Making a pistol as reliable as it can be

[Big Shrek]

Yes. It misfeeds, whether I press the slide release button, or rack the slide myself.

That right there screams mag issue to me. Or possibly burred slide/rails.
Definitely check to see if the spring is in improperly, as was stated above.
If that resolves it, great! If not, Call Taurus.

My Wifey's Taurus 24/7 Pro C had an issue with the 13-rd mag, but functioned perfectly with the 17-rd mag.
Sent the mag back to Taurus, they sent a new one, problem solved.
Call Taurus, explain the issue, mail the mag where they tell you...
include a Note in the envelope with the mag explaining the issue for the Techs.

Occasionally I've run across burred slides...and other components...
test by taking a Q-tip or cotton ball and lightly rubbing it along the rails, slide, and other parts...
if there's a burr, it'll pull cotton hairs and show you Exactly Where it is.

Once found, simply use a file for a few strokes, then test again.
When it stops pulling strands, it's fixed.

Remember, Inexpensive Guns don't get the QC that more expensive ones get.
It ain't a Dan Wesson, so expect to do a fluff & buff on 'em
Once you learn how to do that, you can do it on any semi-auto...
which can save you a LOT of money, and make them far more reliable than untouched ones!!

Oh, yeah, join the Taurus Forums and there are repair vids for all models.
Shows you exactly how to do a fluff & buff, trigger jobs, etc...

 

[Onward Allusion]

Making a pistol as reliable as it can be

Get a revolver?

Seriously, tho - it sounds like a mag issue. Open up the lips just a hair and test. If the rounds can get jostled around in the mag, then you could have a weak spring. As for the whole ramp polishing thing, if this is happening with FMJ, it very unlikely a ramp issue.

 

[1SOW]

To ask a dumb question, did you thoroughly clean and relube it?

The slide feed is "more" reliable when slingshot, exactly like when the pistol is fired.
After a good break-in period, everything should loosen up a little and feed may/should improve. You can test this with a snapcap.

What nose-shape and weight bullet are you using? Sorry if I missed that above.

 

[Hunter2011]

Guys let me just point out that this problem does not happen with FMJ bullets. This pistol is 100% reliable if shooting FMJ ammo only. This only happens with HP bullets.
@Onward Allusion, great suggestion. Check my thread in revolvers. I am really thinking of going that way. This pistols magazine holds 7 rounds, so I will not be worse off by having a 7 shot .357 rolly.
Thank you big green one. I will certainly do the cotton ball test.
I have cleaned this pistol thoroughly, but have not yet taken the magazines apart for testing or cleaning. I so hope my problem is magazine related. It surely looks like it might be as there are lots of play in the ammo in the magazine.

 

[tarosean]

This only happens with HP bullets.

How many different types have you tried? Due to a number of differences between makers your pistol might be sensitive to a certain profile.

 

[Hunter2011]

How many different types have you tried? Due to a number of differences between makers your pistol might be sensitive to a certain profile.

Not a lot. There are not a lot of options available in my town. At least not in the period I owned this pistol.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Hunter2011
Guys let me just point out that this problem does not happen with FMJ bullets. This pistol is 100% reliable if shooting FMJ ammo only. This only happens with HP bullets.
@Onward Allusion, great suggestion. Check my thread in revolvers. I am really thinking of going that way. This pistols magazine holds 7 rounds, so I will not be worse off by having a 7 shot .357 rolly.

I'm actually going the same way. I have different guns for different styles of dress but I am going to pick up a S&W 327 Night Guard when I unload a few unused toys. It's a big bullet to bite though. LGS has them for around $1,200 + tax. Grrr. Anyway, I figure if 8 rounds of 357 won't cut it, I can unload my 22LR, or 32 at them.

 

[LouisianaAviator]

I'd buy a new magazine or two and try that. If that doesn't fix it, it's the gun.

 

[GLOOB]

+1 to mag problem. I'm putting my chip there.

The nose of the hollowpoint is just not getting high enough to hit the feedramp, properly.

If mags are cheap enough, you could try modifying the follower and/or the lips to get a little more tilt/lift on the nose of the cartridge. But unless you're mechanically inclined, this is probably a nonstarter.

