Problems with Star Firestar M43 (9mm)

[AndyM]

Folks,



Firstly, I apologize that this is so long. I also
apologize if I don't use firearm terminology
correctly. I'm new to this.

I recently purchased a used Start Firestar in 9mm
(M43). I shot it before I purchased it and there were
no malfunctions. I then brought it home and cleaned it
as per the owners manual. The only disassembly I
performed was removal of the slide, guide rod, and
barrel. I did not disassemble the frame in any way.

I then went shooting and encoutered a strange
problem. It seems to only occur after ejecting the
last shell or when manually racking the slide when
empty. The slide would lock back and would not return.
Pulling the slide back and depressing the slide return
would not allow the slide to return forward.

I traced the problem to the fact that the barrel
itself was locking itself into the slide. I noticed
this because when the slide was locked back, my barrel
would not rattle freely. Instead, it was locked up
tight even though the slide was locked back. It seems
as if the breech end of the barrel tilts up and the upper most edge of
the breech end of the barrel gets wedged into the last
locking notch in the frame.
I hope I am describing this correctly and clearly. I
can provide pictures, but that will take time.

If I manually pull the front of the barrel up (thus
causing the breech end of the barrel to tilt down) it
will unlock and this causes the slide to inch forward
a tad and encounter the slide lock.


Have you seen or heard of anything like this?

Here are my thoughts on this problem so far......

1) it almost seems as if the slide is moving back too
far and allowing the locking grooves in the slide to
pass the breech end of the barrel. Then when the slide
moves forward, the locking catch the top of the
breech.

2) I think this happens only on an empty gun because
when a new catridge is loaded, the force of the bullet
entering the breech causes the barrel to unlock
itself. This is only speculation on my part at this
point.

3) Please note. I'm not going to try the following
myself. I will talk to a gunsmith before altering my
pistol in any way, shape, or form.
However, it seem to me that the easiest way to fix
this might be to put a slight bevel on the top of the
breech. This might prevent the locking ridge in the
slide from catching on the sharp edge of the breech
end of the barrel. If there was a bevel, the locking
ridge of the slide might just deflect and slide right
by.

4) could this be caused be a slightly weak recoil
spring? If it was a tad stronger, the slide might not
travel as far back in the first place and therefore
the breech end of the barrel wouldn't even encounter
the locking ridge in the slide...


Any info, suggestion or help you could provide would
be most helpful.


thanks a bunch.

andy

 

[Ed Brunner]

From the way you describe it, I believe it is functioning as intended. The slide is locked to the rear because the magazine follower pushes up on the slide lock.
If the pistol is empty and the magazine is removed, you should be able to pull the slide to the rear and when released the slide should return to the closed position.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Andy,

As I understand, the slide stop is working OK. But when the slide comes back all the way, the barrel wedges against the top of the slide and the slide won't go forward. Is this correct?

If so, any one of a number of things can be wrong. If I recall correctly, that gun uses a link, like the Model 1911, to pull the barrel down to unlock. The problem you describe could be due to too long a link, maybe a replacement.

Another possibility is that the barrel or slide lugs are soft (a problem in a lot of Spanish guns) and have become battered, so the build up of displaced metal is causing the problem.

Or the barrel could be prevented by something (what I don't know) from dropping all the way like it should.

If you can field strip the pistol, you should be able to do some basic checks and look for signs of repair or part replacement.

If you don't see anything obvious and easy to fix, I would return it to the store and request they either fix it or give you a refund.

HTH

Jim

 

[AndyM]

Jim,

You are correct. The barrel wedges itself in the frame before the slide lock even as a chance to come into play.

Ugh... This doesn't sound pretty. I think I will disassemble it again a look around. However, I've done that a number of times while I was hunting for the source of the lockup in the first plance and didn't see anything that looked worn at all.

darn darn darn.....

I have a feeling that I'll be bringing this back.

Thanks for the help.

andy

 

[Ed Brunner]

Andy

I am looking at a M43 and the "link" is a slot in the barrel underlug. When the slide is fully closed, the barrel lugs are locked into the slide lugs.As the slide is moved to the rear, the lugs remain locked for anout the first 1/8 inch of slide travel. When the slide is about 5/16in to the rear the barrel has dropped enough that the lugs are completely separated. The barrel moves up and down as the slide moves because of the shape of the slot on the underlug as it contacts the slide lock pin.
In anything that resembles normal operation, I can't visualise what would cause your problem unless as Mr. Keenan suggested the lugs are deformed or if the slot, the slide lock pin or its hole in the frame are badly worn. Any of those things could cause unintended interference between parts. The M43's that I have owned are quite sturdy and have been very durable. I really like the gun although most folks seem to think they are much too heavy.
Best wishes and please keep us posted.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Andy and Ed,

I wasn't sure about the link (some Stars used them), but it was a thought.

Andy, you might also try dykem blue (layout blue) or magic marker to try and see where things are binding. Look also for burrs or unevenness in that slot.

Are you pretty sure the barrel is doing the binding? Have you tried with just the slide and no barrel to see if it could be something else?

I have an idea this one won't be easy, at least not at long distance.

Jim

 

[AndyM]

Folks,

Take a look at this parallel thread.:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54114

It turns out another Highroad member saw my gun in the shop before I bought it and found the problem and decided not to buy it.

In fact, according to November (the member's name) he showed the guy behind the counter the problem and the counter guy "was concerned."

Apparently not concerned enough to remove the gun from sale.

I missed this problem during inspection and I'm now kicking myself. I found it myself within 50 rounds though. Now I can replicate almost consistently when manually racking the slide.
This was my first purchase and I guess I got a bad one.

It's going back this weekend and I sure hope they are reasonable about it.

I know it's used, but I should at least expect a working pistol unless noted at time of sale right??


Thanks for all your help.
By the way, upon further inspection tonight, I suspect the link hole is worn or incorrectly milled.

andy

 

[November]

AndyM,
The guy behind the counter was one of the newer ones, if I remember correctly. I never got his name. I think he was sincere and probably did show someone in the backroom. I had a problem with a gun I bought there once and the manager really went to bat for me when the manufacturer tried to refuse warranty work on it. It took some time, but I wound up with a new gun in the end. I hope they take care of you, but you never know.
By the way, don't feel too bad. You paid around $230-$250, right? I bought my Firestar M40 early this year (I think) at the Valley Forge Gunshow for $325 (GASP!) with seven mags. It looked real good, so I took it home to clean it. That's when I found that the tip of the extractor had snapped off. Do a search here or thefiringline.com using the words "firestar extractor" and you'll find my tale of woe. You'll also discover that it is a very common problem with Firestars. Firestar extractors are rarer than hen's teeth. I mean RARE, like no one sells them. On the boards I found M&M Gunsmithing. I believe the guy's name there was Mike who used to be a Star armorer when Interarms was importing them. He fixes Star extractors better than new. $50 later I had a fixed extractor. Then, rounds would constantly hang up on the feed ramp. I got a 22 pound recoil spring from Wolff and that problem went away. It's been trouble-free ever since.
Anyway, The Valley Forge show happens this month the weekend of the 20th and 21st. You may be able to find another one there. It's a good show and hard to walk empty-handed out of it. Good luck with whatever happens.