting: Sig Academy Pistol Course
How did it fail: Double feed
What was the remedy: Cleared malf and kept going
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

[B]Notes: This P320 C had about 300 rounds on it when I went to the course. Had never had an issue before. Was running Fiocchi 115 gr. After the course I cleaned the extractor channel really good and did not see an issue. never had an issue after that until i sold the pistol.

If there's time, I like to retain brass that is involved in a malfunction for inspection. It can provide clear evidence of what the malfunction was and why it happened.

Bernomad
06-17-2022, 06:48 PM
Ruger LCP 2. All kinds of failures and mag would fall out while shooting it. Not just with me, but anybody who shot it. It was disappointing. So I decided to trade it in on another gun. They didn’t give me much for it. They said it had too much wear. I guess I wore it out.

OlongJohnson
06-17-2022, 08:07 PM
My LCP Custom also had issues. The mag falling out issue turned out to be the baseplate preventing full insertion, depending on whether force was applied toward the front or rear when inserting it. Trimming the upper edge of the baseplate so there was enough clearance to insert it regardless of forward or rearward thrust cured that.

Could barely get through a mag much of the time, and the takedown pin walked out. Turned out the slide was mismachined and the barrel was twisted at an angle. Sent it back and they put a whole new top end on it. I put it on consignment without firing it.

Bernomad
06-17-2022, 08:38 PM
My LCP Custom also had issues. The mag falling out issue turned out to be the baseplate preventing full insertion, depending on whether force was applied toward the front or rear when inserting it. Trimming the upper edge of the baseplate so there was enough clearance to insert it regardless of forward or rearward thrust cured that.

Could barely get through a mag much of the time, and the takedown pin walked out. Turned out the slide was mismachined and the barrel was twisted at an angle. Sent it back and they put a whole new top end on it. I put it on consignment without firing it.

I should have sent my LCP 2 in before I got rid of it. I also had a Ruger Bodyguard that was unreliable. I gave up on their semiautos. I had good luck with GP 100 revolvers though.

TheNewbie
06-17-2022, 09:25 PM
I should have sent my LCP 2 in before I got rid of it. I also had a Ruger Bodyguard that was unreliable. I gave up on their semiautos. I had good luck with GP 100 revolvers though.

Ruger Bodyguard?

G19Fan
06-17-2022, 11:39 PM
Gun: Gen 2 Glock 19
Setting: Range
How did it fail: 2x double-feeds/failures-to-extract
What was the remedy: See below
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

I was finishing up my range session and I made the decision to fire some of my carry ammunition (Speer Gold Dot 124grn +P) for proficiency. As the ammunition I had in my mags had been cycled a few times (this batch loaded in mid-February 2013), I took the first four rounds from each magazine and loaded them into one of the 17rd magazines I had been using for range use. I topped the carry mags off and went back to the firing line with the range mag loaded to five rounds (intention was to fire two five-round groups and make an attempt at the FAST drill).

The first two rounds fired fine. The third round fired with no noticeable difference, but the slide was locked back. I had what appeared to be a double feed, but upon clearing it I noticed the third round had been fired. Questioning myself, I stripped the pistol to check for a barrel obstruction. Nothing there. The following two rounds fired fine.

I repeated this once more with the same magazine, with the same result. The third round was, again, left in the chamber unfired.

At this point I switched to another magazine, my carry reload (17rd OEM magazine). All five rounds fed and fired fine. I repeated this with the mag I carry in the gun (15rd OEM magazine) with the same success.

Due to my location, I do not have regular access to my pistol (college campus -- pistol stored off-campus). I was in a hurry tonight, but I will have the opportunity to inspect the pistol either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. As a precaution, I have set aside all ammunition that had been loaded in my carry magazines and swapped to a different lot of ammunition. I am considering carrying my Gen 3 G19 (same sights and mag release, but lacks the grip work) until I can diagnose and repair this problem. This leads me to my question:

Below are the possible causes I believe may have led to this and the details of the pistol. If any of you have input as to something I may have missed, I would appreciate if you could share.

Pistol specs: Gen 2 G19 1996 mfg. Trijicon HD night sights. Vickers magazine release. Stippling and trigger guard undercut. Grip Force Adapter. 4.5lb connector, NY1 return spring, G17 smooth-faced trigger. LWD Gen 3 extractor w/ LCI. OEM spring-loaded bearing for same (note: replacement due to chipped OEM extractor discovered Nov 2012). OEM 15rd and 17rd magazines.
Lubricant: Froglube
Last cleaning: November 2012 (note: pistol was at the tail end of the 2000rd challenge. Prior to this, all parts had been placed in an ultrasonic cleaner, oiled, and lubricated)
Approx. rounds fired: 1950
Rounds fired that night: 50 rounds of 124grn FMJ over 4.3grn of Red Dot (reloads)

Possible causes?
- Magazine-induced. I view this as possible, but unless I'm mistaken double-feeds generally occur with two live rounds, not a fired casing and a live round.
- Dirty chamber or extractor. The gun has seen a lot of cheap, dirty ammunition through it over the past few months. However, why did the stoppage occur on the same round twice? Why didn't it occur with two known to be good magazines?
- Ammunition-related. Possible bullet set-back from re-chambering? Why didn't it occur with the reloads I had fired previously?
- Shooter induced. I'm not exactly the most proficient shooter out there, but is this even possible?
- Worn springs. I have no idea of the gun's history prior to my purchase. All I know is that the serial number leads to a police department that bought it in 1996. It has a lot of holster wear, but internally it appears fine.

Again, any input would be appreciated.

Don't use froglube. I have previously reliable glocks that turned into jamomatics with froglube. Also try a new recoil spring

Slip 2000 is my preferred

Bernomad
06-18-2022, 10:45 AM
[QUOTE=TheNewbie;1364458]Ruger Bodyguard? Sorry. I guess that was an M&P.
90311

Hemiram
06-19-2022, 01:52 AM
Gun: M&P 9.
Setting: Backyard.
How did it fail?: Slide got stuck slightly out of battery a couple of times over about 200 rounds.
What was the remedy?: Sent back to S&W for checkout.
My gun or someone else's?: Someone else's.

A coworker's M&P 9 did the same thing a few months back, and it suddenly stopped, but the gun above has had this issue since day one. It isn't a gun he carries, so he gave it a chance to break in, but it never improved. When it got stuck, just like the earlier gun my coworker had, it would refuse to fire and it needed to have the slide moved back and forth several times and then it would be fine for a while. I think the locking mechanism was/is out of tolerance and binds up. We will see what S&W CS says.

Gun: EAA/Tanfoglio Witness TA/88? Combat Cohai well used Israeli surplus CZ clone.
Setting: Backyard.
How did it fail?: Mag follower came apart, jamming gun pretty badly.
What was the Remedy?: New follower. I had bought some years ago, and had my Tanfo parts with me, and put one in and the gun was back shooting.
My gun or someone else's? My gun, pictured in my avatar to the left.

HCM
09-25-2022, 09:14 PM
Not a gun but a defective round of Winchester White Box .45 ACP with a backwards primer.

94843

hufnagel
09-25-2022, 09:23 PM
had my ruger SR-22 yeet the slide off one time. :D

4RNR
09-25-2022, 09:58 PM
Not a gun but a defective round of Winchester White Box .45 ACP with a backwards primer.

94843That means you have to load it the HK way

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

Lost River
09-25-2022, 10:36 PM
Not a gun but a defective round of Winchester White Box .45 ACP with a backwards primer.

94843

That is not defective.

That is the new, Winchester line of Nuclear ammo.

