Pistol reliability tips

3. Semi-auto magazines - check them on a regular basis to make sure they are going to feed the cartridge up. This is easily done by simply unloading them. Some will say that you don't need to "rest' a spring loaded magazine - I disagree. I had a 1911A1 for a long time that I kept a loaded magazine in and hidden for home protection. I kept several extra magazines loaded as well. Upon inspection of the magazines one time, I discovered week springs in two of them that wouldn't feed the cartridge properly. Both were magazines that I had purchased at a gun show - I have no idea of the mfg.

This has been disproven many times. Apparently you bought cheap magazines. Springs aren't performing "work" unless they move, expand/contract. When they're extended or compressed, and left alone, they're fine. Since you have no idea the mfg of the mags, I'm willing to bet they were cheap knock offs.

Say... This is a tool that may be needed to save your life one day, make sure its up to that task. Choose wisely in a budget you can afford, holding off a few weeks to have enough for something a little better may be a better way to go. Unless of course there is an immediate know danger to yourself and you need something soon.

Well I think to be offended (I don't know what to call your belief system about the question other than you being offended) you have to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder, which you have. Since a CCW is meant to save your life, then I think, if asked appropriately, its a fair question to inspire someone to rethink buying a gun that needed internal work (the context of my thoughts in this thread). The gun was not worth the money saved and is not a trustworthy SD gun if when brand new, needed internal work. On the other hand, the work by the OP doesn't seem major, but the point is, it should have needed nothing of the sort if it was a good CCW to begin with. As a range gun, its a moot point - modifying to get it to work better.

Marine, stating it the way you suggested doesn't really get to the point as effectively. Sometimes its better to shake the person's "foundation" if you really want them to think, or re-think a choice. How we word this same basic question is like the difference between Charles Dickens and Hemmingway. Nothing wrong with Dickens, but short and to the point is often best. (I Know at times I will post a long winded post, but sometimes that is needed and I know Hemmingway wrote a few longer novels) Basically, the question that I pose is asked for the same reason that anyone would question a CCW, and somehow you find it offensive and/or counter productive. Coincidentally, by your own admission, you were mistreated by others who you claim were more "well-to-do" because of your upbringing. In reality, you are probably a better person in some ways now because of how you grew up. However, what this all boils down to is IMO, without your specific personal / social history, you wouldn't have your feelings about the question that some people pose the way I did. I can objectively judge a gun, and have my gun be judged the same way, without taking it personal. Others take it more personal than they should.

The "what is your life worth" is a question of appropriate spending, priorities, your life, etc and unless someone has your feelings, its not offensive at all IMO. I never used it to personally attack, to criticize a trustworthy gun (then suggest a H&K) or to make myself come off like I'm wealthy. I too earned my keep. Very few of the guns I have were given to me. I had to go out there, get "edumacated", get a job, and then go out and find guns that I liked. Many people who are "poor" could have made better choices in life, and others are very unlucky (true poor people), in bad situations, beyond their control, etc. In general, I assume that the person posting could make better decisions and acquire a better gun. Thats something perhaps that I need to re-think. Either way, I think being over sensitive to a question that you and other people take out of context is more pointless and counter productive than the original question can be viewed.
 
Last edited:
dgludwig - it may seem "redundant" to you but I carry in AZ where we often have high winds and dust and that fine dust can get into places you never thought possible . . . not to mention if I've carried in a coat pocket, etc. where lint can be picked up. I own and shoot a lot of different handguns . . and have for 50 + years. Cleaning on a regular basis for me does several things . . . it insures that barrel and chambers are clear, un-obstructed and clean and it also is a check on function and a reminder/refresher on the pistol that I'm carrying. If a person doesn't want to clean their pistol . . or if they've cleaned it after firing and don't want to do it again even though it may be a substantial time period between shooting sessions - that's their option. to some it may seem a OCD, but at least I know that my weapon is clear and functional. For the very few minutes it takes to run a patch down the barrel and through the chambers and then re-oil lightly, for me, it's time well spent.

In regards to semi-auto mags and the possibility of spring problems . . . I'm glad it has been "disproved" many times. Yes, the mags that I purchased may have been cheap ones and low quality. Again, checking this on a regular basis is a personal preference . . . if you are certain that you will never have a problem, then don't check 'em. I'm not a mechanical engineer nor do I profess to be . . . all I know is that I had a problem and I've known others who have as well. I find it interesting that so many do "mods" to their magazines - get the Dremel out and polish, etc. - why is this necessary if the magazine is a quality one? All it takes is a minute once in a while to thumb the cartridges out of a magazine to make sure that the spring is working properly and that there isn't a problem and then reload . . . but . . . if a person is 100% sure there won't be a problem with it, then don't do it.

It's kind of like an automobile . . . if it's working O.K., then why do any maintenance on it . . . after all, it's never given a problem . . . so when you go on a trip and it breaks down in the middle of nowhere . . . that's not the time to say "I should have gone over it before I left town . . . ".
 
Tried black powder once. Never could see where my bullets hit, by the time the smoke cleared, the dust had settled.

That's the whole point. You don't even have to hit the bad guy. Just empty a brace of cap and ball revolvers in his general direction and escape in the cloud of smoke. :D

Why would you clean (if by "clean", you mean really cleaning a weapon, not just wiping it down and giving it a cursory "once over") an already clean weapon? Seems unnecessarily redundant to me.

I clean a carry gun at least once a month, usually just field strip, and patch the bore with break-free, wipe the crud out of the slide rails. I'm often surprised how much crud gets in there after a few weeks. This happens in pockets with a holster, without a holster, IWB, or OWB. I usually find I'm not cleaning a clean gun. In any case, I don't see what it hurts.
 
A new gun should work without anything other than a field strip and clean. If the gun is clean and you have a good magazine it should work. If you have to go thru it and polish and debur then the mfg. failed to provide a serviceable product. We do get new guns that aren't up to snuff and it really makes me sick. It can be a Kimber, Browning, S&W, any brand but some mfgs let out more than their fair share. You wouldn't believe how many guns we got back at Bass Pro from one particular mfg.
 
A new gun should work without anything other than a field strip and clean. If the gun is clean and you have a good magazine it should work. If you have to go thru it and polish and debur then the mfg. failed to provide a serviceable product. We do get new guns that aren't up to snuff and it really makes me sick. It can be a Kimber, Browning, S&W, any brand but some mfgs let out more than their fair share.


Well said...
 
A number of far more qualified individuals than I seem to be of the opinion that the Dremel tool (in the wrong hands) has damaged/ruined more semi-auto pistols than rust, mechanical damage, and all other factors combined.

Having seen just a couple of examples myself, I tend to agree...
 
Back
Top