HK USP Magazine issue at the range...the good and bad

[JLStorm]

Ok, to start off with, this was completely my fault for not checking my equipment more carefully before hand, I am not blaming the USP or HK.

I was shooting at the range and ejected a magazine from my USP 45 full size, I then attempted to load another magazine but the bottom of the slam pad on the magazine (12 rounders) must have been loose and came apart when I slammed the mag into the mag well. The result was 12 rounds of 45 acp falling on the floor with the magazine still in the gun, but the slam pad, spring, follower on the ground. Using this as a chance for more pratice I attempted to eject the what was left of the magazine, and to my surpise it shot right out of the mag well! I then loaded a spare magazine I had in my mag pouch and continued shooting. All of this occurred in about 2 - 3 seconds (not including the shooting).

I was able to easily reassemble the magazine, in fact it was the most easily assembled magazine I have hever seen. I shot about 60 more rounds out of the that magazine that range session with no issues whatsoever. I have to say even though it was a bad experience it strengthened my trust in the robust functionality of the USP overall.

 

[wally]

Nice way to put a positive spin on it, good thing is was only at the range.

What makes you think it can't happen again? I'd be more than a bit concerned for sure unless I'd had the magazine apart immediately before the usage where the bottom fell off.

--wally.

 

[JLStorm]

Its things like this that make me carry an extra 2 magazines and a BUG, because stuff happens at the range or not. I saw what happened, and it was my fault for not inspecting the magazine before loading it into my holster. I believe that through travel the floor plate had gotten pushed up disconnecting it from the slam pad which allows the magazine to be disassembled. Had I inspected this magazine before holstering it, I would have seen this problem and resolved it.

 

[gudel]

Nice way to put a positive spin on it

if you want to talk about positive spin, read this thread. 1911 people make great spin doctors! JLStorm's gun works from the get go prior while this is one occassion, while the guy's gun on that thread hasn't worked right from the beginning.

did you disassemble that mag before shooting it?

 

[JLStorm]

Gudel,

I did not dissasemble the mag before shooting, but the mag was also unloaded, so there wasnt much pressure keeping the floorplate inside the slam pad. I wish a had a photo of their hicap mags, but because of the lack of room, the slampad is not as heavily fixed onto the base, which is not an issue with a loaded mag, but with an unloaded mag its simply a matter of pressing the circular button of the floorplate up while sliding the slammpad foward. I believe that through travel with the magazine empty the floorplate got pushed up and was no longer flush with the slampad and over time shooting at the ranger earlier that day the slampad got moved forward, and eventually moved off through the vibrations of repeaded loading and shooting.

The reason that I am thrilled with this situation is while I had a serious magazine problem, it hardly slowed me down. Keep in mnd the USP in no reason malfunctioned, in fact it managed to eject the very lightweight shell of the magazine one handed by simply pressing the mag release, and it did this without the opposite pressure caused by the weight of the guts of the magazine slampad or any rounds in it. I was able to recover and keep shooting in less than 2 - 3 seconds which included the human factor of dealing with the shock and realizing what just happened. I doubt any other pistol I own would have faired this well.

I also like how easy it is to reassemble the magazine, it is a no brainer and can be done with no tools by hand anywhere, in fact for everything but extreme cleanings the gun and magazine dont need a single tool, which is just great while in the field.

 

[ChickenHawk]

Slam Pad??

I'll bet that left your pie hole gaping open when you saw that!

I don't know if I'd believe my peepers!

OK, I'm just kidding you. But, that thing is called the Magazine Floor Plate. At least you didn't call your magazine a clip!

I'd not carry that mag until it has proven itself at the range for quite a while, but it'll likely not happen again if you think it re-assembled properly.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[JLStorm]

chicken, thanks for the technical correction. it looks as if the magazine has 5 parts:

1. the magazine shell itself
2. follower
3. spring
4. what looks like a floorplate or maybe simply a piece to keep the bottom of the spring in place
5. a combincation floorplate / slampad like those extensions put on 1911 mags to make the magazines and their floor plates last longer

I am obviously not a magazien guru lol. At any rate I have put around 60 rounds through the magazine and will put another 100 or so through it this week and next week. Once put back together it seemed just as solid as any of my other mags, but I am not using it for carry at this time, although I have little doubt that it would work just fine if I did.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I had it happen on a PA-63 before a BUG side match in IDPA, during load and make ready I slapped a magazine into my pistol and 'wiped off' the floor plate. Ended up with a handfull of spring and cartridges.

It was my fault, I had taken the mags apart for cleaning and didn't get one of them back togetehr properly.

Never had it happen since.

 

[Darth Muffin]

Incidentally, the mag base on an HK USP .40 extended mag (jet funnel type) is reversible and can be installed backwards. It fits just fine and the holder clicks in the hole and acts normal. They just won't fit in the gun then.

.. or so I've been told. I would of course never start a match like that and learn this the hard way. Nope. Not me. Nuh-uh

 

[wally]

you want to talk about positive spin, read this thread. 1911 people make great spin doctors! JLStorm's gun works from the get go prior while this is one occassion, while the guy's gun on that thread hasn't worked right from the beginning.

The problem is stuff breaks and you don't get to choose when or where! That's why the old saying: "If you need a gun carry, two! if you don't carry a .25!" Which I these days substitute P3AT for the .25 pistol.

I tend to think the gun I use the most with the fewest problems would be the one to count on, so when I shot my first CHL qualifier I took my old reliable Colt Government model that I'd been shooting IPSC matches with and never had a problem (after the initial out of the box issues were fixed!) -- guess what, extractor broke. Fortunately I'd shot a perfect score up to that point and managed to shake out the empties and single load a few rounds during the final three stages to get get off enough shots for a passing score.

--wally.

 

[10-Ring]

I don't mind malfs at the range because at least you can practice & determine what you'd do if it happened in a high stress situation. Also, I'd prefer malfs in practice vs. in the field.
Good going turning negative to a positive!