Its a blast! :cool:

Oldherkpilot
09-26-2022, 06:20 AM
Not a gun but a defective round of Winchester White Box .45 ACP with a backwards primer.

94843

Factory ball and dummy ammo!

Darth_Uno
09-26-2022, 06:48 AM
Not a gun but a defective round of Winchester White Box .45 ACP with a backwards primer.


I had a Corbon 9mm round with the primer smashed in sideways. Good thing I caught it before I buried it in a mag and carried it.

Leroy Suggs
09-26-2022, 07:05 AM
About 20 years ago I had 2 squibs in a row with some Blazer aluminum 45 ACP
Was in a S&W 625. I knocked the first one out, then pop, another one.

claymore504
09-26-2022, 07:08 AM
A few years back I had a box of Winchester white box 45ACP that had major issues. About 1/3 of the box had very weak rounds. When fired out of an STI Escort, it felt like firing a 22. I could watch the round travel to the target very slowly.

LockedBreech
09-26-2022, 12:37 PM
After reading a few of the horror stories about weirdly put together factory ammo, some years ago I made it a habit to do a quick examination of every bullet I load into a gun, carry or range. Just a very quick glance at the primer and seating of the round. After long enough it became second nature.

Maybe overly obsessive, but for me an few extra seconds per round is perfectly acceptable to avoid having a dead round or a kaboom in my barrel.

Polecat
09-26-2022, 12:51 PM
A novel exercise for fun, I don’t think this gets us anywhere. Claude Werner’s discussion on reliability was eye opening and thought provoking. To parse it down, use good magazines, test how you are likely going to employ the weapon, it has to function 100% for the total rounds you carry, with your carry ammo. Was meaningless to shiit 1000 flawless FMJ then load duty ammo and assume the reliability is there.

Lex Luthier
09-26-2022, 09:04 PM
That is not defective.

That is the new, Winchester line of Nuclear ammo.

Its a blast! :cool:

(bad Boris Badenov accent)

Is not primer; is proximity fuse!

(/bad Boris Badenov accent)

HCM
11-01-2022, 08:11 AM
Gun: SIG P320
Setting: range
How did it fail: front sight came loose in dovetail, lost zero / co-witness
What was the remedy: re-install with Red Loctite and light peening
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Uncle Sam’s

Gun: SIG P320
Setting: range
How did it fail: front sight came loose in dovetail and disappeared under recoil (not recovered)
What was the remedy: install new front sight with Red Loctite and light peening
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Uncle Sam’s

Had two more front Iron sights come loose yesterday at work.

We’ve had about 300 P320’s with Romeo1PRO RDS and SIG suppressor height BUIS in use for about 6 months now.

So far we’ve seen far more failures of the BUIS than the RDS. So far we’ve seen over 20 BUIS come loose, vs 5 issues with the RDS. Those RDS issues bring 3 which lost zero in the same manner (low left) and two which started worked eating batteries due to failure of the shake awake mode.

Artemas2
11-01-2022, 12:07 PM
These happened to me on my guns

Glock 17gen 4 (milled for red dot)
Launched front sight into orbit (screw and sight base had red loctite on them)
Rear sight drifted out of dovetail
Both happened during the same.....Red dot class:p

Glock 19 gen 4
slide stop spring broke, gun yeeted down range during "unload show clear
At a IDPA match

Glock 35 gen 4
spontaneous field strip when drawn form a 7T holster,
At a class, when demoing a one handed reload with the gun in the holster. Suspected cause is the take down lever getting activated when doing the drill

Glock 35 gen 4 (back up)
failure to feeds: factory trigger bar was putting pressure on the round as it was being chambered
Replaced trigger bar/shoe with a new factory part

Shadow 2
Trigger return spring broke after 5,000 ish round
replaced with CGW TRS
practice the day before a match

Shadow 2 (same)
Mag catch spring broke, about 10k rounds
replaced with factory spring
practice day before a different match (keep spares on hand!)

Ruger PCC (borrowed from a friend, first time using)
gun split in half during a match.
Cause: I hit the take down button while shooting, gun fired while the barrel assembly was rotated 45 degrees

Witnessed happened to other people, all at matches.

Ruger 1911
stuck case in chamber
Owner tried to mortar the gun, missed, put beaver tail through his hand

Limcat 2011
brand new custom gun, round detonated on "unload show clear" owner took some spall and an ER trip (just a few stitches and minor shrapnel removal)
Cause: Ejector struck the primer, factory installed a 9mm ejector on a .40S&W gun

Limcat 2011 open gun (9 major) (different gun/owner)
Barrel leg sheared off, owner reports over 30k rounds

Springfield XD
gun exploded into pieces
Cause: its an XD (or somebody wasn't watching their powder drop)

CZ TSO
Trigger failed to reset
Cause: pre-travel screw backed out


there is more, but I am struggling to recall the specifics of them. These ones all left an impression for one reason or another.

HCM
11-03-2022, 06:40 PM
Gun: Les Baer PII
Setting: Casual range shooting
Failure: failures to extract
Fix: pending new extractor
My pistol.

Had this gun 8 years, bought it used. It’s a late 1990s gun. No idea on the round count but recoil and firing pin springs have been replaced. First issue with this gun so I’m assuming this is the first indication it’s time for a new extractor. Ammo was Remington 230 FMJ. The FTE occurred one or twice per mag with four different patterns of magazines.

96597

mrozowjj
11-04-2022, 08:44 PM
I have 3 that I can think of off the top of my head:


Gun: Glock 16 Gen 4
Setting: USPSA Match
How did it fail: Several stovepipes during one match
What was the remedy: Replaced all the springs
Was it your pistol or someone else's: It was my gun I used for USPSA matches

Notes: I absued the hell out of this gun. I didn't clean it at all I just shot it in matches and at the range for practice and sometimes added lube to it. Gun ran fine for 7000 rounds and then suddendly I had a view stovepipes at the same match. Went home and replaced all the springs inside the gun ( extractor spring, striker spring, recoil spring, etc) for like $30-40 and seemed to work ok again after that.



Gun: Ruger LCP
Setting: Flat range target practice at an indoor range
How did it fail: Right ouf the box wouldn't go a full mag without either a stove pipe, failure to feed or some other issue relating to ammo.
What was the remedy: I tried a few different kinds of 380 and gave up.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: It was my pistol and I stold it to someone else giving them the notes that it didn't seem to work for me.

Notes:



Gun: Ruger LCP 2
Setting: Flat range target practice at an indoor range
How did it fail: Right ouf the box wouldn't go a full mag without either a stove pipe, failure to feed or some other issue relating to ammo.
What was the remedy: I sent it to Ruger 4 times and finally they said "We'll give you the option of a brand new gun or we can cut you a check for what you paid for it." and I took the check
Was it your pistol or someone else's: It was my gun.

Notes: I guess I'm the fool because I'm the one that gave the LCP 2 a try after my issues with the LCP 1. All that said as much as it sucked trying ti figure out why it wouldn't work and buying lots of different 380 ammo to use to test Ruger's customer service was amazing. They didn't even question it when I told them it didn't work they just immediately emailed me a shipping label each of the 4 times. As much as I never want to buy another LCP the way Ruger handled it gave me a lot of convidence that if I do buy something from them that does not work they will help me fix it.

Danko
01-05-2023, 11:31 PM
Thank you guys! Those are the kinds of experiences I was hoping to hear. I own an M&P 9 2.0 also, and wondered if people had experienced problems with them in the short term.

I have to view the 2,000 round challenge thread. I recall seeing it, but didn't realize what it involved. Thank you for that tip too.

Great Site: Great Members!

