Jammed XD 9mm

[Fred in Wisc]

So, any experts out there that can help me with this one?

Was shooting my Springfield XD 9mm (old model), shot a few mags and all was going well until it jammed shut on one. Didn't fire, just a "click", appears to be fully closed. I can pull the slide back just a tad and see a glint of brass so there is one in the chamber. But it simply won't open.

Any tricks before I resort to brute force and a little rubber mallet action? I'm thinking some penetrating oil (Kroil or similar) down the bore to lubricate the chamber first.

I'd ship it in for service, but that's not gonna happen with a live round in the chamber.

Ammo was reloads using frangible bullets and a light crimp, it's possible the case wasn't fully sized down, those bullets crack if you crimp them too hard. So it ain't unlikely the case is a little oversize.

 

[rcmodel]

Press the end of the slide against your bench, deck post, etc.
(Leave room for the muzzle & guide rob to come out.)

Then jump on it with all your strength & weight.

Should pop it out.

rc

 

[Kp321]

Take a small screwdriver and lift the extractor off of the case rim then open the slide. Block the slide open, don't depend on the hold open, then you can safely pop the round out of the chamber with a brass rod from the muzzle.
I have run into extremely tight chambers on Springfield 9's. Doesn't take much of a bulge or wrinkle to tie things up.

 

[Fred in Wisc]

Already tried the "light duty" version of that, RCModel. Was afraid of breaking something by getting to animalistic. I'll try that ejector trick as described by Kp321 and report back.

 

[Fred in Wisc]

Thanks for the assistance, gentlemen! I couldn't get at the ejector, so that didn't fly. Poured a little Kroil down the barrel, let it soak in for a bit. Got a couple short pieces of 2x4 to push against on the table, with room in between for the barrel and guide rod. Gave 'er a couple of good shoves and it popped right open.

Diagnosis: Round was a little bulged from crimping. No biggie, those aren't the bullets we usually use, just bought a batch of them when they were on a real good clearance a few years back. Gun always works great with regular FMJ and HP's.

 

[RustyHammer]

I had a problem like that with some hollow-point ammo in my Colt 1911. A couple good hard palm of "hand whacks" to the grip safety and the (loaded) cartridge ejected "normally". (The range master showed me that one.)

I couldn't believe what I saw and tried to fire another round .. bingo, same problem/fix. Switched a mag with ball ammo .. problem solved. I have since polished the ramp and went to a different hallow point round .. zero issues.

 

[Wireman]

Could someone fill me in on what actually takes place to create this jam? There was an identical problem with a brand new Sig 320 at the range last week. The owner fired a round and then everything locked up. The fired case could be seen (barely). The slide was back about 1/16" of an inch, but nothing could be moved. No squib in the barrel either. Thank you.

WM

 

[Fred in Wisc]

In my case, the ammo was a little oversize and jammed into the chamber, just short of allowing the action to close all the way and fire. A little oil and application of some pretty significant force pulled it right back out.

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend had one like that this week. A round stuck in the chamber just enough "out of battery" to disconnect and not fire. It would not extract with a normal motion. I got it out for her by holding the slide as hard as my left hand could clench and slamming my right hand onto the grip.
The common brand factory load would not pass a gauge and had a visibly different bullet shape than the rest of the box. I think QC has fallen off over the Panic Years of the current administration.

 

[rcmodel]

What causes it?
Generally it is an over-size reload due to insuficient crimp leaving the case mouth bell.
Or too much crimp bucking the case at the base of the bullet.

I saw one once years ago caused by a factory load with a torn case mouth that folded back over the case when the case went in the seating die.

I have also seen them where the case mouth caught on the edge of the feed ramp and folded a chunk of case back on itself.

rc