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The real rotating barrel negatives started with the Cougar series which used a slightly different cut, less forgiving, if you will, in the slot groove and the return spring housing that clks on-top of it.. Mainly, more than anything else, lack of "lasting lubrication in that critical area.. In LEA's continuous shooting classes, they fire 200 - 300 or more continuous/rapid, type, rounds -shooting exercises, and what gets the hottest the fastest ? - the_barrel and light oil just evaporates quickly given the right amount of ongoing heat until the timing is metal to metal slow down.. thus jams.
The much improved Px4's more forgiving cuts/design is far more, long reaching, forgiving in this area but can fall to the same problem IF bone dry.. but it takes longer to occur, but should not IF one simply treats the area correctly, along with, take 5 mins to simply disassemble one's gun, inspect that area and rails/guides, feed ramp (which really hardly is used, as the bullets actually go basically straight in vs tilt-up barrel action/loading.. as it just rotates and one can see this:
A very simple method/application of many of the excellent gun greases out there, like what I use, Tetra white gun grease has, and will, go the distance, for me, 800 rounds before cleaning and reapplications.. It could go twice that, easy, but it only takes, me, but 5 mins for a quick clean, reapplication of lubricates or 15mins - 20 mins (real time/actual handling) for full bore, barrel solvent cleaning and Eezox gun, all metal, mag interior walls, etc., treatments.. And, let gun, barrel, sit for 30 mins, then finish it up and she's back together rdy for use..
It could go longer and has with a few of the Comp shooters I know and in torture test 2 have gone well over 2000 rounds without any additional lubrication's in the interim..
Bottom line: the Px4 series in either 9mm, 40cal, or 45cal that use the rotating barrels will go "the distance" for the "more than average needs of any shooter using a Px4 for HD/SD or just range shooting or Competitions..
Like I said, and know, these guns "are very forgiving" and any limp-wristing, one handed, weak handed, shots will not effect their shoot, eject, load, and take the next shot, and the next and the next.. Tried and tried and no jams, nada, just ever-ongoing shots hitting POA..
The key is weather/temp and known round count per cleanings/applications as sever cold weather and grease can get thick.. and oil works well here vs hot weather, oil evaporates much quicker, and gun grease stays thin but does not evaporate (for the very most part).. Personally, winter/summer, I use Tetra first and then apply just a tad of M-Pro7 oil in barrel slot groove and bottom and sides of return spring housing that clks on top of the barrel slot.. never fails, not thru 3yrs/nearly 10k rounds, as mentioned before.
My biggest suggestion for any buyer is simply chk out all the Px4's any dealer has and, "upon inspection" for finish, barrel lock-up tightness, and DA trigger pulls for the smoothest one, with the cleanest, sharpest, SA trigger break, is the gun you want to buy, as it will only get better and better vs just taking the one the clerk hands you.. chk them all out, "you're the_buyer" and want the best NIB one to start off with and stay with as it just gets better and better..
Luck,
Ls
