Have you seen handgun parts fail?

[Comedian]

Firing pin broke on my H&K USPc while dry firing. Obviously the gun was unable to function until it was replaced.

 

[DR505]

Broken barrel lug - Glock 23
Slide lock lever fell out while shooting - Glock 22
Locking block pin fell out while shooting - Glock 22
Trigger pin fell out while shooting - Glock 22
Broken recoil spring rod - Glock 27 (x3)


This is all over the course of 10 years and thousands of shooters.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm seeing a lot of revolver breakages here, and not a one of them was predictable ... I thought revolvers operated on some magical level not requiring internal parts, and thus could never malfunction.

Only applicable to NON Ruger revolvers.

Broken parts? Well, I didn't list the number of 1911 jams I've had. That's why I don't own one of those POSs anymore. So long as you shoot ball........

I do carry and own autos, though. I also carry and own revolvers. I have little bias, but tend to like revolvers for a lot of things over and above an auto. I will NOT carry an auto hunting (exception, Ruger Mk2 for squirrel hunting) or as a field gun, but I will carry a revolver for self defense. Revolvers are a bit more versatile as I see it.

 

[Noveldoc]

Son had a Taurus 45 ACP Millennium Pro. Just before 50th round on new gun it would not fire. He dropped the mag and 2 broken metal pieces fell out.

OK Taurus I may forgive you for having a bad day. But you have had the gun for over 2 weeks and have not even looked at ti yet. And you estimate 3 months for the repair.

We're dumping them based on this crappy service.

Tom

 

[fastbolt]

Yes, I have.

Having been a LE firearms instructor and armorer I've had my fair share of opportunity to experience and observe parts breakage in firearms. Some of the more common reasons for parts/assembly failure could probably be explained by normal wear and tear; unexpected failure due to an unforeseen problem probably occurring during manufacture; problems resulting from assembly (and sometimes fitting); and problems which likely resulted from someone having tried to 'improve' or 'modify' a firearm.

I wouldn't call it a 'common' occurrence.

There's a reason repair/replacement parts are made, though.

Have you ever heard of a part, or assembly, fail in a motor vehicle?

 

[mustang_steve]

The plastic safety switch on my SCCY CPX-1, I think my screwing with it was the cause though (I re-profiled it to keep it from digging into my fat hands). Given I did get anal about aesthetics and profiled it to look good as well as perform...this meant it may have been too thin to handle the spring tension beneath it.

This time, I'm simply going to measure out the new lever coming in, and hand-machine a reproduction out of some aluminum or brass in the profile needed to fit my hands, then color it to match the original.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Have you ever personally seen or experienced a part in any handgun fail? If so what handgun was it and what was the failure? Did it render the handgun inoperable until the part was fixed?

Absolutely. If you've never broken a part in a handgun you haven't shot it enough.

My personal disabling parts breakages:

Broken trigger bar springs in two "classic" SIGs. This caused the trigger bar to become disconnected from the trigger, rendering it unable to be pulled. If the gun was held upside down the bar would fall into place and reconnect, but I didn't attempt to fire it this way.

Broken extractor in a SIG 1911 (the first of several, more on this later). With the case unable to extract, the gun became a single-shot. This also happened - on the second shot I ever fired through it - to a Taurus PT945.

Broken slide takedown lock spring in a Glock. The part fell out of the gun's frame and the slide -with the barrel and recoil spring still attached - launched off the front of the frame and into the dirt.

While not a breakage per se, I've had S&W revolver ejector rods loosen and back out. This results in the cylinder binding and unable to be opened without tools. This is definitely disabling if severe enough.

In the same SIG 1911, the little threaded plug in the slide that retains firing pin safety parts came out, resulting in the plunger/actuator and other related parts falling out of the slide. While the gun could continue to be fired and therefore was not disabled, I felt it unsafe to continue.

 

[evan price]

Guns are machines, they break.

Have 2 Sig P220 magazines that cracked the feed lips and a 1911 mag that did the same thing.

KelTec PF9 the disassembly pin sheared the head off. Also the ejector broke.

A vest-pocket .25 auto the firing pin broke the tip off (it's also used as the ejector).

One of my FAL rifles the rat-tail rivit broke and the rat-tail on the bolt carrier came loose.

Mossberg 500 the stock split at the wrist.

 

[Sheldon]

On 1911s I have experienced the front sight pop out, rear sight pin break, collet bushing break, extractor hook shear off, and a slide stop break.

On a Beretta 92FS I have had the barrel locking block break.

On a S&W revolver experienced broken hammer and sear pins.

On a Ruger MKII pistol had the rear handle part of the bolt break off and have the extractor disappear.