HCM
01-06-2023, 12:19 AM
Thank you guys! Those are the kinds of experiences I was hoping to hear. I own an M&P 9 2.0 also, and wondered if people had experienced problems with them in the short term.

I have to view the 2,000 round challenge thread. I recall seeing it, but didn't realize what it involved. Thank you for that tip too.

Great Site: Great Members!

The only issue I’ve seen with the M&P 2.0s is not 2.0 specific, but rather the CORE modular optics system. I’ve seen multiple CORE failures on both 1.0 and 2.0 guns. Most recently I saw a Steiner MPS come off an M&P still mounted to an aftermarket plate and strike the shooter in the forehead.

cheby
01-06-2023, 01:20 AM
Like everybody else I have had a lot of various breakages in many different guns over the years so I am not going to list any broken springs, sights, ejectors, extractors and other small parts. I do not even remember most of them. Here, however, are two incidents that surprised me at the time.

1.Gun - CZ Shadow.
Setting: Practice
Failure: Broken slide - Recoil spring housing separated from the slide - see the picture. Around 50K through the gun
Fix: Had to buy a new slide. The gun was older than 5 years and CZ denied the warranty.
My gun

99617

2. CZ TSO
Setting: Practice
Failure: Barrel broke in half - see the picture
Fix: Had to get a new barrel. CZ eventually shipped me a new one. Took almost 2 months
Around 30K through the gun, my gun

99618

CZ Man
01-06-2023, 01:53 AM
Gun: Walther P99 .40 S&W
Setting: Indoor Gun Range
Failure: Gun blew up. Slide, frame, magazine, barrel went everywhere.

This was rental gun at an indoor range. The guy in the lane next to me was shooting it. It was completely destroyed, looked like a bomb had gone off inside the gun as parts were everywhere. It was a miracle the guy shooting it was alright. His hand looked normal and he said it just felt like someone had smacked his hand with a stick, but otherwise he was fine.

Hemiram
01-06-2023, 06:14 AM
The thing about semiautos is what was the cause of the problems? Ammo, yeah, lots of times in my experience. Even guns like my Beretta 84, which was about as reliable as any gun I've ever had, would have problems with a box of ammo, or boxes from one maker. I have some oddball 9mm stuff ( I can't remember the brand, and I'm not at home to look) that just has problems in almost all my handguns, but my Kel-Tec SUB2000 eats them like candy. It takes Beretta 92 mags and I have a couple of those 31? round mags and it will crank right through them, but in all my CZ/clone guns, it's a random stovepipe or it gets crushed as the slide goes into battery. The cases are just off shape enough to not make it in all the way.

I'm going to be buying a 9mm revolver one of these days and that gun will get all the off stuff.

Nephrology
01-06-2023, 08:59 AM
Gun: Glock 48 w/ SCD
Setting: Outdoor range, varying weather conditions, but generally dusty
Failure: Repeat failures to return to battery. First 100 rounds or so, could not finish a magazine w/o failure.
Fix: sent to glock 2x who failed to replicate the issue w/o SCD. I kept shooting it. Over time the issue seemed to resolve itself. Suspect it was an area of high finish or otherwise excess friction that simply polished down through repeat use. No issues since it broke 800 rounds or so but it remains my backup/practice gun. Notably, my 2nd Glock 48 did not have these issues.

Glenn E. Meyer
01-06-2023, 09:14 AM
Glock 19 Gen 2 - springs break about 10K out.
Taurus 94 revolver - won't revolve
Taurus Pt-22, jams on everything, ejects live rounds trying to feed them, catches them and bends them on way to chamber
SW 442, ejector rod won't stay screwed.
Glock 42, one of the first, jamming horror, back to shop, still don't trust it for EDC.

Normal wear and tear -
AR-15, from 1994 ish, got to 2019, started to double, sheared stuff. Got it fixed, sold it.

Seen of others - Beretta 92 - safety level fell off in a class
Kel-tec SU-16, stock cracked in half during a class
Various after market, frankensteined Glocks - jammy

Bucky
01-06-2023, 10:14 AM
Seen of others - Beretta 92 - safety level fell off in a class


Is this the right side ambi lever? If so, unnecessary part. :p

Glenn E. Meyer
01-06-2023, 10:48 AM
I can't swear to the side. Just remember folks hunting in the gravel.

JAH 3rd
01-06-2023, 11:33 AM
Back in the mid-70's, a friend of mine was shooting his revolver. He had a blue S&W model 19, 4" barrel. He fired the revolver and the hammer stayed forward, frozen in place. Could not pull the trigger or swing open the cylinder. Eventually the 19 was repaired with no further problems.

I have a North American Arms .32 acp Guardian. Looks like a Seecamp .32. Anyway, I vetted my Guardian with at least 500 rounds, both FMJ and the recommended Winchester Silvertip JHP. It was 100% reliable. Quite satisfied with the pistol. After my last firing, I cleaned the pistol. Noticed a hairline crack on the rear of the hammer. The crack ran top to bottom. I contacted NAA, sent it in for warranty repair. They repaired the pistol and threw in a couple of extra magazines. This issue happened decades ago.

I had a S&W model 59 back in the mid-70's. It had feeding issues. I was shooting Remington 9mm JHP. Can't remember more specific ammo info. I think there was a failure to feed. Sent it back to S&W and they fixed it under warranty with no further issues. I have a faint memory of this being a known issue with future production models having a part update, maybe the extractor.

Here is the way I look at firearm problems, especially those fixed under warranty. It is an opportunity for the manufacturer to shine or not. Sure it is a pain to send a firearm back to the company, but in the above 3 examples, I was fairly treated and the issues were fixed the first time. I get aggravated when a firearm is sent back supposedly fixed but still having the same issue that I sent it in for. Also, multiple times of sending a firearm in and finally getting it fixed or not. People, machines, and parts are imperfect and fail. The difference is how the customer is treated when a warranty issue is present.

Bucky
01-06-2023, 11:40 AM
I can't swear to the side. Just remember folks hunting in the gravel.

Hard to imagine the left side coming off, being the steps needed to intentionally remove it.

Sarvershooter
01-06-2023, 06:46 PM
All below failed on me while shooting. Ammo and magazines were ruled out.

Ruger LCP I (complete jam-o-matic). Colt 1911 (multiple full size gov't versions, extraction, feeding, SS galling, you name it), Dan Wesson A1 1911 (would not feed reliably), S&W E-Series 1911 (out of spec slide stop), Remington 1911 (no shelf between feed ramp and barrel), S&W Shield Plus (extraction and stovepipe), S&W 360 PD (locked up after firing a few 125 gr .357...(speculating internal lock).

I never gave up on 1911's or semi autos or J-frames. Currently own a $400 SA Defender Mil Spec has never hiccupped, a Sig P365X that is a phenomenal shooter and six really nice S&W J-frames, (but no more 9 .oz SC/Ti .357s).

dogcaller
01-07-2023, 07:28 AM
Glock 17
Malfunction: Wouldn't strike the primers of Egyptian surplus 9mm with sufficient force to ignite them. My friend's HK P7M13 fired them just fine.
Solution: Didn't use Eqyptian surplus 9mm anymore.

Oof. Running that through an m13 seems penny wise and pound foolish. Glad it worked out.

Glenn E. Meyer
01-07-2023, 10:42 AM
Friend had a Ruger single action 44 Magnum. One cylinder had a burr in it that gouged and grabbed casings. He took it back to the shop where he bought it and they wanted to charge him for shipping to send it back to Ruger. Duh. Called Ruger and they took care of it.

