Bauer 25 Problem

amd6547 · Jul 19, 2015

I posted the following in the the other small 22/25 thread, but decided to start a new thread to see if any Bauer/Browning Baby experts had any thoughts on my issue.

I recently bought a Bauer 25...
When function testing it at home, I noticed that it took a really hard pull on the slide to get the striker fully cocked...didn't think much about it, figured the ejection cycle could handle it.
Went to the range last week. The little Bauer seemed like it wanted to work. But I had several jams where the striker didn't catch the sear, which means the firing pin (which also performs the ejector function) was protruding from the breach, blocking the fresh cartridge from rising.
This was while using Winchester and PRVI FMJ.
I have done a little polish on both the sear and the cocking notch on the firing pin, and the pistol seems easier to cock.
While testing the disconnect function by holding back the trigger and working the slide, I find that the striker again becomes difficult to cock....
There is some wear on the disconnector hump of the trigger bar...I'm going to smooth that today.
May end up replacing the trigger bar.
I'll be going to the range to test out the little Bauer tomorrow...anybody have any other ideas?
When I shoot it tomorrow, I'm going to try to release the trigger quickly after the shot...on the first range trip, the Bauer would go several rounds trouble free before the same jam occurred. Maybe it had to do with trigger manipulation.

Prince Yamato · Jul 19, 2015

Go here:

http://www.precisionsmallarms.com/

get replacement parts.

amd6547 · Jul 19, 2015

Well, I'm not going to just replace all the parts. Ive already ordered a new magazine from PSA, so I'm aware of them, and Bauer trigger bars are pretty available. I'm thinking it's the disconnector hump on the trigger bar. The forward top edge shows some wear from contacting the disconnector slot in the slide.
Trying to diagnose this, but thanks, anyway

MedWheeler · Jul 19, 2015

I saw your other post, in a thread in which I too had mentioned having problems with the Bauer.

I don't have anything to offer, but noticed we are/were using the same ammo brands. My malfunctions are failures to feed; the round being fed up from the magazine stands upward, missing the breech and impacting above it. Otherwise, my gun seems like it wasn't fired much. To be honest, I doubt many of them were. Considering their size, and the cost of ammo, most probably got a couple of mags run through, then were stowed away..

I had noticed after the range trip that, when fiddling with the gun at home, I frequently failed to properly seat the magazine. I haven't been back to the range yet, but I'm wondering if I was doing that there as well...

Jim K · Jul 19, 2015

I don't have a Bauer, but the Baby Browning has a very stiff double recoil spring, needed for such a light slide even with .25 ACP.

There are ways to reduce the power of that spring, but there would be a risk of having the gun open too soon and be damaged.

All I can suggest is to try different brands of ammo until one works. And the .25 ACP can be reloaded, though it is too small for easy handling.

Jim

amd6547 · Jul 20, 2015

Did some experimentation today...still having the same problem, failure to reset the striker, allowing the firing pin to be in the forward, "ejector position", and preventing the fresh round from feeding.
I examined the magazine safety...that does not seem to be malfunctioning.
Next, I looked at the relationship between the trigger bar, the disconnector, and sear.
The disconnector seemed to be sticking a little, so I stoned it lightly to make it function easier.
Now everything seems to function properly, but the same jam continues.
Now I'm wondering about the springs.
Looking at the PSA website, they recommend replacing the recoil and firing pin springs at fairly short intervals.
I'm not sure exactly how old this Bauer is, or how much it has been shot.
It occurred to me that weak springs might allow the slide to recoil fast enough to override the disconnector function, returning far enough forward to miss the rising striker.
So, I have ordered those two springs

LoneGoose · Jul 20, 2015

I have three Bauers. After complete disassembly for initial cleaning, I had run into the same problem of the striker not cocking. Each of the three pistols behave differently, but here's what I found out through trial and error.

1. The safety lever can travel below its "fire" detent - on some guns that can cause you a couple different headaches. 2. The trigger transfer bar (or whatever you call it) can slip out of its perfect alignment when you put the grips on. This is hard to detect visually; I normally just take the gun apart and put it back together more slowly.