The other thing is some guns have significant play in the mag catch/slot. The mag COULD sit higher if the stupid mag slots were cut just a little lower. Or the mag catch had been placed or shaped slightly differently. If this is the case, you could try TAPING the magazine tight in the butt of the gun to see if that solves the feed issues with HP's. But, again, there's little chance of fixing this unless you have some specific tools and skills.

I wouldn't even think about messing with the feedramp, unless there's something obviously wrong with it.

You might also look for an HP design with a smaller mouth and/or a polymer insert.

 

[Drail]

This is almost always caused by the magazine or magazine catch. If another quality magazine does the same thing then you should try a different magazine catch. The other possibility is the feed ramp is miscut. Do not attempt to polish the feedramp. It will not help. Feed ramps do NOT need to be polished to work 100%. Another possibility is the combination of the particular hollow point you are using and the release timing of the magazine. If the magazine releases the round too late it will jam against the ramp. Some bullet/magazine combos just do not work together. First get the gun to feed ball rounds 100% and then try hollowpoints. If the hollowpoints will not feed 100% you will either have to find a different hollowpoint or use ball. There's nothing wrong with ball rounds. All of these factors are the reason I will only carry revolvers for critical use.

 

[Teachu2]

This is almost always caused by the magazine or magazine catch. If another quality magazine does the same thing then you should try a different magazine catch. The other possibility is the feed ramp is miscut. Do not attempt to polish the feedramp. It will not help. Feed ramps do NOT need to be polished to work 100%. Another possibility is the combination of the particular hollow point you are using and the release timing of the magazine. If the magazine releases the round too late it will jam against the ramp. Some bullet/magazine combos just do not work together. First get the gun to feed ball rounds 100% and then try hollowpoints. If the hollowpoints will not feed 100% you will either have to find a different hollowpoint or use ball. There's nothing wrong with ball rounds. All of these factors are the reason I will only carry revolvers for critical use.

Those reasons, plus the various issues wheelguns can have, are why I only carry proven firearms loaded with proven matched ammunition - and there are brands of firearms and ammo and combinations thereof that have proven problematic. I don't carry those!

I have several semis that have NEVER failed me in any way, with several thousand rounds through each. I have several reliable revolvers. I have owned others in both configurations that have been problematic - and were sold with full disclosure.

Life's too short to live with unreliable guns - no matter who made them, what they cost, or how pretty they are.

To the OP: Order some Hornady Critical Defense ammo and try that. Midway USA has it on sale. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/38...-luger-115-grain-flex-tip-expanding-box-of-25 If it doesn't cycle reliably, send the gun for service.

 

[PowerPistol]

"Let me start by saying that all brands do give failures to feed etc. It is not limited to the brand Taurus that I own."

Not true, I have 2 XD's , a 40 and a XD9sc. Thousands of rounds from each without a singe Failure of any kind

 

[shooter1]

The gun is defective, poorly fitted at best. As I stated in my first reply, this problem is not uncommon in pistols from this as some other manufacturers. I don't own any of these pistols but have seen several with this problem. It the OP follows the procedure I recommended, the pistol will improve in function where it will not be necessary to run the slide in this manner to load. It's a matter of the poor fitting parts mating to a point where they will work together where the gun will run.
The OP asked for help getting his pistol running other than returning it to the manufacturer, I am trying to provide that.
str1

 

[shooter1]

"Let me start by saying that all brands do give failures to feed etc. It is not limited to the brand Taurus that I own."

Not true, I have 2 XD's , a 40 and a XD9sc. Thousands of rounds from each without a singe Failure of any kind

Disagree. If you've never had a malfunction with your pistols, you haven't shot them enough. That goes for everything from a $200 Kel Tec to a $5000+ open gun.
str1

 

[Hunter2011]

"Let me start by saying that all brands do give failures to feed etc. It is not limited to the brand Taurus that I own."

Not true, I have 2 XD's , a 40 and a XD9sc. Thousands of rounds from each without a singe Failure of any kind

When I said all brands gives problems, I did not mean every single pistol sold of any brand gives problems. I meant to say that even with good brands you do get a pistol or two that does not function 100% all of the time.

