Premature Firing?
Posted: September 14th, 2012, 7:59 pm
I took my P64 to the range for the first time yesterday and there was an issue. It was during my 5th magazine and nothing unusual had occurred to that point. Then…
Upon firing, there was a smaller than normal bang, a flash of light came out of the right side of the weapon, a fragment (part of the brass case) hit my forehead as well as another on my glasses. My hands received a lot of gunpowder residue. The bullet exited the barrel and actually hit the paper. The fired casing was mutilated (see picture as shown in chamber) and was lodged near the chamber. The round below it in the mag attempted to load and mashed the spent casing upward. It was stuck pretty good and the mag would not eject. I popped the slide off and was able to free the problem and eject the magazine. The non-fired round was shorter by 3mm as the bullet impacted into the brass by that much.
One of the range owners is very knowledgeable and curious and wanted to examine it. It appears the round fired a bit early and the exposed part of the case exploded out the side (see picture) like so. He surmised that perhaps the firing pin spring was weak and did not return
Here is what I can tell you for sure:
Upon receipt of the P64, I did the following:
1. Soaked it overnight in mineral spirits
2. Blew it off with compressed air
3. Slathered it with wd-40
4. Blew it off with compressed air even more
5. Replaced the slide spring (Wolfe- standard spring)
6. Replaced the Hammer spring (Wolfe 18lbs)
7. Oiled the firearm
8. Reassembled it
9. Tested its operation in its entirety except firing it.
It is in exceptional shape and as close as I can tell may never have been fired.
I was using PPU ammo with brass cases, 85gr FMJ
It fired small groupings and operated perfectly to that point.
In my short time on this forum, I have been impressed with the knowledge here and am hopeful that someone(s) can educate me further about what might have happened and how to fix it.
Upon firing, there was a smaller than normal bang, a flash of light came out of the right side of the weapon, a fragment (part of the brass case) hit my forehead as well as another on my glasses. My hands received a lot of gunpowder residue. The bullet exited the barrel and actually hit the paper. The fired casing was mutilated (see picture as shown in chamber) and was lodged near the chamber. The round below it in the mag attempted to load and mashed the spent casing upward. It was stuck pretty good and the mag would not eject. I popped the slide off and was able to free the problem and eject the magazine. The non-fired round was shorter by 3mm as the bullet impacted into the brass by that much.
One of the range owners is very knowledgeable and curious and wanted to examine it. It appears the round fired a bit early and the exposed part of the case exploded out the side (see picture) like so. He surmised that perhaps the firing pin spring was weak and did not return
Here is what I can tell you for sure:
Upon receipt of the P64, I did the following:
1. Soaked it overnight in mineral spirits
2. Blew it off with compressed air
3. Slathered it with wd-40
4. Blew it off with compressed air even more
5. Replaced the slide spring (Wolfe- standard spring)
6. Replaced the Hammer spring (Wolfe 18lbs)
7. Oiled the firearm
8. Reassembled it
9. Tested its operation in its entirety except firing it.
It is in exceptional shape and as close as I can tell may never have been fired.
I was using PPU ammo with brass cases, 85gr FMJ
It fired small groupings and operated perfectly to that point.
In my short time on this forum, I have been impressed with the knowledge here and am hopeful that someone(s) can educate me further about what might have happened and how to fix it.