Bought a nice used SW 19. Wouldn't ignite about half the rounds. The story had a guarantee on all their used guns and they found the springs were redone for a very light trigger pull and they took care of that.

thatguybryan
01-07-2023, 10:43 AM
G19 Gen 4 - FTEs when they first came out
Beretta 92 Elite LTT- 2 FTEs before changing extractor and spring to extra power.
G34.5 - FTEs due to taran mag springs (brothers duty gun)

If you shoot enough, you’ll see some of the best guns fail lol. None of my other beretta 92s or glocks have had any failures.

Glenn E. Meyer
01-07-2023, 10:51 AM
Mini-14 jammed solid with after market mags. Not with factory.

HCM
01-07-2023, 11:18 AM
We (at least those of us here at PF) know if you shoot enough or see enough guns things will break or you will see a lemon.

However, this thread is also about the how / why if these failures for this thread to be relevant it’s best the format established in the thread is followed vs “war stories.” The details matter.

Gun:
Setting:
Failure:
Fix:
Your gun or someone else’s:

Also if known whether the failure was a design or manufacturing failure or operator error / failure to do proper preventive maintenance.

For example, some of the Remington 870 and Sigg P2 to 940 caliber failures, I posted up thread, were due to things like failing to properly tighten / check magazine caps on 870s or failure to to recoil spring changes at manufacturers specified round counts. Those things are not the manufacturers fault.

Sammy1
01-07-2023, 12:51 PM
Gun: P320 Carry
Setting: Indoor range, normal firing (slow fire)
How did it fail: Dead trigger, trigger bar snapped in half
What was the remedy: Sent back to Sig for new trigger bar
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine, built in 2017

Notes:

gringop
01-08-2023, 12:31 AM
Gun: Kimber Pro Carry
Setting: Practice, carry and IDPA.
Failure: slide crack at the rear of the recoil spring capture area (downward projection at the front of the slide that holds the recoil spring.
Fix: local gunsmith offered to try to have the slide (Micro) welded to fix it. That effort failed.

Result: Don't shoot >2k 45 ACP rounds through a compact 1911 recoil spring that the manufacturer recommends replacing after 700 rounds. It will beat the gun to shit and crack slides. This was my carry and IDPA gun at the time (around 1999). Learning has occurred since then. I replaced it with a Kimber Pro Carry HD and replaced recoil springs religiously. Then I discovered (sigh) Glock 19s.

Gringop

jh9
01-08-2023, 02:18 PM
G19 Gen 4 - FTEs when they first came out


when they first came out

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/033/701/PTSD_Chihuahua_Banner.jpg

I went through 3 early 4th gen Glocks with no ultimate satisfying conclusion. Decoder ring for updated factory RSA and ejector parts numbers, aftermarket extractors / depressors, etc. The works. In 2014 I bought an early G42 and played the same updated parts jenga game but this time the gun could finally be brought into a working state.

ssc45
01-08-2023, 05:18 PM
I guess after shooting for more than 50 years, I have seen too many gun malfunctions to even know where to start. I’ll try.
Bolt action weatherby rifle that had a bad follower. My buddies gun. Haft the time it failed to push up the bullets due to out of spec and getting stuck. When we returned from Zimbabwe he sent it back to weatherly. They fixed it.

Custom built rem 700 with sako extractor. Failure to extract because empty brass hit windage knob. Turned scope 90* and all is good. My gun.

Been a competition shooter for 30 years. Hence seen every type of malfunction with 1911’s.
Open guns. They were always running on the edge of reliability.
Limited guns. They were also running on the edge of reliability. However the majority of the malfunctions, not counting ammo nor magazines was due to a bad extractor. I also saw many limited 1911’s Ftf due to a lack of lube. Saw ones that had weak recoil springs. I saw stoppages due to mag changes where the mag stop was over run. I saw slide stops and failed to lock back because a person had their thumb on the slide stop. I saw failures to feed because there were particles in the chamber. I saw 1911s including box stock that had tapered Chambers and due to the fact that they were not properly reamed it made it difficult for the bullet to completely seat in the chamber.

I observed 1911s that completely locked up due to the shearing of the bottom lugs. The majority of stock 1911s malfunction due to improper fitting of the extractor. I have seen the firing pin stop cause Malfunctions due to a bad fit. I can go on forever respecting 1911 failures.

Glocks: Mostly chipped extractors and aftermarket parts caused issues. The worst was the breech face cracked. Returned to Glock for replacement. Weak springs. Brass shaving in the caps. Filthy striker recess.

S&W m&p striker broke in half.

Dan Wesson revolver that could only fire three rounds as the trigger pull got harder due to crane issues. Sent back to factory. Same problem. I sold it with full disclosure.

AR’s: weak extractor spring. Weak ejection spring. Out of spec extractor. Gas issues. Gas keys not properly staked. Out of spec bolt catch plunger recess. Lack of lube. Weak hammer spring. Weak recoil springs. Loose gas block. Etc

Seen tube feeding shotguns fail to feed due to weak springs. Rem 1187 had a gas issue.

These are just a few highlights. The main issues are usually mags, ammo, human error and extractor.

Cheers, Steve

Nick B
01-08-2023, 08:28 PM
At just over 8k rounds the striker broke on my stock G17 Gen4 and left me with a paperweight. All with American ammunition and no dry firing.
I called Glock and they said the striker is a wear part so no warranty replacement. Cost me around 45 bucks for a replacement.

ssc45
01-09-2023, 11:25 AM
Here are a few pictures of a Glock slide breach face that is cracked. These are pictures I took and I was holding the slide.

997809978199782

TDoor
01-09-2023, 03:05 PM
Gun: Sig P365XL
Setting: Pistol steel range in low light
Failure: Front sight ejected from dovetail
What was the remedy: Warranty replacement
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

This one I really should have seen coming. Pistol arrived and I noticed some excess metal sticking out between the front of the sight body and the edge of the dovetail. I assumed I was looking at displaced material from an oversized or blem sight that didn't get trimmed in quality control. Took the gun to the range to put 250 rounds through it in low light. 3 rounds into my last mag my front sight disappeared, and I looked down to see an empty dovetail. Thankfully tritium glows, so I was able to recover the sight and I found that the extra material was not part of it.

Turns out one of Newington NH's brightest minds had shoved a metal shaving in there as a shim for a severely undersized front sight. Sig replaced it and no issues 500rds later. Combat hold on them still sucks though.

JAH 3rd
01-10-2023, 10:57 AM
Just had a memory jog. Springfield Loaded 1911. Front night sight flew off when shooting one day. Springfield replaced it free. This at least 15-17 years ago.

Glenn E. Meyer
01-10-2023, 11:58 AM
That jogged me also. Truglo tritium green fiber optic front sight on a G19. At a match, drew the gun and there was a hole and no front tube.

ssc45
01-10-2023, 01:25 PM
Jogged me. Colt officers model front sight went flying somewhere. Smith replaced it. Hated that gun.

Cheers, Steve

Risto
01-12-2023, 08:03 PM
Glock 23 gen3.

Fail to fire at PD range qualification.

Broken firing pin tip.

Range staff replaced firing pin assembly.

Department issued duty pistol. Gun had 2700 or 3700 rounds. I can’t remember.

dogcaller
01-14-2023, 11:47 PM
At just over 8k rounds the striker broke on my stock G17 Gen4 and left me with a paperweight. All with American ammunition and no dry firing.
I called Glock and they said the striker is a wear part so no warranty replacement. Cost me around 45 bucks for a replacement.


Interesting. I have a Gen2 G19 that suffered a striker failure after 20+ years and many thousands of rounds (I don't keep precise counts, as some do). I called Glock and they suggested I send it in for a retrofit. I did and they replaced the extractor and some other wear parts, replaced all springs, etc. I also had a couple of old mags that the plastic had cracked, and I sent those and the sent me knew mags as replacements.