I am going to the range today to fire at least 200 rounds. I do want to break this pistol in and make it run smoother. I have polished the feeding ramp. I did ask on a local forum someone to make me some HP dummy rounds. I don't reload. With them I will practice various racking techniques and see which way gives me the least problems. I don't want to sell this pistol before trying everything.

 

[rskent]

Occasionally I've run across burred slides...and other components...

A friend of mine has a 709. When he first got it it had feed problems. He found a nasty burr on the extractor of all places. After a little judicious stoning the gun smoothed right out.
I know he looked at more than a few of the 709's and found at least somewhat of a burr on most of them. It might be worth a look.

 

[tarosean]

Disagree. If you've never had a malfunction with your pistols, you haven't shot them enough. That goes for everything from a $200 Kel Tec to a $5000+ open gun.

Bingo... Or they're excluding/writing off some of them as __________ excuse..

 

[larryh1108]

Guys let me just point out that this problem does not happen with FMJ bullets. This pistol is 100% reliable if shooting FMJ ammo only. This only happens with HP bullets.

This tells me it is an ammo issue, not one of the many suggestions mentioned above. If it shoots 100% with ball ammo then you need to find HP ammo with a different shaped ogive. Yeah, maybe most guns shoot all HP ammo but if yours does not, find ammo that the gun does like and stick with it. I've read hundreds of posts of guys who sell their gun because it won't run Brand X ammo even though it is 100% with every other ammo. To each, his own. If you can find a HP ammo you can trust 100% with your gun, problem solved. The ammo companies realize this and many make HP ammo with an ogive close to ball ammo. They do it for a reason.

 

[Hunter2011]

I agree with you Larry. I just wonder what ammo comes close to ball? What about Gold Dots?

 

[PowerPistol]

Bingo... Or they're excluding/writing off some of them as __________ excuse..

All i know is i shoot 5 - 10 thousand rounds a year from each of my XD pistols, and have never had a feed failure. I have No patience for guns that dont work. If I buy a gun, and it wont feed every factory ammo i try, I get rid of it. Period. Last one i got rid of was a Sig P250 9mm. Wouldnt feed any Hp I tried reliably

 

[larryh1108]

Cor Bon's Pow'R Ball comes to mind. I am a ball ammo kinda guy so I am not "up" on the latest HP offerings but I'm sure many here have luck with certain brands. If you can see the shape of the HP ammo before you buy it, bring a round of your successful ball ammo with you and find one with a similar shape. Your gun shop should be able to help there.

 

[Hunter2011]

Cor Bon's Pow'R Ball comes to mind. I am a ball ammo kinda guy so I am not "up" on the latest HP offerings but I'm sure many here have luck with certain brands. If you can see the shape of the HP ammo before you buy it, bring a round of your successful ball ammo with you and find one with a similar shape. Your gun shop should be able to help there.

This seems like the best option yet, besides buying another gun Thank you for this suggestion. No mods on this gun will be needed with these ammo.
There is just one thing. I see they don't sell them in standard pressure, just in +P. I don't know if shooting +P rounds in my PT709 pocket pistol is the right thing to do. Some say it is +P rated, some say it is not. Heck I sound like Jeremy of Top Gear now
And with +P rounds this pistol might jump out of my hands lol. I like the high speed. I am in the low weight high speed side.

Anyone know of any other brand that uses the same concept of these Cor Bon's Pow'R Ball ammo?

 

[gym]

Hornaday with the red tip.

 

[shooter1]

"Guys let me just point out that this problem does not happen with FMJ bullets. This pistol is 100% reliable if shooting FMJ ammo only. This only happens with HP bullets."

Somehow missed that little detail, that changes-----------everything!
Bullet profile-------bullet profile-----------bullet profile-------!!

str1

 

[Hunter2011]

"Guys let me just point out that this problem does not happen with FMJ bullets. This pistol is 100% reliable if shooting FMJ ammo only. This only happens with HP bullets."

Somehow missed that little detail, that changes-----------everything!
Bullet profile-------bullet profile-----------bullet profile-------!!

str1

Can't agree with you more.
Now which bullets to try...