3913 Failure to feed

[Lost Lake]

This has happened twice now and I can't make it happen when I'm really paying attention so I'd like to see if anyone else has ever seen the issue....

I load a magazine with Gold Dots and insert the mag. I have to push HARD to get the mag seated in the 3913.

I pull the slide and let it go.

The first round nose dives and binds between the slide and the mag well / lower part of the ramp and the slide jams open. I hold the slide back and drop the mag, pull the round and reinsert it in the mag and reinstall the mag (HARD to install when full!) then pull the slide again and it feeds just fine.

It will continue to feed just fine while I am testing it.

It always feeds fine when at the range. Just two times while inserting a full magazine it has done this. I am pulling the slide back fully and releasing it.. at least I think I was. Maybe I was dropping the slide catch. I can't remember now. Gosh darn it, I have more testing to do.

Is this a possible issue or am I screwing something up? I am thinking it's me now because I can never replicate it when I am trying to.

 

[10 X]

It shouldn't be that hard to insert a full mag.
Try pulling the slide back and leaving it open and inserting a full mag. Will it feed properly by just pulling the slide back and releasing it (sling shot)?
Will it feed properly with one less round in the mag to start?
I would leave the mag fully loaded for while to see if the springs just need to "set".
When something nose dives like you described it is usually a mag spring problem or mag lip problem. Do other mags do this same thing?

The gun may feed ok when shooting, but I wonder how smooth it is? Eventually with rough feeding you will get a jam while shooting, hopefully not when you are in a combat situation.

 

[18DAI]

I'm confused. Is the slide locked back when you are inserting the mag, or forward - in battery?

If the slide is forward, a hard slap to seat the mag is normal with the 39XX series. All mine do it.

As far as FTF with a nose down jam........are you "sling shotting" the slide? I can induce a similar FTF in my 3913 by using 147 grain Federal JHP rounds, if I thumb the slide release AND use one of my "range" magazines with an aging, weaker mag spring.

I'd suggest putting new mag springs in and also checking your followers for wear at the front.

Also, sling shot that slide to feed a round, don't use the slide stop. Good luck! Regards 18DAI

 

[Texas1941]

The pistol is just showing its origins. The original 39 was notorious for driving the first round of a full magazine into a 6 o'clock jam. It's my belief that the Illinois State Police had a policy of carrying only 7 rounds in spare magazines. (Actually, if anyone who was on the ISP during the period they carried M 39s has any first hand information on this subject, I'd like to hear about it.)

I have had 39s that did it with any magazine and 39s that only did it with worn magazines. It was a hard problem to correct completely, and while I haven't carried a 39 in years, when I did, there were only 8 rounds in the gun and 7 in my spare magazine.

The single stack 39XX pistols will do the same thing when the magazine spring gets a little too much time in grade. As 18 DAI indicates, the longer bullets will show the problem first. Unless the follower is just mangled, a new magazine spring should solve the problem.

 

[Laddy Smith]

Mag thought....

Did you perhaps drop the magazine while practicing reloading?

I knew someone (forget the model of gun) that was practicing dropping and inserting mags. One of the mags hit the floor just right and it bent something at the top.

Does it do it with every magazine you have?

Lad

 

[Lost Lake]

Both mags I have do it, I was able to get it to jam today.

The rounds sit at a perfect angle until the sixth one goes in, then they start to slope away from the angle of the mag, they lay more flat. I don't know if that is normal. I took a picture of the full mag and me pushing on the front of the top round. It can go down easily, and I'm sure when the slide comes forward and pushes on the top of the round to feed it, the round tips down.

Edit: And the next shell always slides forward making taking the magazine out more difficult. Is this normal?

 

[18DAI]

That seems to show your mag spring needs replacing Lost Lake.

Yes, the next round up sliding forward or even popping loose when you drop a mag to top off is normal. Mine all do it to some degree and they never malfunction during operation. Regards 18DAI

 

[10 X]

I would suggest that you get some +5% springs from Wolff Gunsprings.

Excellent quality springs.

 

[Fastbolt]

I use factory mag springs in my 3913. (I've tried others. I just like how the factory springs work.)

Yes, the top round of a fully loaded (8 rounds) 3913 magazine may experience a nose-dive feeding stoppage when the spring is new and the slide is released to go forward via depressing the slide stop lever. You'll probably notice that it doesn't happen while actually shooting the pistol, though. Feeding has to happen within a certain "timing". The slide is being released from a point maybe approx 1/4" forward of its full potential rearward travel when it's locked via the slide stop lever.

Manually retracting & releasing the slide will add an additional bit of length to the slide's run going forward, and hence some more acceleration & momentum to the slide's forward motion when powered by the recoil spring... but you can easily negate this by failing to release the slide in a brisk manner at the very rearward position of the slide's travel.

I've seen many a shooter (and not just using 3913's) start to "ease" the slide forward at the beginning of it's forward run, causing a feeding stoppage (usually a nose-dive). It needs to be completely & cleaning released at the rearmost point. (Don't do what they often do in the TV shows and movies and use their hands to replace the job of the recoil spring. )

The topmost (second) round in the mag load may exhibit some forward displacement when a mag is removed to top it off. That doesn't mean it's going to cause a feeding stoppage during actual live-fire, though (but you can certainly reposition it under the lips if it makes you feel better). Not uncommon. Push it back and load the missing round.

Or, shoot the pistol without topping it off ... meaning the second round is probably left displaced a bit forward under the feed lips ... and don't be surprised when the gun cycles and feeds the whole mag load normally (without any nose-dive stoppages).

FWIW, I've seen this sort of thing happen with .40's & .45's ... as well as with other makes/models of semiauto pistols. Not uncommon.

 

[Grinder]

Also make sure your mag springs are in correctly

 

[Larry from Bend]

Interesting thread. Some good answers from experienced shooters.

My 3913 mags are just about impossible to seat fully loaded. The amount of force required made me worry that I'd break something!

I insert the fully loaded mag with the slide back and don't top off the mag. I HAVE had the top cartridge come out of the mag upon mag removal and always wondered about that ---- good to hear it's normal. My 3913 has never had a failure of any kind with the various HPs I use in it..

 

[kentuckypilgrim]

3913 mag

I just bought a 3913 that looks like it has very few rounds fired in it. But the magazine is acting like yours. The second round comes out when you take mag out. I was glad that this doesn't happen when firing. I will take this out and fire it before I try to do anything to the magazine. Thanks for this info.

 

[lhump1961]

I have stripped rounds while removing a loaded mags from most every auto I've owned...very common. While my 3913TSW is only a 7 rounder it takes a loaded mag without effort. Some of my other autos not so easy...Glocks are famous for this as well as other manufacturers. Mag wells are sometimes made as short as possible yet still allow a certain capacity in order to accommodate the carry crowd...the last round can be tight!