Good luck.

amd6547 · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks for the tip on the safety...mine also goes a little beyond the detent...I will have a look at it.

MedWheeler · Jul 21, 2015

They go beyond the "fire" detent because that's where they're supposed to be positioned during takedown. Just pay extra attention to where it is when firing.

KSDeputy · Jul 23, 2015

I had one and sold it. My feeling is the .25acp is a poor caliber, even a .22lr is better.

wally · Jul 23, 2015

My feeling is the .25acp is a poor caliber, even a .22lr is better.

Nope, the .25ACP was invented because even JMB himself couldn't make .22lr feed and fire reliably enough for self defence usage in these tiny pistols.

Things like the Kel-Tec P32, P3AT and its competitors (LCP, TCP, BG380 etc.) have clearly made the .25ACPs a very poor choice these days, as they are much more powerful, about the same size, and generally significantly lighter in weight.

MedWheeler · Jul 23, 2015

KSdeputy writes:

I had one and sold it. My feeling is the .25acp is a poor caliber, even a .22lr is better.

Wow. Took nine responses before someone came along specifically to trash the caliber, completely irrelevant to the OP's starting post. No where in it does he say he intends to depend on this gun, or its caliber, for anything.. but here you are.

LoneGoose · Jul 25, 2015

The .25, being a centerfire, is much more reliable than a rimfire. Although it probably won't physically disable a drug-crazed attacker right away, it will make anyone rethink their intentions if they get shot with one. As a primary defense weapon? No.

BUT.... the cool factor of a Bauer .25 is waaaay up there. On one of mine I filed the sights off, smoothed the top rib, polished everything to 400 grit, and rounded all of the sharp edges. It is slick and sweet. I intend to try my hand at hammer-and-chisel engraving on it. I'll keep it simple but classy.

I would think that a nice Bauer would make a good gift to a family member. Something nice to play with.

Jim K · Jul 26, 2015

"... even JMB himself couldn't make .22lr feed and fire reliably..."

The .25/6.35 cartridge was first used in Europe, where the .22 LR was almost unknown at that time. Plus, the .22LR was not crimped at that time (it was thought that crimping spoiled accuracy) and would not have fed from a magazine.

Jim

amd6547 · Jul 27, 2015

I got the new recoil spring and firing pin spring. After installation, the slide draw is much harder than with the old springs.
In fact, the new firing pin spring is a good half inch longer than the old one.
Got a good feeling, thinking I may have fixed it, but I'll have to wait a few days to try it out.

Yeah, the 25acp is the cartridge people love to hate, but I'm not willing to completely write it off. Especially in a tiny little pistol like the Baby.
I have always been a fan of the Browning pistols, and have owned most of them at one time or another...but never a Baby. Got this Bauer on a whim, at a good price. It's been fun messing with it, and when it did fire, it was surprisingly accurate at 12yds.
Once I get it working, sure I'll drop it in my pocket once in a while. It makes my Beretta Bobcat look huge.

george burns · Jul 27, 2015

Going back to when these were actually carried as backup guns,or off duty guns, by most off duty cops in NY. It was pretty standard that they were problematic even then. Mostly springs and mags, they could have been great if they fired more often, but I just remember problems with them all, if you got a good one you were lucky. Of course someone will disagree but most guys just carried them because the had to have a weapon on them, and they were small.
When you shrink something down that small, it's going to malfunction sooner or later. The Jetfire that came along later was a pretty reliable gun in 22 or 25. I had a Jetfire in both, and it fired consistently well. Not so much with the Bauer or Colt.

Jim K · Jul 28, 2015

The old Colt Vest Pocket Models (1908) were pretty reliable, probably the best of the .25 autos (along with the same gun made by FN). But of course they were very expensive to manufacture. The "Baby" actually dates to the mid 1930's but they were not imported into the U.S. until the 1950's because of the Colt-FN non-compete agreement.

Jim

Bauer 25 Problem

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