Slide Stuck on Kel-Tec P-32

[ArchAngelCD]

After shooting a box of ammo at the range I cleaned my P-32 as usual. After reassembly the slide wouldn't release from the slide stop and the slide remained locked back. I somehow got it to release, took it apart again but nothing seemed out of place. Reassembled, pulled the slide back, inserted the pin, pulled back on the slide to release it and NOT!!

I've had this pistol for almost a year now and did nothing differently that I've done dozens of times before. I'm just glad this didn't happen at the wrong time.

Has anyone heard of this happening on a P-32 before? Anything I can do to fix it before I have to ship it off to Kel-Tec? With the price of shipping it would it be more cost efficient to have a local Smith take a look at it? (I only paid $219 for it NIB)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rcmodel]

Sounds like the ejector/slide hold-open spring got out of place or broken.

With the slide off and no magazine in the gun, see if the ejector is spring loaded down with light spring pressure. Now insert an empty mag and see if it pushes it up.

It's part #284:
http://kel-tec-cnc.com/p32parts.html


rcmodel

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I can't get the slide to release to take the dam thing apart again. It's open and it looks like it will stay that way until someone who knows what they are looking at can release it. (and that's not me) This is why I have mostly revolvers.

 

[rcmodel]

Take a stick or something (NOT your finger) and press down on the ejector from the open ejection port. The ejector is also the slide hold-open and it should let the slide go foreword if you press down on it.

If it still won't close with it pushed down, take a wood hammer handle and whack the back of the slide and see what happens.


rcmodel

 

[gb6491]

I had a problem with my slide not releasing after cleaning it with a degreaser. Turned out that the slide stop/ejector was sticking. I would check to see if it is operating properly. With the magazine removed, pull the slide fully to the rear while watching the ejector; it should drop slightly when working correctly. If not, check for foreign matter and proper lubrication. Gunk on the slide might also cause it to stick. As mentioned above, you should be able to push it down by hand and release the slide.


If you have a 2nd generation gun. it might be possible that the bottom of your extractor has gouged the frame (or is hitting the frame) and is is getting caught in it. This might prevent you pulling the slide far enough rearwards to release the slide lock. The gouging is something I noticed on my pistol and I don't know if it ever caused a problem, but it looks feasible. I just knocked down that edge of the frame some with a file (just in case).
You can still see some of the gouge mark in this photo:

Regards,
Greg

 

[ArchAngelCD]

rcmodel and gb6491, thank you very much for your help.

rcmodel, you were correct, the slide hold-open spring was out of place. Once I gave it a little nudge it went right back into place.

gb6491, your pictures were invaluable. Without them I wouldn't have known where to look.

Again, thank you both... All is now well in Kel-Tec-Ville... LOL

 

[rcmodel]

The spring probably popped out of the pocket in the frame when you took out the assembly pin.

It helps to hold finger pressure on both side of the pin so the plastic grip doesn't spring away from the frame as you pry the pin out, and let the spring pop out.


rcmodel

 

[jpgorich]

Thanks for posting guys! I almost screwed up my gun messing around trying to get the slide to release. At one point I was holding gun with a huge pair of vise grips, getting ready to start beating with a dead blow hammer! Glad I decided to do a quick search first. Slide released 2 min. after reading post and looking at pictures. Thank you gentlemen, for saving my little <deleted> Keltec from the trash can!