LOL, So named by my thirteen year old granddaughter. She's trying to claim it for her own. Just like she does with the other firearms I've introduced her to
If you frequent a certain other S&W forum you may have read this write-up before. I thought I'd share it here now that I am a bona fide member.
Last February I sold my Randall Made Model 1-7 for a nice sum. Immediately from that transaction, with cash in hand, I headed to my local Cabelas to order an FPC. Much to my joy, they had one in stock, at a price that made my heart swell with happiness. After all was said and done, I still had a princely sum of cash left. I was anxious to get it home and run a few rounds through it.
Prior to buying the FPC I had done a ton of research, looking for deal-breaking problems, but I really couldn't find any.
At home I field stripped the rifle, cleaned it, and inspected each part for any areas of concern. None were evident. I oiled it well and went to my backyard to run a box of ammo through it.
Almost immediately I ran into problems. I could only get about two to three rounds through it before the bolt stop engaged. No matter what I did, the problem kept occurring. Only once was I able to get about fifteen or so rounds (out of the twenty-three round magazine) to feed without stopping.
So I took it back to the bench and completely disassembled the rifle. I inspected each and every part, but could find no reason for the bolt stop to engage with rounds still in the magazine. Since the malfunction occurred with all three of the included magazines, I took them apart and inspected them thoroughly. I could find no problems.
Back out to my range and the problem still remained. The only thing I noticed was that tilting the rifle at about a forty-five degree angle to the right seemed to help. But that wasn't going to work for me. I stubbornly put about two hundred rounds through the rifle, hoping that it was some sort of weird break in issue. It wasn't
Of all of my research into this rifle I had not found any mention of this particular malfunction. Sure, plenty of mentions that the bolt release was impossible to use, but even I had known it was only a bolt stop and that the charging handle was actually used to release the bolt.
Oh, and did I mention that the charging handle would release whenever the malfunction occurred? Well, it did.
So, a call to S&W customer service got me a return shipping label. Off it went.
They replaced the bolt and bolt stop. I don't know if my original bolt was an old style or not. In any event, Foldy Boi now has an additional four hundred or so rounds down the pipe without any malfunctions, and the charging handle stays locked in place while shooting too. Color me happy.
Foldy Boy now sports a Sig Sauer Romeo 5 XDR, a light weight trigger spring from Kaw Valley Precision, and a Magpul MLOK handstop kit. I used it for one stage of our local (41 Lead Farm) Steel Challenge match, and then the rain sent everyone home. I was please to see that it handled well and my times made me smile. I'm anxious to experience an entire match with it, and maybe even try my hand at a USPSA match.
So, after this long winded post, has anyone else heard of this particular malfunction with an FPC?
Scott
If you frequent a certain other S&W forum you may have read this write-up before. I thought I'd share it here now that I am a bona fide member.
Last February I sold my Randall Made Model 1-7 for a nice sum. Immediately from that transaction, with cash in hand, I headed to my local Cabelas to order an FPC. Much to my joy, they had one in stock, at a price that made my heart swell with happiness. After all was said and done, I still had a princely sum of cash left. I was anxious to get it home and run a few rounds through it.
Prior to buying the FPC I had done a ton of research, looking for deal-breaking problems, but I really couldn't find any.
At home I field stripped the rifle, cleaned it, and inspected each part for any areas of concern. None were evident. I oiled it well and went to my backyard to run a box of ammo through it.
Almost immediately I ran into problems. I could only get about two to three rounds through it before the bolt stop engaged. No matter what I did, the problem kept occurring. Only once was I able to get about fifteen or so rounds (out of the twenty-three round magazine) to feed without stopping.
So I took it back to the bench and completely disassembled the rifle. I inspected each and every part, but could find no reason for the bolt stop to engage with rounds still in the magazine. Since the malfunction occurred with all three of the included magazines, I took them apart and inspected them thoroughly. I could find no problems.
Back out to my range and the problem still remained. The only thing I noticed was that tilting the rifle at about a forty-five degree angle to the right seemed to help. But that wasn't going to work for me. I stubbornly put about two hundred rounds through the rifle, hoping that it was some sort of weird break in issue. It wasn't
Of all of my research into this rifle I had not found any mention of this particular malfunction. Sure, plenty of mentions that the bolt release was impossible to use, but even I had known it was only a bolt stop and that the charging handle was actually used to release the bolt.
Oh, and did I mention that the charging handle would release whenever the malfunction occurred? Well, it did.
So, a call to S&W customer service got me a return shipping label. Off it went.
They replaced the bolt and bolt stop. I don't know if my original bolt was an old style or not. In any event, Foldy Boi now has an additional four hundred or so rounds down the pipe without any malfunctions, and the charging handle stays locked in place while shooting too. Color me happy.
Foldy Boy now sports a Sig Sauer Romeo 5 XDR, a light weight trigger spring from Kaw Valley Precision, and a Magpul MLOK handstop kit. I used it for one stage of our local (41 Lead Farm) Steel Challenge match, and then the rain sent everyone home. I was please to see that it handled well and my times made me smile. I'm anxious to experience an entire match with it, and maybe even try my hand at a USPSA match.
So, after this long winded post, has anyone else heard of this particular malfunction with an FPC?
Scott
