FPC folded while shooting

[David Hineline]

Ok so first time shooting my FPC at a USPSA match. RO wanted the gun folded and bagged before and after. So I removed the gun from the bag held by forend muzzle down range and folded the stock out and made it into a rifle. Put my 33 rnd magazine in and charged weapon. I was shooting 124gr Win factor NATO fmj. 10 shots in various postions over first 5 stargets no issues other than the trigger is **** and recoil pulse is stiff. I was shooting with a green laser, viewing through C-More rail mount with the dot turned off because looking through the optic window and green laser looks just like a green dot optic. I am also a left handed shooter so righ hand on the handgrip activating the laser pressure pad. I fired two shots at stationary target then moved left and shot two on the move transitioned to next most left target and the laser position was wonked out. I thought laser is coming off mount and can not be trusted. So holding rifle in my left hand by the grip I reached fopr the knob on the C-more to being the dot into play. Perfectly aligned to the green laser. Realizing that two optics have not both come loose I peeked at the gun and saw the barrel had slightly unlatched and swung open. Hence my laser and dot not being where I was looking. I pulled the barrel sideways it latched and I started shooting and moving again with no issues. I did not have to charge the gun so it chambered a round then unlatched or chambered a round while partially folded I do not know. Finished the stage unloaded folded gun and bagged. That night in motel. I played with the rifle. I thougt being a left handed shooter I probably put some side pressure towards the fold direction and maybe my right hand somehoe bumped the latch. I could not recreate this because I would have to move the latch forward to fold and my hand was forward on the laser pressure pad. Out of my 10" PCC match rifle this ammo gives 1275 fps so maybe a bit more out of a 16" I have not chronographed it. I watched videos on line of initial reviews and it seemed therir rifles folded and unfolded kind of stiff, mine is super easy pull the charge handle a bit to release the receiver tube and the weight of the barrel and forend easily pivot by gravity to the locked position. It is not stiff at all to release the latch and fold. So anyone had similar? I don't see how if it did not start latched I would have gotten off 10 shots with no malf. In no practice folding after the fact could I partially unfold the gun no matter how soft and have it not snap full latch. So it was latched did the NATO spec ammo jar it into unlatching? A right handed shooter would never see this as pressure bias on the forend while shooting would keep it unfolded. Or is there any way I could have bumped the latch between one shot to the next when I was standing stationary and just swiging the rifle to the left to the next target. So anyway I ordered the M-Carbo trigger and spring kit for this rifle. I am used to shooting 2.5lb Hyperfire on my normal PCC and this factory trigger is not that. I also would not mind a stronger latch release spring to make sure it's locked, but looks like it's some coil wind up thring rathern than a compression spring, so might not be feasable.

 

[hardluk1]

Time at the range my show you if there is a real issue or not but you could send it home if you feel the latch is to easy to use !

My wife has a fpc do to the light weight as she is 5-2 and 69 now But after a few months shooting it on our home range she stopped shooting it and after has returning to our mixed parts 10.5" AR9 . MY wife did ask about any apex tactical trigger group upgrades but the FPC is gone now .

We both prefer hyperfire triggers and have a couple 24C in our ar15 carbines but used the PDE 2lb version is in the AR9 for the last 3 or 4 years . Our AR9 is built using a stardard ar15 aero stripped lower and a stoner mag adaptor so it only takes 2 or 3 minutes to swap over to a Ar15 pistol 5.56 upper , remove the mag adaptor and swap buffer springs and it ready to go .

AR-15 or 9mm vesion are very tuneable speically compared to the fpc the carbines balance does not change while shooting . The FPC mags in the "stock " are ok for storage but when shooting they were moved to a belt carry position like we all practice over the years . No sure why you changed from a firearm design for the 9mm PCC you know to the fpc but hope you find the answer to your concerns.

 

[IAM Rand]

I am also left handed and have not had any issues. Then again, I have not done shooting and moving with mine. I have had 4 other people shoot my FPC without any issues. I have also seen several reviews online where they did the shooting and moving with no folding issues. Honest outlaw did a torture test on his. Only thing I can think is that it was not fully closed when you started and during a shoot and/or move you inadvertently hit the latch.

 

[David Hineline]

I think from now on I will do a latch bump

Normally I would grab the pistol grip left handed muzzle up and aiming downward, pull the charge handle and let weight momentum of the front do the fold out by gravity and snap lock into place, It has always worked but again not during range movement or a match.

In a match one can never muzzle up or past 180 towards spectators so I had to take the gun by the barrel point it down range and fold stock/receiver out by hand with barrel level down range. so it might not have snapped in as hard?? I think going forward after an unfold I will go a side bump on the latch to make sure it's popped in.

Things seldom go wrong in pricatice, usuially only go wrong when wanting things to work.

 

[marvin02]

I can see no reason for folding and unfolding your FPC at the match unless you didn't bring a case that would hold it unfolded. I shoot my FPC in Steel Challenge and have never been asked to fold it.

Regarding your rifle folding while in use I've never seen or had that occur.

 

[David Hineline]

I can see no reason for folding and unfolding your FPC at the match unless you didn't bring a case that would hold it unfolded. I shoot my FPC in Steel Challenge and have never been asked to fold it.

Regarding your rifle folding while in use I've never seen or had that occur.

Yes it was because I only had the factory FPC case.