rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I would also double check where my trigger finger was when struggling with the FTC's when both ND's happened.
rc
rc
Accidental discharge! Ekk!
- Thread starter monotonous_iterancy
- Start date
- Status
el Godfather
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2012
- Messages
- 1,847
Very true.
I mean lets not look into the muzzle for checking if its loaded. There are certain safety protocols that MUST NOT be over looked.
I'd say it's time to disassemble and examine. I now posses a 1941 mismatched frame and slide WWII bring back P38. After the man who brought it back passed, his family asked if I would like to have it. I did. Knowing the family, I'm pretty sure this P38 was brought back and placed in a drawer not to see the light of day.
When I received it, I noticed it would not stay in single action cock. Upon detail strip I discovered the sear was fractured.
[/URL][/IMG]
I'd like to say it happened on the battlefield and thus why that German lost or gave up his weapon.
BUT,, back to the borrowed pistol in question, certainly it does not have a fully failed sear, but maybe a partial one. A detail strip and inspection is the only way to find out. The good news is, there are PLENTY of parts available for the P38 and cheap. Have it inspected, and repaired. I think I paid about $20 for the new sear.
When I received it, I noticed it would not stay in single action cock. Upon detail strip I discovered the sear was fractured.
I'd like to say it happened on the battlefield and thus why that German lost or gave up his weapon.
BUT,, back to the borrowed pistol in question, certainly it does not have a fully failed sear, but maybe a partial one. A detail strip and inspection is the only way to find out. The good news is, there are PLENTY of parts available for the P38 and cheap. Have it inspected, and repaired. I think I paid about $20 for the new sear.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
Used or not, the issue at hand is why this pistol has discharged in this manner twice.
There are two possible conditions which could cause the weapon to fire:
1. Operator action, or combination of actions.
2. Mechanical defect.
For the sake of argument, let's assume that the operator made no errors in handling, especially since this event happend twice, the second time when he was being doubly careful to avoid a Negligent Discharge. (However, the OP should STILL carefully evaluate his actions to verify this.)
This leaves a mechanical problem.
It is possible that there is a cleanliness issue related to the firing pin. However, I should think that this kind of defect might also lead to misfires as well, since any amount of fouling that would cause the firing pin to stick forward firmly enough to impact a primer when chambering a round with enough force to set it off. Easy enough to investigate and easy enough to clean.
If the hammer is, in fact, dropping when it shouldn't when the slide moves forward, then this might indicate either excessive wear or damage to the internals of the related mechanisms. I'm not familiar enough to name the components and what areas to check, but this, too can be checked by a complete breakdown.
All that said...ANY TIME A GUN MISFIRES and you don't think it was operator action, THE GUN NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. If the owner doesn't feel competent enough to do this, then he should take it to someone who is qualified to do so. It should only cost about the price of a box or two of ammo to have it inspected, well worth the money.
There are two possible conditions which could cause the weapon to fire:
1. Operator action, or combination of actions.
2. Mechanical defect.
For the sake of argument, let's assume that the operator made no errors in handling, especially since this event happend twice, the second time when he was being doubly careful to avoid a Negligent Discharge. (However, the OP should STILL carefully evaluate his actions to verify this.)
This leaves a mechanical problem.
It is possible that there is a cleanliness issue related to the firing pin. However, I should think that this kind of defect might also lead to misfires as well, since any amount of fouling that would cause the firing pin to stick forward firmly enough to impact a primer when chambering a round with enough force to set it off. Easy enough to investigate and easy enough to clean.
If the hammer is, in fact, dropping when it shouldn't when the slide moves forward, then this might indicate either excessive wear or damage to the internals of the related mechanisms. I'm not familiar enough to name the components and what areas to check, but this, too can be checked by a complete breakdown.
All that said...ANY TIME A GUN MISFIRES and you don't think it was operator action, THE GUN NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. If the owner doesn't feel competent enough to do this, then he should take it to someone who is qualified to do so. It should only cost about the price of a box or two of ammo to have it inspected, well worth the money.
monotonous_iterancy
Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 915
Like I said, the first misfire was when the slide moved forward slightly and went off. I remember now trying to remove the magazine one of the times that slide didn't move fully into battery, but I couldn't. So I couldn't unload it.
I had the gun in my left hand I think, I switched so I could see what I was doing and work the controls, I kind of have small hands. It was pointed up, at an angle. I took my right hand, and moved the slide a millimeter or however much it was, if I recall my doing so, and then the gun fired. I'm pretty sure I wasn't touching the trigger. I don't rest my finger in trigger guards. Particularly since I was holding it with my non-dominant hand. Needless to say, it was too close for comfort, by which I mean, not at full arms length.
The second misfire, was simply me chambering a round and letting the slide fly forward so it wouldn't get caught up again, a few successful magazines later. That time I was ready and had it pointing down range.
Also, before I took this pistol out to shoot it, I put a few drops of oil on the slide and friction points of it.
I had the gun in my left hand I think, I switched so I could see what I was doing and work the controls, I kind of have small hands. It was pointed up, at an angle. I took my right hand, and moved the slide a millimeter or however much it was, if I recall my doing so, and then the gun fired. I'm pretty sure I wasn't touching the trigger. I don't rest my finger in trigger guards. Particularly since I was holding it with my non-dominant hand. Needless to say, it was too close for comfort, by which I mean, not at full arms length.
The second misfire, was simply me chambering a round and letting the slide fly forward so it wouldn't get caught up again, a few successful magazines later. That time I was ready and had it pointing down range.
Also, before I took this pistol out to shoot it, I put a few drops of oil on the slide and friction points of it.
Jim NE
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 1,888
Good response, leadcounsel. Whenever faced with a crisis, maintain your sanity and humanity.
Alberforth
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2011
- Messages
- 83
There are safety function checks out there for Glocks and 1911s. I guess one lesson here is to try to find out what the checks are for the particular firearm whose unknown functionality you are faced with before proceeding.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