S Jenks
01-15-2023, 03:35 AM
A Brownells Glock 19 firing pin tip broke off while on the range. In the summer of 2020 I put together a hideous looking training gun- an ooold G23 frame wrapped in moss Talon Grip, brown cerakote Brownells slide and slide parts kit, stainless Lone Wolf blem barrel and Holosun 507c. It’s unpleasant to look at, and now my primary dryfire/training gun. I’ve since bought a few snapcaps to cushion the OEM firing pin I replaced it with.

I did notice last night the trigger is starting to drag and it looks like a channel is being carved into the chrome/nickel/whatever of the firing pin safety plunger. So time to replace that, too.

I also just broke the hammer block in my 637, bought as my first handgun when I turned 21 in 2005. I’ve replaced the hammer with a low profile 642 hammer and I find myself carrying it a good amount in a Mika as a BUG.

So there I was - I was doing JCN’s New Year Resolution of one month of daily dryfire, had wrapped up with my G19 and decided to see if I could do some sub 1 second draws from the Mika. When this broke to completely locked up the gun to the point I thought the ILS had activated itself.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230115/e1fbf20416b21d22be8b602c2d1d8dfb.jpg

dogcaller
01-15-2023, 06:26 PM
Gun: G19 Gen 2 (the first gen of G19)
Setting: outdoor range
Failure: Dead trigger -- broken trigger spring. I have had this failure twice, and have learned to keep these on hand and replace every couple of years.
Fix: Replace with new trigger spring
Your gun or someone else’s: My gun

Also if known whether the failure was a design or manufacturing failure or operator error / failure to do proper preventive maintenance.

I would not think this is a manufacturer error--it's a wear item.



Gun: G19
Setting:Outdoor range
Failure: Failure to fire--click but no bang.
Fix: TRB--Click--TRB--Click. Unload and inspect and eventually discover a chipped/broken extractor. I had never considered that as an option. Called Glock and they had me send it in for a retrofit with upgraded parts, new springs, etc. I paid for shipping, one way.
Your gun or someone else’s: My gun

Also if known whether the failure was a design or manufacturing failure or operator error / failure to do proper preventive maintenance

I didn't consider the striker to be a wear item, so undecided on this.



Gun: G19
Setting: Various
Failure: Slide would not lock back after last round. This was shooter-induced--My thumb was exerting pressure on slide stop.
Fix:. I actually shaved the slide stop so that there was no pad upon which to exert pressure. This made administrative handling more tedious, but it was/is my EDC and I didn't do much admin. handling.
Your gun or someone else’s:. Mine

Also if known whether the failure was a design or manufacturing failure or operator error / failure to do proper preventive maintenance.

Shooter-induced. Have had a similar issue with my P226--thumb riding on slide stop lever. Shooter error, and I never tried to trim the lever on the Sig.



Gun: Colt 1911 Enhanced
Setting: Outdoor improvised range
Failure: FTF
Fix: Customized by Terry Tussey
Your gun or someone else’s: A friend's

Also if known whether the failure was a design or manufacturing failure or operator error / failure to do proper preventive maintenance.

I would say this was a design/manufacturing issue.

Notes: We were young and this was the first "nice" handgun any of us had purchased. My buddy was quite proud of it, and the fact that it would feed brass. I'll admit being impressed by that. He began carrying it at the gun shop where he worked before he had even shot it. We harassed him about that and his defense was, "I have blind faith in Colt." He actually was a very knowledgeable shooter, but never lived down that comment once we saw the FTFs during that first range session.



Gun: HK USP40
Setting: Improvised outdoor range
Failure: Multiple stovepipes
Fix:: Disassemble, clean, lube
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

Notes:. This was my first "real" semi-auto purchase, shortly after they were introduced. The cachet of owning an HK, in the new powerful .40S&W was enough to make me both excited and confident. I was pretty devastated to have multiple stovepipes during my first outing with the pistol. I really considered it to be unthinkable. This wasn't a 1911--this was an HK! I still don't know what the issue was. it went on to be a very reliable and accurate pistol. But it did piss me off.



Gun: Eagle Arms EA-15
Setting: Informal outdoor range
Failure:. Failure to extract
Fix: Gunsmith reamed/honed chamber
Your gun or someone else's:. Mine

Notes:. At the time of the AWB I was a young adult, newly married, under-employed, with no extra $ in my pocket. I think I paid $1300 for my $650 EA15, shortly before the AWB went into effect. Prior to this, I had an SKS tha tI paid ~$150 for and ammo was $100/1000, delivered, on stripper clips. This was definitely the most expensive gun purchase (or purchase in general ,excluding my truck), but that AR-15a2 was a beauty! I was actually incredulous to realize that my rifle was essentially a single shot, and that I had to dislodge each unextracted casing with a cleaning rod. Looking back, I definitely should have caller Eagle Arms/Armalite and require them to fix it, but I was young and dumb. I found a local highly qualified (and noe cheap) gunsmith who identified tha tthe chamber was rough and needed to be honed, after which it has been 100% reliable.


Gun: Beretta 92FS
Setting:"Outlaw" pistol match
Failure: Multiple. FTF, FTE
Fix: Lube
Your gun or someone else's:. Someone else

Notes: An older shooter was "acting as a mentor" to a young, relatively inexperienced female shooter. She was having difficult with her M92 and he was haranguing her about how the problem was the gun and she needed to ditch it and replace it with (I don't recall).. He was not really helpful at all-- was just full of opinions and his own self-important BS. I didn't know either of them, really, though I had shot with him before. I was also shooting a 92 (LTT92RDO) and eventually had an opportunity to see if I could help. Examining her pistol, I realized it was bone dry. I've never seen a gun so dry. With her permission, I lubed it and it ran flawlessly after that. As dry as it was, I imagine a Glock (and perhaps other, similar designs) would have still been functional, but definitely not the Beretta. It was crazy how bone-dry that 92 was --felt like galling just trying to cycle it. I've never seen one that dry; it was painful. As much crap as that guy was talking, he never even actually tried to help. He never looked at her pistol. Anyone with any experience would have easily come to the same realization. Guys like that drive me crazy.



Gun: M92LTT RDO
Setting: outdoor range
Failure: Trijicon SRO vibrated loose. Noticed at end of range session.
Fix: Remove and reinstall
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

Notes: This has happened twice now. It's frustrating. The first time I mounted it, I followed the LTT directions assiduously. The second time, I read the long, detailed, and very helpful threads in PF and followed those instructions--and still it shot loose after ~300 rds and with minimal carry. So I'm now on my 3rd mounting with <1000 rds through the gun. My next RDO will be a direct mill/mount (Steiner MPS) and hope that is more secure.



Gun: Ruger 22/45 mk 4 Lite
Setting: All
Failure: Repeated FTF & FTE
Fix: Unknown
Your gun or someone else's:. Mine

Notes:. Another exercise in frustration. This pistol cost essentially the same as a "real" centerfire pistol and it has been a disappointment. I have a 22/45 mk3 heavy barrel that is absolutely bulletproof. Crazy accurate and reliable with anything I feed it. I was really looking forward to this new model, both for the Lite features and the easier takedown. This is easily the least reliable pistol I have ever owned. When I first purchased it I couldn't go 4 rds without a stoppage. Double feeds, FTE, FTF, etc. Research led me to honing the magazines and other remedies, none of which worked. Over time, it has become increasingly reliable, though it still can't hold a candle to its Mk3 brother. As an aside, I have also noticed a general decrease in .22LR quality. Anyone else? I have many more misfires and malfs with formerly reliable .22LR pistols and rifles. My observation is that it seems to relate to the rounds that have become available recently, as the .22LR drought subsides.



Gun: CZ Tactical Sport Orange
Setting: Outdoor range
Failure: Multiple: FTF; FTE; Stovepipe
Fix: Unknown
Your gun or someone else's:. Someone else

Notes:. This poor guy... He's someone I recognize from local pistol matches. An experienced shooter, though I don't know him well. He and I were the only two at the range that day and I wandered over to chat on my way out. He had just come from a local gun shop with his new pistol, and it was a jam-o-matic. He tried different mags, he had me shoot it, and nothing mattered. He was using some sort of quality factory FMJ 9mm ammo. He was hot, and I don't blame him. You pay almost $2000 for a pistol and it chokes on quality ammo. I'm not sure what became of it.



In addition to the above, I've had a few failures due to mistakes in my reloaded ammo. An occasional inverted primer or malformed cartridge--I can't blame the pistols for those.

HCM
01-30-2023, 11:35 AM
Gun: Radical Firearms AR-15
Setting: Law Enforcement Training
How did it fail: bolt broke on both sides of the cam pin hole.
What was the remedy: pending
Was it your gun or someone else's: Local PD Officer

100726

100727

There are a lot of A.R. 15 companies out there, some have consistently maintained good quality. Some have varied over the years, but the two that are on my NFE list and make me throw up in my mouth a little when I see them in a serious use setting are Radical Firearms and Bear Creek Arsenal.

jh9
01-30-2023, 07:09 PM
I also just broke the hammer block in my 637, bought as my first handgun when I turned 21 in 2005. I’ve replaced the hammer with a low profile 642 hammer and I find myself carrying it a good amount in a Mika as a BUG.

So there I was - I was doing JCN’s New Year Resolution of one month of daily dryfire, had wrapped up with my G19 and decided to see if I could do some sub 1 second draws from the Mika. When this broke to completely locked up the gun to the point I thought the ILS had activated itself.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230115/e1fbf20416b21d22be8b602c2d1d8dfb.jpg

There's a couple things weird going on there. One is that for a 2005-mfg gun that hammer block construction looks odd. These are pics of one I pulled out of the spare parts box for an L-frame (686-6):

100734
100735
100736

Note the lack of a mim/casting mark and the lack of the "twist" in the stamped (IIRC) body. (I'm 99% sure that's a takeoff from a 686-6 but I didn't make a note of it, which means at the earliest it would be 2002 and similar vintage to yours.) A quick glance at midway shows the same construction for the J-frame equivalent.

The other is that the surface that's actually supposed to block the hammer looks like it's been... crushed? Probably by the lower face of the hammer. Though maybe this is a weird J-frame issue and I'm not a J-frame guy. If you replaced that part and have been live or dry firing since you might want to pull it out and take a look at it. See if the dent / deformation has started again. If it has, the hammer block is trying to do its job when it shouldn't be.

The most recent mfg S&W I owned (past tense) was a 2012 627 (my first 8-minor gun) and I'm 99% sure the hammer block didn't look like the one in your pic. Would be interested to see pics of the hammer block out of recent aluminum J-frames, scandium/steel J-frames and Ks, Ls, and Ns. Since your gun is a 2005, I'm guessing the former will probably look like yours regardless of when it was made in the last 20+ years and the latter will look 'normal'. Also suspect the difference in construction isn't the root of the problem rather than the height.

Sadly this is a case where you used to could be able to @ someone like LSP972 (RIP) who had fielded a fleet of these and could answer more definitively. Those of us with a competition background have only ever had to service a small number of revolvers at any given time and some of the more common bugaboos that LE armorers would have seen are edge cases to us. But there's definitely something going on with that hammer block.

jh9
01-30-2023, 07:41 PM
Just re-read and saw the part where you replaced the 637 hammer with a 642 hammer. Would probably start there. I think I've seen a couple people here do a similar mod and that's starting to look like one of those "it works fine until it doesn't" modifications. Would be interested to see anyone who's done the same thing take a pic of their hammer block. Would bet those also look like they've been hammered from the top down.

willie
01-30-2023, 08:53 PM
Factory S&W hammerless revolvers lack a hammer block. Does a conversion hammer mentioned in the thread operate with a hammer block? Anyway, Ebay sells S&W hammer blocks.

jh9
01-31-2023, 07:33 AM
Factory S&W hammerless revolvers lack a hammer block. Does a conversion hammer mentioned in the thread operate with a hammer block?

Interesting. Not a J-frame guy, never had the occasion to disassemble one. Only shot the Ls and Ns in quantity. These are the spurred and not hammers at midway:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100446558
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004407722

Without having them in hand to measure IDK if the 642 hammer face is fundamentally incompatible with the hammer block. Either it is (and everyone here with a 642 hammer in their not-a-642/442 gun will have the same deformation) or it's just a case of the hammer block being out of spec (probably too tall) and not being pulled out of the way far enough when the hammer falls. If I were betting money, I'd bet on the latter since the damage is pretty clearly top down.

...But I wouldn't bet a lot. Because even with the relatively simple modern S&W action there are still exceptions to every rule and occasionally gremlins doing unexpected things.

claymore504
01-31-2023, 08:36 AM
Gun: S&W M&P Shield Gen1 9mm
Setting: At home cleaning after range session of about 300 rounds
Failure: Sear deactivation lever fell out
Fix: Returned to S&W
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

Notes: I was new to the Shield back then. Removed the slide and had run a rag through the mag well to clean it out. Then noticed a little yellow part laying on the bench. Once I figured out what it was I realized that the pin that holds it in must have not been installed in the factory. Sent it back and if I remember right it took about 3 weeks. This was not a failure in the sense that the gun would not function.


Gun: Glock 27 Gen3
Setting: At home cleaning after range session
Failure: Striker spring cups broken
Fix: Replaced by me
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Took the striker out to clean the channel and the striker assembly fell apart as it was coming out. Found the spring cups broken. The gun never quit running though. Not sure how long they had been broken as I only took the striker out about every 1000 rounds.

Gun: FNX-45
Setting: At range during training
Failure: Would not fire in double action
Fix: Sent to FNH
Your gun or someone else's: Mine

Notes: Was training at an outdoor range in summer in central Texas. Gun was fine at first, but then it started having issues firing in DA. I could pin the trigger to the back and the hammer would never fall. Did this after gun got hot. Grip also got soft and flexible. Sent to FNH and they replaced some parts. Ticket was not very clear on what they did. I bought the gun used, so they had me pay shipping there and they fixed free of charge and paid for shipping back.


Gun: FNP-40 USG
Setting: At range during training
Failure: Would not fire in double action
Fix: Sent to FNH
Your gun or someone else's: Mine


Notes: Same issue as FNX-45 above. FNH covered shipping to them since I bought it new. The FNP was no longer being made at this point so they gave me the option to have it replaced with any FNS or FNX model at that time. I chose the FNX-40 Stainless and they had it on my door step in about a week.


Gun: CZ P01 Omega
Setting: At home after range
Failure: Front night sight went dead
Fix: Sent to CZ
Your gun or someone else's: Mine


Notes: After first range noticed front night sigth was dead. Sent back to CZ. After 6 weeks they could not get a new front sight, so sent me a new gun.

Gun: PSAk47 Gen 1
Setting: During training at range
Failure: Mag catch fell off
Fix: Sent to PSA
Your gun or someone else's: Mine


Notes: Contacted PSA and they had a return label to me in a couple minutes. Sent it in and got it back in about 10 days. They also sent two new PMAGs and a PSA hat when returned.


