AndyM
Member
Folks,
Firstly, I apologize that this is so long. I also
apologize if I don't use firearm terminology
correctly. I'm new to this.
I recently purchased a used Start Firestar in 9mm
(M43). I shot it before I purchased it and there were
no malfunctions. I then brought it home and cleaned it
as per the owners manual. The only disassembly I
performed was removal of the slide, guide rod, and
barrel. I did not disassemble the frame in any way.
I then went shooting and encoutered a strange
problem. It seems to only occur after ejecting the
last shell or when manually racking the slide when
empty. The slide would lock back and would not return.
Pulling the slide back and depressing the slide return
would not allow the slide to return forward.
I traced the problem to the fact that the barrel
itself was locking itself into the slide. I noticed
this because when the slide was locked back, my barrel
would not rattle freely. Instead, it was locked up
tight even though the slide was locked back. It seems
as if the breech end of the barrel tilts up and the upper most edge of
the breech end of the barrel gets wedged into the last
locking notch in the frame.
I hope I am describing this correctly and clearly. I
can provide pictures, but that will take time.
If I manually pull the front of the barrel up (thus
causing the breech end of the barrel to tilt down) it
will unlock and this causes the slide to inch forward
a tad and encounter the slide lock.
Have you seen or heard of anything like this?
Here are my thoughts on this problem so far......
1) it almost seems as if the slide is moving back too
far and allowing the locking grooves in the slide to
pass the breech end of the barrel. Then when the slide
moves forward, the locking catch the top of the
breech.
2) I think this happens only on an empty gun because
when a new catridge is loaded, the force of the bullet
entering the breech causes the barrel to unlock
itself. This is only speculation on my part at this
point.
3) Please note. I'm not going to try the following
myself. I will talk to a gunsmith before altering my
pistol in any way, shape, or form.
However, it seem to me that the easiest way to fix
this might be to put a slight bevel on the top of the
breech. This might prevent the locking ridge in the
slide from catching on the sharp edge of the breech
end of the barrel. If there was a bevel, the locking
ridge of the slide might just deflect and slide right
by.
4) could this be caused be a slightly weak recoil
spring? If it was a tad stronger, the slide might not
travel as far back in the first place and therefore
the breech end of the barrel wouldn't even encounter
the locking ridge in the slide...
Any info, suggestion or help you could provide would
be most helpful.
thanks a bunch.
andy
Firstly, I apologize that this is so long. I also
apologize if I don't use firearm terminology
correctly. I'm new to this.
I recently purchased a used Start Firestar in 9mm
(M43). I shot it before I purchased it and there were
no malfunctions. I then brought it home and cleaned it
as per the owners manual. The only disassembly I
performed was removal of the slide, guide rod, and
barrel. I did not disassemble the frame in any way.
I then went shooting and encoutered a strange
problem. It seems to only occur after ejecting the
last shell or when manually racking the slide when
empty. The slide would lock back and would not return.
Pulling the slide back and depressing the slide return
would not allow the slide to return forward.
I traced the problem to the fact that the barrel
itself was locking itself into the slide. I noticed
this because when the slide was locked back, my barrel
would not rattle freely. Instead, it was locked up
tight even though the slide was locked back. It seems
as if the breech end of the barrel tilts up and the upper most edge of
the breech end of the barrel gets wedged into the last
locking notch in the frame.
I hope I am describing this correctly and clearly. I
can provide pictures, but that will take time.
If I manually pull the front of the barrel up (thus
causing the breech end of the barrel to tilt down) it
will unlock and this causes the slide to inch forward
a tad and encounter the slide lock.
Have you seen or heard of anything like this?
Here are my thoughts on this problem so far......
1) it almost seems as if the slide is moving back too
far and allowing the locking grooves in the slide to
pass the breech end of the barrel. Then when the slide
moves forward, the locking catch the top of the
breech.
2) I think this happens only on an empty gun because
when a new catridge is loaded, the force of the bullet
entering the breech causes the barrel to unlock
itself. This is only speculation on my part at this
point.
3) Please note. I'm not going to try the following
myself. I will talk to a gunsmith before altering my
pistol in any way, shape, or form.
However, it seem to me that the easiest way to fix
this might be to put a slight bevel on the top of the
breech. This might prevent the locking ridge in the
slide from catching on the sharp edge of the breech
end of the barrel. If there was a bevel, the locking
ridge of the slide might just deflect and slide right
by.
4) could this be caused be a slightly weak recoil
spring? If it was a tad stronger, the slide might not
travel as far back in the first place and therefore
the breech end of the barrel wouldn't even encounter
the locking ridge in the slide...
Any info, suggestion or help you could provide would
be most helpful.
thanks a bunch.
andy