Good morning and thank you for the add to the forum. The issue is after the first round is fired, the trigger goes "dead" I have to release the clip and clear the chamber. It only seems to only fire one round and this happens no matter what I try. Any suggestions or if someone knows what the deal is, Thanks in advance!

Sounds like it’s broke! Does it fire that one round from double action mode or single action only? It sounds like something is hanging up in the disconnector operation, preventing the trigger from resetting.

You might want to post this in the Gunsmithing section below if you don’t get results quickly. Good luck!

Froggie

Does the empty mag drop out on it's own when released?
Try the function with an empty gun, no rounds in the mag or chamber. Drop the slide, pull the trigger, cock the hammer single action, does the hammer drop? If not, the drawbar may be hanging up on the mag. you can try this with the slide off and stocks off, it will let you see the travel of the trigger, drawbar, disconnector movement.

Just make sure you don’t let the hammer strike/hit the frame with its full force when the slide is off.

Jim

A few times won't hurt the frame. We always fired the guns with no slide on when building these.

donk, hit the nail on the head!

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Thanks for the correction. I don’t like it when I’m misinformed and then pass on that bad information.

In 1981 I was learning how to work on 1911’s. My instructor was a Portland PD armorer and I was a sponge. He said never let a hammer fall under spring pressure on a frame without the slide on. I suppose he was just being safe telling me that but I of course believed it.

I’m glad it’s OK to do it “a few times.” For some reason it still makes me cringe seeing others do it and probably always will.

Jim

Dry firing without the slide can damage the frame. Knocks the chunk right out and cracks. Seen it happen several times.
The question is what is "a few times". You do it a "few times", the guy before you did it "a few times", the next guy "just a few times". Doing it when building it is the first time it's done. But how many times afterwards? Each guy only does it "a few times" and each guy says it won't hurt because he'll only do it a few times.
Eventually it will damage the frame.

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183rd FBINA

Somebody please post some pics of a cracked frame from dropping
the hammer on the frame. Pls. include pic of broken early extractors.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I didn’t know that I should have taken pictures of the broken 39 extractor that I replaced for a friend not too long ago. I might still have what was left but I’ll take my time looking.

He got the 39 cheap and wanted it to work again. I called Jack First and got one ordered plus a couple things I wanted. I posted here about the availability and drop in quality of them but the post was deleted and I got a few negative points assessed.

The long extractor WAS broken off and GONE the last @2/3rds forward. I don’t know how it happened but I can suspect.

Jim

Back to the question at hand.

First, welcome to the S&W Forums.

Two things immediately come to mind. Either the disconnector is not resetting or the magazine safety is not disengaging. First thing I'd do is to remove the barrel/slide assembly and the grips, then soak the slide and frame in a 50-50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone for about 24 hours, then use compressed air to blow out all the solvent, lightly lubricate the pistol, reassemble and then test fire. It could be old, dried, and dirty oil gumming up the works. If the problem persists, seek a qualified gunsmith or contact S&W.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA