Walther PPS - Shaving Brass

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Waveski

Waveski

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I am becoming familiar with my very first polymer framed striker fired pistol. Yes , gone to the dark side. Lightweight with better capacity than my standard J frame. Anyway ... when cleaning it this evening I noticed brass shavings - not, apparently , from casings , but from an internal component. IMG_1555.jpg
Function seems friction free ; the only "symptom" is the presence of the metal bits. They apparently come from the central structure as shown. Sorry - I do not know the proper name to apply to that part , but the visual evidence is obvious.

I am not overly concerned by this situation , but I would like to understand it better than I do.

Anybody? IMG_1558.jpg
 
Looks like there may be a burr or it needs lube. Most likely a burr.
I haven't run in to this situation. But I have been experimenting with permatex antisieze compound for lube. Started with my bp pistols. One thing I can attest to is it really stays in place and resists hot gas blow out very well. At a 1600^ rating it hangs in there and is smooth as silk. Just passing it on.
 
Initially, I'd say this is your culprit surface though the leading edge of it or even the striker safety radius cut may be the significant contributor.

IMG_1555.jpg

First, I would clean completely, load up a full magazine with clean new ammunition and hand cycle the complete magazine in a safe location.

I would note the order of each round as the worst examples may be the first ones with greater magazine spring tension being exhibited.

Then, carefully inspect each round.

This would be my first elimination step in diagnosing after having done a simple finger and rubber eraser test for snags and protrusions.

Todd.
 
Are you suggesting that we are looking at brass that has been transferred from casings onto the internal component shown in the image?
 
I have swithed to 9mm and .40 PPS for EDC. The 9mm for training and the .40 for serious business. They run flawlessly. They do need cleaning tho after use. I use Slip 2000 lube .
 
Gordon -

have you ever seen the kind of situation as shown in the image in my 1st post?
 
I had a shaving problem on my PPS M1 9mm when shooting Golden Saber 124gr +p rounds. Only round I had that problem with. Have you tried a different ammo? My M1 seems to really like 147gr HST.
 
Waveski said:
Gordon -

have you ever seen the kind of situation as shown in the image in my 1st post?
Click to expand...
No and yes. I have seen brass rubs and shards under the barrel hood area in guns that use that system. I would change brands of ammo if I were you. No my PPS (s) have no where that magnatude of brass traces.
 
https://www.waltherforums.com/forum/pps/17946-new-pps-warranty-visit.html

I found the above thread. I am not jumping to any conclusions , nor am I eager to send the pistol in to the factory.

I will , however , continue to analyze the issue , and I'll hold off making the Walther my edc for a bit.
Bottom line : I am not overly concerned about the likelihood of a function stoppage , so long as I do not rack up a big round count between cleanings.
 
Waveski said:
I will , however , continue to analyze the issue , and I'll hold off making the Walther my edc for a bit.
Bottom line : I am not overly concerned about the likelihood of a function stoppage , so long as I do not rack up a big round count between cleanings.
Click to expand...

When I fired the Golden Sabers in mine, the shaving build up was much worse than I can see in yours. And I only fired about 50 or 60 rounds. The shavings were bad enough it looked like I dunked mine in sawdust at a mill. I didn't notice any mechanical issues from the build up and didn't know there were flakes inside until I went to cleaning. I would have no qualms carrying the Saber in my PPS if that is all I had for defensive ammo, it is just annoying to clean up after. If the flaking doesn't happen with any other ammo like mine did, I would consider it a non issue.
 
run a q-tip around in there and see what the cotton grabs. you might consider stoning anything that pulls the cotton. also give a look at the mating areas on the frame. I found some white flakes in a Beretta, that turned out to be tiny little aluminum shavings from the frame, when breaking in a new barrel and locking block assembly.
 
That's almost as much brass as a new .45 Shield (.45 Shields do that by design. It uses the cartridge rim to slow slide speed). Since I don't have that much familiarity with the PPS design I can't say whether it's normal or not.
 
IMG_1579.jpg Here's what I think --- As the pistol cycles , the slide moves back (rightward in the image); the ramped beam riding along the top surface of the uppermost round in the magazine. Note the crescent shaped cutout for the striker safety plunger (if I have that cylindrical part i.d.'d correctly...) - as that cutout passes over the cartridge I think that the edge of the casing catches briefly and slightly , cutting a tiny brass shard. Picture the round riding along that beam from right to left , bullet pointing left , the round pressed firmly against the beam by the tension of the mag spring. That edge is quite sharp. Once the slide reaches it's rearmost position and begins to rebound forward (left in the image) , the square edge of that beam strips the next round and pushes it towards the feed ramp.

I conducted a test : I shot some steel cased fmj ammunition in order to confirm that the brass shards came from the casings and not from the bullet jacket. Several magazines of the steel cased fmj yielded no brass shards ; that supported my belief that the fouling was casing brass , not bullet jacket brass. The steel case exercise yielded another interesting result - one round resisted being extracted. Close examination showed that the edge of the casing was burred - I believe that the burr was caused by the casing snagging that sharp edge as I described. I further believe that the brass casings , being softer that the steel ones , cycle past that edge with less conflict , developing no burr that binds in the chamber.

Now , assuming that my conclusions are correct , what do I do about it? Another way to frame that question is : Is it broke? I'm not so sure it is. I could go in there with a small tool and try to work the edge off of that area , but I am in no rush to do so. With the exception of the steel round I have zero malfunctions. I think I should avoid the steel (I don't buy the stuff anyway , just had a bargain box lying about) , continue to shoot and practice with the Walther as I prepare to make it one of my carry guns , and see if it breaks in.

Input , response to my conclusions are welcome.
IMG_1585.jpg
 
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