 

[usp9]

:banghead: I had pin holding an extractor fall out during practice, causing the extractor to fall off a Sphinx. The pistol malfuntioned after that.

A CZ82 lost a slide stop lever spring during shooting. It caused the slide to lock back with each shot.

Had a mag drop from a Walther PPK/S, but only once...

 

[backwoodzboy]

I had an H&R pocket revolver possibly 50 to 100 years old that had some bad springs, which broke while cleaning them, a Star 9mm where the firing pin broke which is a common thing I have read, a Byrco 9mm where firing pin had broke on it, a safety that would slide back to the safe position while firing it on a Norinco Tokarev, and one time while trying out a 1911 that I had assembled with parts I traded for at a gunshow, I tried out some handloaded ammo that my buddy gave me, thats when I learned, never never, ever shoot ammo that someone else has reloaded, unless you know them. The stuff was very hot and it destroyed all the parts that I had just put on it. The barrel busted in four places where the cracks ran full length of barrel, the slide split in 2 places from the barrel bushing back to the ejection port, the barrel bushing busted sending my guide rod spring and retainer flying off, and my frame had a couple of places up front that were flaired out. I was very suprised that I had not been hurt or killed, all that from someone elses reloads, not sure what the exact cause was but that it was result of the ammo. It could have even been an obstructed barrel from a bad round. I think that proper cleaning or routine cleaning will help a person to see the condition of their firearm, and familiarize them with it better, as well as the obvious results of helping it run more effectively, efficiently, and safely. But from my humble experience, most problems happen with the age and usage, I respect firearms enough that I do not abuse.

 

[tribbles]

On a Ruger MKII pistol had the rear handle part of the bolt break off and have the extractor disappear.

The bolt on my wife's MkII did the same thing while our friend was shooting it - the rear part flew back and hit him square in the chest. Ruger made it good, though - new bolt, no charge (and this was a gun my wife bought used).

 

[Silent Bob]

I've seen a slide lock spring on a G19 break, the lower lug on a 1911 barrel break off, numerous staked front sights go flying off 1911s, a 1911 extractor hook break off, and more I'm sure of that I can't think of at the moment.

 

[rogertc1]

Colt 1911:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=475241

 

[Lakeshore]

Brand new Ruger P-95 a few years ago. First time I fired it the front sight flew off, turned out it hadn't been pinned on at the factory. Ruger sent two replacement pins but charged me for 'em.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I see I am not the only one with Glock slide lock problems.

The lady from Glockmeister who installed my extended slide lock "red flagged" the spring and said there was an upgraded one. Naturally I gave the go-ahead.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Broken extractor on a BHP clone. Thing is until I took it apart you couldn't TELL it was broken. It would fire but not extract, caused all manner of jams. Used spare pistol until I could get a Browning part. No problems since I replaced it.

Bent a guide rod on a custom 1911 with Pro-Load ammo. Guide rod was USGI part, I gave away the Pro-Load ammo. Gun was still functional, but long term use I'd bet would have hammered the gun to bits. Replaced guide rod and recoil spring.

Dad messed up the barrel on a Ruger Super Black Hawk Hunter shooting hot loads. The barrel rotated slightly, which caused all manner of confusion. Said HOT loads were backed off after the revolver was repaired. This repair was costly.

Had a custom 1911 have a sear failure, went to load it, hammer followed and the gun went off as it went into battery. Scared the crap out of me, but was obeying the 4 rules so pistol was pointed downrange when it occured. Put pistol away until it could be repaired.

 

[doc2rn]

Three Taurus: Titanium .357, .17 instant backup, and a 9mm Beretta clone which fell apart as the first 15 rds went through it.
One Ruger had a Yolk break on a GP100
One of my .380s had a bad crown NIB
Had a Glock 32 Kaboom on me.

 

[PzGren]

Glock 19 - broken slide lock spring on gun with high round count
Glock 17 - extractor chipped
S&W 22A - about every 20,000 rounds the firing pin breaks
.. . " - claw from the sight rib broke around 50,000 rounds
... " - frame cracked around 60,000 rounds
S&W 38 - thumbpiece broke
S&W 4516- sideplate assembly broke, gun still operable
Colt Customs 1911- extractor claw broke
Peters Stahl .22 unit for SIG P210- firing pin broke

 

[Daizee]

Split MIM thumb safety on a 1911. Mfr replaced it free of charge.

It wasn't quite "broken", but a left-shooting revolver was straightened by the Mfr.

-Daizee

 

[PT1911]

Doc.. I am never going shooting with you!!!!!!!!!!.. that is a rediculous string of unfortunate events.