THIS ONE IS JUST FOR FUN:

Gun: M240B
Setting: Night mass tac night jump into JRTC whike serving with 82 ABN Div
Failure: Weapon case with M240B inside burned in
Fix: 240 gunner caried it around in the case
Your gun or someone else's: Someone else


Notes: Somehow our 240 gunner had a lowering line that was not hooked up correctly. I guess he screwed up and the jump master did not catch it during JMPI. However, we rigged at Ft. Bragg and then flew down to JRTC, so he could have screwed with it while on the bird. That M240B was a bag of mangled parts and they made him carry it around in the case until another one was sent down. LOL

Glenn E. Meyer
01-31-2023, 08:57 AM
As mentioned in another thread, SW 1911Sc Commander, after many years, fails to seat magazines. Diagnostic and repairs will be undertaken in a couple of weeks. Busy now.

HCM
02-01-2023, 02:37 PM
Gun: Radical Firearms AR-15
Setting: Law Enforcement Training
How did it fail: bolt broke on both sides of the cam pin hole.
What was the remedy: pending
Was it your gun or someone else's: Local PD Officer

100726

100727

There are a lot of A.R. 15 companies out there, some have consistently maintained good quality. Some have varied over the years, but the two that are on my NFE list and make me throw up in my mouth a little when I see them in a serious use setting are Radical Firearms and Bear Creek Arsenal.

Update: This was a dept owned rifle and the third failure of this type this dept has experienced with the Radical rifles out of a sample size of < 50. The Firearms staff’s solution is to STRONGLY encourage officers to buy their own POW rifles for duty use.

Joe Mac
02-01-2023, 06:57 PM
Gun: Colt 1911 Enhanced
Setting: Outdoor improvised range
Failure: FTF
Fix: Customized by Terry Tussey
Your gun or someone else’s: A friend's

Also if known whether the failure was a design or manufacturing failure or operator error / failure to do proper preventive maintenance.

I would say this was a design/manufacturing issue.

Notes: We were young and this was the first "nice" handgun any of us had purchased. My buddy was quite proud of it, and the fact that it would feed brass. I'll admit being impressed by that. He began carrying it at the gun shop where he worked before he had even shot it. We harassed him about that and his defense was, "I have blind faith in Colt." He actually was a very knowledgeable shooter, but never lived down that comment once we saw the FTFs during that first range session.


I once saw an officer buy an antique military 1911, load it up with 230 Gold Dot, and begin carrying it off duty without having fired it yet...

Exiledviking
02-07-2023, 09:49 PM
A saw a Walther Q5 Match go down during a match recently. The magazine catch broke near the middle of the part. Looking at the part, it appeared to be a MIM part.
The owner was happy with Walther as they quickly took care of him.

HCM
02-20-2023, 01:12 AM
Gun: Remington 870 Police (PD trade in via GT Distributors
Setting: Outdoor range
Failure: FTF due to broken / compressed firing pin spring
Fix: replaced FO spring with new Wolff FP spring.
Your gun or someone else’s: mine

Had a weird issue with a new to me PD trade in 870 a few weeks ago.

When attempting to fire from the shoulder the gun would light strike and fail to fire. This occurred both with “push pull” and conventional “pull into the shoulder” methods.

However, the gun fired consistently from CQB short stock and under arm positions. Never encountered an issue like this with an 870 (or any other shotgun).

101656

101657

101658

101655

Determined it was a firing pin spring issue. FP was broken into three pieces and compressed to about half normal length.

101653

101654

Detmongo
02-20-2023, 11:03 AM
Gun:Gen 2 G19
Where: Outdoor range
Malfunction: Broken trigger bar
fix: replace the trigger bar with a smooth face G17 trigger bar and did a complete rebuild on the lower. The gun had 11,000 rds through it not sure how many total as it was purchased years ago used.
Ran an additional 500 rds since the rebuild including 100 rds of carry ammo 124gr gold dot. All is fine.

HCM
02-22-2023, 11:22 PM
Gun: SIG P365
Setting: Outdoor range / LE Qualification
Failure: FT fire / dead trigger - appears to be broken trigger bar spring
Fix: replace trigger bar spring (pending)
Your gun or someone else’s: someone else’s. Officer has had the gun approximately 1 year - round count estimated under 1k.

19852+
02-23-2023, 08:40 AM
Gun: Glock 21
Setting: IDPA match
How did it fail: Mag base plate gave way, ejecting all rounds out the bottom
What was the remedy: Replace mag
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else

Gun: Pre-B CZ 75
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Broken Slide stop
What was the remedy: Use spare slide stop
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine
It is a '91 manufacture pistol with many thousands of rounds and the original slide stop. About 10 years ago I bought a spare and I was amazed that I had not lost it yet..

My most used and abused pistol is my 2012 Colt government .38 super. It functions with both a 9mm barrel and .22 top end, it gets lots of use and no babying. I treat it like a Glock. I maybe jinxing myself but it has been problem free since I got it.

Glenn E. Meyer
02-23-2023, 10:00 AM
Just remembered, a long time ago. A SU-16 Keltec 223 rifle, stock cracked clean off at pistol grip. In a carbine class at Rehn's. Shooter had to borrow Karl's Marlin Camp Carbine to continue.

Horseman
02-23-2023, 12:15 PM
Gun: Smith and Wesson M&P-15 AXE Rifle (LE-only SKU).

Setting: Initial function fire and armorer's inspection.

How did it fail: Failures to extract and eject. Chamber had visible striations/damage, under inspection.

What was the remedy: Contacted S&W customer service. After quick explanation to rep, a return label was e-mailed. Rifle was shipped back to S&W, returned to us at no cost, two weeks later.
Factory paperwork indicated they reamed the chamber and replaced the bolt.
Rifle now has 100% function and shows acceptable accuracy.

Was it yours or someone else's: Department-owned/ issued.

HCM
09-16-2023, 08:36 AM
GPT Trigger below belongs to a shooting acquaintance. Failure occurred after 4k rounds during which the gun was cleaned and lubed regularly.

109511

109512

109513

Gun: Glock 17 Gen 5
Setting: Range
How did it fail: cracked trigger mechanism housing
What was the remedy: re-install original factory trigger group
Was it your pistol or someone else's: someone else’s

HCM
09-16-2023, 08:46 AM
109514

109515


Gun: Dead Air Sierra 5 suppressor
Setting: Range
How did it fail: front set of mount “teeth” broke off / blew out during firing.
What was the remedy: replaced OEM mount with generic dead air hub mount.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: someone else’s

This occurred on the owner’s second range session with this can. Total round count under 500.

It was mounted in a SOLGW 11.5” Factory SBR

Alembic
11-25-2023, 10:04 PM
111874111873
111875

My gun.

During dry fire.

Only 2500 rounds, but weekly dry fire, double action. Estimate 5000 dry fire pulls. Wonder if the DA dryfire was the culprit, or just the simple, things break.

The Heavy Trigger Return Spring, part #219441, I installed in 2016 to duplicate TLG LEM configuration broke in the middle of the center coil.

After almost 3 hours of fiddling I managed to reinstall the Stock TRS without the special tool. Runs fine now but the reset is slow and not positive at all. A call to HKCS should get a new Heavy TRS in the mail, unless they recommend another option.

Any other suggestions for springs-parts
blues

blues
11-25-2023, 10:10 PM
You want to talk with some others with HK experience. I've never owned or carried HK on the job, but for MP5.

JJN
11-26-2023, 03:56 PM
Gun: Glock 48
Setting: Local match I run
How did it fail: Mag fell out repeatedly. Shield metal mag shaved the OEM polymer mag catch.
What was the remedy: Metal mag catch
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Someone else's

Notes: This is not intuitive to normal folks.


