Slide galling on frame problem

[rock jock]

I have a new Dan Wesson Razorback in 10mm that I have fired twice. The first time went fine - 30 rounds with no failures, perfect functioning. The latest episode was yesterday. 50 rounds went fine and then just like that the gun froze up completely with the slide in mid-return to battery. I could barely get the magazine out and forced the slide forward with gentle pressure. I tried to cycle the slide once and it felt VERY rough. I distinctly felt the slide galling on the frame with a lot of friction. Today, I dissassembled the gun and cleaned it thoroughly. I looked for any signs of galling on all the metal surfaces, but found none. The hammer, trigger, and slide release all appeared to be functioning fine. However, when I reassembled the gun, I had the same problem - lot of friction and galling of metal surfaces. I should mention that when I first received the gun, and even after the first firing and subsequent cleaning, the slide to frame fit was very smooth. In fact, if felt like it was on ball bearings. Before I send the gun back to Dan Wesson, I wanted to see if there was anything obvious I am overlooking.

BTW, the only mods I had done was having an ambi safety installed by a local gunsmith. However, the gun felt no different afterwards in the slide to frame action.

I appreciate any advice you can offer.

 

[mete]

First the proper terminology - galling is by definition , cold welding of the two surfaces. So obviously there was no galling and as you said you didn't see any. ..Did the gun only have the problem after the gunsmith worked on it ? Other than that I'd have to see the gun . I'd take the gun completely apart and carefully examine every piece ,something must show a problem.

 

[rock jock]

From EngNet Engineering Dictionary:

Galling
The damaging of one or both metallic surfaces by removal of particles from localized areas due to seizure during sliding friction.

This definition appears to fit.

I didn't see any physical evidence, but at this point the problem may be so subtle that no serious damage may be seen with the naked eye. There is definitely rubbing between two metal surfaces in a way that did not exist earlier. I don't want to wait until the physical evidence becomes obvious.

 

[mete]

"seizure during sliding friction " is in fact cold welding which I am very familiar as a metallurgist. O ther than some problems with stainless steel you shouldn't see galling. If as you say you don't see evidence , it's not there. You may mean binding , where the parts are wedged together. In that case look for something that has changed , parts thay have loosened or moved.

 

[rock jock]

Ah, "binding". That is definitely the word I should have used. Now if I can only find the source of the problem.


Thanks for the definition help. It has been about 15 years since I took a materials course.

 

[BluesBear]

What are you using to lubricare the slide and frame rails?

 

[rock jock]

RemOil. I have used it on all my guns for years w/o a problem.

 

[1911Tuner]

Process of Elimination

Try eliminating one thing at a time.

First, cycle the bare slide on the frame to see if that produces the roughness and/or binding. Add the barrel and bushing. Add the slidestop...Add the recoil spring and plug.
Note any changes.

Look at the lower lug to see if the link pin is protruding a little. If the pin is
binding in the frame, it can prevent the barrel from going to bed. The
top of the barrel may be making hard contact with the underside of the slide. Check the lug for burrs on the sides. A burr can accomplish the same thing as a protruding pin.

If the gun has a full-length guide rod, look at the abutment in the frame
where the guide rod head makes contact. If it's not square with the head, the rod may be shifting to one side, binding the side of the rod with the
plug as the slide moves backward. This will cause the binding to get tighter the farther the slide moves.

Since the problem began suddenly, I'm inclined to agree with mete. I don't
think it's galling, since the gun started out smoothly. Something has moved or changed.

Standin' by...
Tuner

 

[stans]

Galling was a problem with the very early all stainless pistols, like the AMT Hardballer and Javelina. The galling problem was eventually solved by making the slide and frame from slightly different alloys and/or heat treating them to different hardnesses. Metal of dissimilar hardness are less likely to gall than identical metals.

 

[JohnKSa]

RemOil is a pretty poor lubricant IMO. Offhand, I'm not aware of anything worse besides WD-40.

 

[PCRCCW]

Id vote with all of the posts thus far. Try finding the problem and switching lube. Try Miltec or FP10.......one of the "better lubes".

Let us know what you find........shoot wll.

 

[PCRCCW]

Id vote with all of the posts thus far. Try finding the problem and switching lube. Try Miltec or FP10.......one of the "better lubes".

Let us know what you find........shoot wll.

 

[Jason Demond]

I use grease on all my autoloaders. I use Militec brand grease, and have never been more pleased.