Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
I've had it happen to me a few times. Every time to date, I didn't have to wonder too long before it became apparent what part had broken/fallen out.
Ever have something fall out of a firearm and not know what it was and where it went?
- Thread starter rickyrick
- Start date
I launched a bushing and and spring the first time I diassembled my first 1911. It was in a very cluttered basement. I never saw the spring, but heard it bounce around. I had to review the owners manual to identify the darn thing so I could start looking. It look over 40 minutes.
I now do stuff like that in a big ziplock bag when there is risk of spring launch.
I now do stuff like that in a big ziplock bag when there is risk of spring launch.
Evan Thomas
Inactive
Yes, I've used the Ziploc bag method -- it works. Another good one, if you have a dedicated workbench, is to attach two of those little squares of Velcro to the bottom corners of a shop apron, and their other halves to the sides of the bench. Your lap becomes a safety net when you stick the apron to the bench.
Yes! When taking breaking down my ATI 1911 for the first time. I had taken off the slide and started working on the frame. When I was taking out the safety, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something very small pop out and hit me in the chest then fall to the floor. Ran my fingers through the carpet and luckily came up with what I finally determined to be the trigger safety spring. Probably an easy figure to many but it was my first time taking down a 1911 -- think it took me about 10- minutes and some web searches on my phone to figure it out. 
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
Might it be the magazine?
Ha!
Anyway, I took a SW revolver apart and put it back and there was a little metal bar. What was that? Well, where's the picture?
Ha!
Anyway, I took a SW revolver apart and put it back and there was a little metal bar. What was that? Well, where's the picture?
Yep, not that long ago, either.
Was reassembling a Mossberg 930 SPX and as I turned the trigger assembly to one side to put it back in the receiver, "something" pops out. I looked at my feet and there was some shiny metal part and a spring and something else down there.
Turns out it was the 'cocking indicator' that pokes into the trigger guard when the hammer is cocked. Must remember to follow directions to leave shotgun cocked when disassembling next time.
Was reassembling a Mossberg 930 SPX and as I turned the trigger assembly to one side to put it back in the receiver, "something" pops out. I looked at my feet and there was some shiny metal part and a spring and something else down there.
Turns out it was the 'cocking indicator' that pokes into the trigger guard when the hammer is cocked. Must remember to follow directions to leave shotgun cocked when disassembling next time.
When I was working on a gun counter, I had an employee who was showing off. We had a rule that only managers could take down guns any further than a basic field strip, but this tool bag thought he was exempt from that. I can't remember what gun it was... I want to say it was a super vinci or something along those lines... some fairly fancy shotgun anyway. I have no idea what he did but it resulted in some spring going "Poing" and the magazine tube cap bouncing off the customer's face. The employee was so startled he dropped the rest of the gun on the floor and pieces sort of exploded off. Something went missing... I pored over the thing and never could figure out what it was but the dumb thing never did fit together right after that... had to send it back to the mfg. Most embarrassing.
A few days later, same idiot taking down a different gun. This time is was a glock. Yes, a freaking GLOCK. Not rocket science. Pushed down the tabs, pulled the trigger, and shot the slide over the counter to bounce along the concrete floor on the other side. Never did find the recoil spring.
As for me, I battled my MKII on many occasions before I finally won. Frankly, I'm surprised I never lost an eye along with all those little freaking parts. Also, tried to "help" my brother take down a crappy old rusty R1 he had picked up for more cents than sense and made an @$$ of myself when it kind of exploded everywhere and I couldn't figure out where everything went. That was back in my troubled youth though, I like to tell myself I wouldn't do that again... until next time.
A few days later, same idiot taking down a different gun. This time is was a glock. Yes, a freaking GLOCK. Not rocket science. Pushed down the tabs, pulled the trigger, and shot the slide over the counter to bounce along the concrete floor on the other side. Never did find the recoil spring.
As for me, I battled my MKII on many occasions before I finally won. Frankly, I'm surprised I never lost an eye along with all those little freaking parts. Also, tried to "help" my brother take down a crappy old rusty R1 he had picked up for more cents than sense and made an @$$ of myself when it kind of exploded everywhere and I couldn't figure out where everything went. That was back in my troubled youth though, I like to tell myself I wouldn't do that again... until next time.
Mosin-Marauder
New member
My 10/22 dId something similar.
Disassembled it one day and after that noticed that about after every 1 or 2 rounds I would get a really bad jam ( the bolt would seize up and not move and I had to strip it to get it back together).
After 4-5 times of this happening I got fed up like I usually do and completely disassembled it, I found out the extractor had been freed of its slot in the trigger housing and was seizing the action whenever it had cycled.
My bolt stop pin also falls out whenever I disasemble it so I have to be extra careful.
Disassembled it one day and after that noticed that about after every 1 or 2 rounds I would get a really bad jam ( the bolt would seize up and not move and I had to strip it to get it back together).
After 4-5 times of this happening I got fed up like I usually do and completely disassembled it, I found out the extractor had been freed of its slot in the trigger housing and was seizing the action whenever it had cycled.
My bolt stop pin also falls out whenever I disasemble it so I have to be extra careful.
Magnets and flashlights are your friend.
My worst experience was making a part. That took 1 hour to set up the lathe which I was not familiar with (mostly finding the power source and turning it on) and only a few minutes to make. When I went to install it, it went airborne. But for being in a room, I'm sure a communication satellite was threatened. Anyway, finding it took two hours and fitting it took another fifteen minutes (the dimensions in Brownell's Book of Gun Disassembly was just wrong).
My worst experience was making a part. That took 1 hour to set up the lathe which I was not familiar with (mostly finding the power source and turning it on) and only a few minutes to make. When I went to install it, it went airborne. But for being in a room, I'm sure a communication satellite was threatened. Anyway, finding it took two hours and fitting it took another fifteen minutes (the dimensions in Brownell's Book of Gun Disassembly was just wrong).