Gun: Glock 17
Setting: Local match I run
How did it fail: Turned into a bolt action.
What was the remedy: I thought it was either thumb interference or, more likely an improperly installed slide lock.
Someone else's:

Notes: He found me a week later and said it was the slide lock. He had the spring over the pin.

Not a failure per se, but interesting
Gun: FN FNH
Setting: A local match I run
How did it fail: He pushed down on the safety enough to decock when he meant to take it off safe.
What was the remedy: Don't smash down so hard
Someone else's:

Notes: I didn't think this was a real problem, just assumed it was someone making up a reason to not like the USP (about which I originally heard this concern)


Big lesson is that I think we can modify the old M2 heuristic to this: Operator, non-OEM, gunplumbing

HCM
02-03-2024, 03:49 PM
114775

Gun: CZ P-10. 9mm
Setting: Range
How did it fail: slide release lever broke during firing.
Was it your pistol or someone else's: someone else’s
Gun has 10k rounds on it and has had at least 1 recoil spring change.

Hemiram
02-04-2024, 06:42 AM
Sig P229 .40 S&W. Plain jane one, nothing fancy.
Bought used for a (IMHO) excessively high price at LGS minutes earlier.
Someone else's gun. We looked it over and saw zero issues, it had very little wear on it. I would give it 90%+ easily.
About 100 rounds in, I was shooting it, and I felt something hit my arm. It didn't hurt much, but something cut me.
Part of the slide had broken off/out and the barrel chamber was bulged and cracked. No damage to the barrel itself, but the hood was trashed.
I think one of the reloads the owner had bought to shoot was overcharged. The owner said that the rounds I fired just before my arm was hit sounded "more powerful".
I didn't notice any recoil increase at all. Luckily, the ammo and gun were both bought there and the range boss was talking to us when it happened, and a refund was given. My friend bought a CPO P229 from a GB seller. All is well with that gun.

SoCalDep
02-04-2024, 08:59 AM
Gun: Staccato P-DPO (4.45” bbl)
Setting: Local IDPA Match - Third stage
How did it fail: Broken extractor claw
What was the remedy: Used spare pistol (That I almost didn’t bring)
Was it your pistol or someone else's: Mine

Notes:

I have at least 5,000 rounds through this pistol, and I think a good amount more than that, but I don’t think more than 10,000.

It’s been totally reliable with the exception of some gen 2 mags not locking the slide on empty (this started to occur somewhat recently) when they got old. This week I started using new gen 2 mags I had tucked away and it has been running 100%. I’m waiting for springs and followers to come back in stock at Staccato and I’ll retrofit the old mags and see if that gives them new life.

Shot a local IDPA match here in East Tennessee yesterday. Got through two stages and felt pretty good when my second shot on stage 3 was a fail to extract. In that moment my brain:

“FIX IT! - and by the way this is really weird because this has never happened with this pistol and I hate having reliability doubts but just keep going and we’ll see what happens - oh good the malfunction is cleared so let’s get back into it and press… DAMNIT another extraction failure… F-this dude! I’m out! You’re on your own!”

Once my brain decided to exit stage left I continued to clear and fire single shots until the SO stopped me at five total shots and three malfunction clearances. I went to the safe area and saw that the extractor claw had broken. Certainly made removal easier.

I grabbed my C2 and finished the match, but the recoil difference, short vs long trigger, and smaller optic all combined to make it a much harder match following the P going down.

I’ve cracked two firing pin stops on different 1911s, dealt with hammer follow on several, got one so dirty that the Disconnector stuck and prevented reset, bought a used Colt that turned out to have a scant safety, and had a hammer strut break in half on one gun, but this was my first broken extractor.

nate89
02-05-2024, 01:37 PM
A couple I can think of:
First gen sig 365 came to our range as a rental gun. In less than 500 rounds the tip of the striker broke off, gun was sent back to sig and repaired.
My personal 226 (which has actually been incredibly reliable) had a recoil spring break in two inside the gun. That was with 12-15k live ammo plus a lot of dry fire. I don’t really blame the gun for that, and I’ve since bought a stash or recoil springs and replace them more regularly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HCM
02-05-2024, 10:37 PM
Gun: Kimber 5” 1911 .45 ACP
Setting: Range
How did it fail: Wilson Combat Thumb Safety installed 6 months ago snapped in half.
What was the remedy: pending installation of a new thumb safety
Was it your pistol or someone else's: someone else’s.

114832

The owner is a “shooter” by P-F standards I.e. shoots at least weekly but most shoots 9mm so I don’t think this gun has a very high round count. Safety was installed by a gunsmith.

PS: I believe I posted elsewhere on PF about a Wilson Combat Slide stop lever breaking on this same gun a few months ago.

breakingtime91
02-06-2024, 12:36 AM
111874111873
111875

My gun.

During dry fire.

Only 2500 rounds, but weekly dry fire, double action. Estimate 5000 dry fire pulls. Wonder if the DA dryfire was the culprit, or just the simple, things break.

The Heavy Trigger Return Spring, part #219441, I installed in 2016 to duplicate TLG LEM configuration broke in the middle of the center coil.

After almost 3 hours of fiddling I managed to reinstall the Stock TRS without the special tool. Runs fine now but the reset is slow and not positive at all. A call to HKCS should get a new Heavy TRS in the mail, unless they recommend another option.

Any other suggestions for springs-parts
blues

Snap caps? Light trs lasts longer but heavy trs more better. I go by the rule of thumb 10k trigger presses for the trs. Keep some on hand and buy the 20 dollar tool

Alembic
02-06-2024, 09:52 AM
Snap caps? Light trs lasts longer but heavy trs more better. I go by the rule of thumb 10k trigger presses for the trs. Keep some on hand and buy the 20 dollar tool

Agreed. 10k pulls for the TRS. HKCS sent me a new Heavy TRS, had it in less than a week after I called. He stated, he had never heard of a TRS breaking. Regarding the tool, installing the Heavy TRS took less than 3 minutes both this time and back in 2016. The standard spring gave me fits, is much more difficult to install. I'd guess because of the Heavy's rigidity.

Clusterfrack
02-06-2024, 11:13 AM
Gen4 Glock17. Multiple intermittent failure to fire malfunctions. The cause turned out to be a subtly damaged striker tip. This is JCL's gun. I'm not sure how many rounds are on it, but guessing a lot.

Clusterfrack
02-06-2024, 11:20 AM
...10k pulls for the TRS.

10000 cycles seems low for a quality spring. If I swapped trigger return springs every 10k on my practice Shadow2, I'd be doing it every 2-3 months. (I get at least 100k cycles on a TRS). But for a gun that's life-safety equipment I get the need to replace early.

Alembic
02-06-2024, 11:44 AM
10000 cycles seems low for a quality spring. If I swapped trigger return springs every 10k on my practice Shadow2, I'd be doing it every 2-3 months. (I get at least 100k cycles on a TRS). But for a gun that's life-safety equipment I get the need to replace early.
Agreed on both points, easy piece of mind to replace springs and batteries long before failure, but I was surprised by the Heavy TRS failure. The CS rep. was also surprised to hear the spring TRS failed. He actually said all springs except the recoil spring are expected to last the lifetime of the firearm, which sounds like a PR dept. statement...

JCL
02-06-2024, 11:34 PM
Gen4 Glock17. Multiple intermittent failure to fire malfunctions. The cause turned out to be a subtly damaged striker tip. This is JCL's gun. I'm not sure how many rounds are on it, but guessing a lot.

Yep, the firing pin was about 15 thou short. No idea how it got that way. I haven’t shot it enough to be certain that the problem is solved but initial results are encouraging.