Baby Browning reliability

[The Scandinavian]

Hi

I've previously posted this on the Curio and Relic Firearms Forum, and it was suggested I try here too.

I have a fairly neat FN Baby Browning, which according to the serial numbers on the Browning website was made in 1962.

The pistol is astonishingly accurate for something so tiny but it will rarely go through an entire magazine without a jam of some sort.

Sometimes I get a failure to eject (stovepipe), and also sometimes something like a '3 point' jam where the back of the cartridge seems to fail to rise up the breech face - this is worst with the last cartridge, that sometimes rotates upwards and ends up vertically in the magazine with the bullet head trapped between the slide and the chamber.

The first two or three cartridges are the most reliable so I was initially wondering if a stronger magazine spring would help, although I have now tried with a brand new MEC-GAR magazine and the functioning of the gun is just as bad

I'm using S&B FMJ ammo, that works 100% in my 1930's Browning 'Vest Pocket' 1906.

Does anyone have any suggestions??

It has been suggested already that I try polishing the feed ramp, although it is fairly smooth already. I should point out that the transition between the ramp in the grip and the ramp in the barrel is also smooth.

Could it be some sort of timing problem, for example maybe the firing pin (also the ejector in this design) preventing the rear of the cartridge rising early enough as the slide goes forward?

With thanks

"Z"

 

[rcmodel]

A jamming Baby Browning is almost unheard off, so I think someone may have already dinked with it at some point.

It could be someone has put a stronger recoil spring set in it.
The factory spring set is a small spring inside a larger spring, assembled on the guide rod and non-removable.
Is yours that way?
Any evidence the guide rod end has been re-riveted due to a spring replacement?

Second, the first thing to try with any mis-behaving semi-auto is different ammo.

The second thing is a different magazine, but you have already done that.

Maybe yours just doesn't like S&B ammo?

It is unlikely to be a timing issue with the striker. It has to be already captured by the sear & out of the way as the slide goes forward, or the gun wouldn't be cocked for another shot.

If you can, try to clear a jamb without retracting the slide and let it go on shut.
Is the striker cocked?

If so, the striker has nothing to do with it.

rcmodel

 

[Jim K]

All excellent suggestions, but I question that Baby Browning failure is "almost unheard of." On the contrary, it is fairly common, in my experience. The old 1906 Browning, like its Colt "cousin" is very reliable.

Jim

 

[The Scandinavian]

Hi again

thanks for the replies.

It is unlikely to be a timing issue with the striker. It has to be already captured by the sear & out of the way as the slide goes forward, or the gun wouldn't be cocked for another shot.

Yes, but I noticed that this happens when the breech face is moving forward, about half way along the magazine, ie after the round has already been picked up.

I'll check with my 1906 later and see if it is the same with that gun.

The old 1906 Browning, like its Colt "cousin" is very reliable.

Yep, never had a problem with mine.

I'll try and track down some different ammo tomorrow. The trouble is there isn't much choice in .25 around here - it seems to be S&B or Magtech, and I've never had any problem with either of those in any of my other pistols so I've never really needed to hunt out anything more exotic.

Thanks again!

 

[The Scandinavian]

Just thought I'd let you know I seem to have solved the problem.

Fiocci ammo has a slightly sharper, ie. more pointed profile to the bullet head than the other major makes. Not much of a difference, but it's enough

 

[rcmodel]

Well, there ya go then!

rcmodel

 

[krs]

boy howdy, ya!