I have an early 1960's Model 41 frame with a recently purchased 1980's 7" barrel with a Red Dot. It's a great Bulls Eye set up. However, about once every 25 rounds of CCI Standard Velocity ammo, it misfires. The round chambers, the slide is fully forward, the trigger is normal and the hammer falls. The rim of the misfire cartridge gets a light strike, or no strike. I have tried different slide springs from 6.0 to 7.5lbs, lighter & heavier extractor springs, greasing the extractor ramp, and cleaning everything extensively. The original 5.5" heavy barrel does not exhibit this behavior. I am out of ideas here. Any help appreciated.
M41 Misfire - Assistance Please
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Without seeing the Pistol I can only guess.........
The longer bbl. might not be perfectly fit to your frame allowing slight movement. Does the trigger latch up tightly with the new bbl? Does it feel different that the original when you latch back the trigger guard?
I have always personally found that my M41 operates much better with High Velocity Ammunition. Target ammo sometimes lacks the consistent power to operate the Pistol. I find no loss of accuracy, but a big difference in functioning and reliability with the 40 gr. RNL Hi Velocity ammo. I am currently using Federal Champion (blue box) or Winchester Wildcats (when I can find them). The Remington line of Rimfire ammo is STINKO! I have had good results with CCI (Hi Vel.) brand, but usually find it to be too expensive.
If you are only getting one FTF every 25 or so rounds, I would definitely try the standard 40 grain Hi Vel. ammo above and see what happens. If you get similar results to what has happened up to this point, I would say your bbl. does not fit perfectly - but without actually having the gun in front of me, this is only a possibility.
Chief38
The longer bbl. might not be perfectly fit to your frame allowing slight movement. Does the trigger latch up tightly with the new bbl? Does it feel different that the original when you latch back the trigger guard?
I have always personally found that my M41 operates much better with High Velocity Ammunition. Target ammo sometimes lacks the consistent power to operate the Pistol. I find no loss of accuracy, but a big difference in functioning and reliability with the 40 gr. RNL Hi Velocity ammo. I am currently using Federal Champion (blue box) or Winchester Wildcats (when I can find them). The Remington line of Rimfire ammo is STINKO! I have had good results with CCI (Hi Vel.) brand, but usually find it to be too expensive.
If you are only getting one FTF every 25 or so rounds, I would definitely try the standard 40 grain Hi Vel. ammo above and see what happens. If you get similar results to what has happened up to this point, I would say your bbl. does not fit perfectly - but without actually having the gun in front of me, this is only a possibility.
Chief38
I was never able to get reliable functioning in my Model 41 with CCI Standard Velocity. Rather than getting a spring calibration kit and fooling around with it, I started using Federal Auto Match 40 grain solid along with a buffer (probably not necessary).
The information on the box says that they are doing 1200 fps, rifle velocity I imagine, and are designed with 10/22's and other autoloading guns in mind. I think I have had one fail to fire out of about 2000 in the last year, and no malfunctions otherwise. Being bulk packaged, readily available and reasonably priced at Wally are big pluses as well.
The information on the box says that they are doing 1200 fps, rifle velocity I imagine, and are designed with 10/22's and other autoloading guns in mind. I think I have had one fail to fire out of about 2000 in the last year, and no malfunctions otherwise. Being bulk packaged, readily available and reasonably priced at Wally are big pluses as well.
USBP SW
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The thing that makes me wonder is a light strike or no strike. This sounds like it could be slightly out of battery when firing. This can be difficult to see sometimes because the hammer fall often closes the slide the rest of the way. If that's the problem then you have to figure out what is causing it, it can be several things, including a tight chamber.
Let us know what you find out,
Steve
Let us know what you find out,
Steve
Thanks guys for contemplating this. I was advised by S&W to stay with SV ammo as that is what the gun was designed for. I go through thousands of rounds so I am hesitant to risk tearing it up with higher velocity. I can tell you that the replacement barrel snugs up and latches in place similar to the original barrel, the firing pin & channel have been cleaned with the breach block out, and the chamber has plenty of clearance (an unfired cartridge slips in and out easily). A cartridge that does fire has a normal firing pin indent. It is out of battery on an random basis. Whatever it is is too subtle for me to diagnose so far. Still high centered here. Send it to the factory?
330, You mentioned that the problem occurs only when using the new barrel. Have you compared the two barrels side by side? Are there any differences: burr on the extractor cut or ramp, peened area on barrel face, shiney wear marks on one barrel but not the other on rails, on underside of rear of barrel, in recess for recoil spring. Without intalling the recoil spring, does the slide move freely with either barrel? My early 60's 41 had a similar problem that turned out to be tired almost 50 year old recoil springs but you have already changed springs and cleaned any gunk out of the firing pin recess. I also would like to know the cause of this one.
Ditto what was suggested here.
I also recommend cleaning the firing pin channel.
I would NOT use HV ammo. I used about a case of it years ago in an attempt to solve reliability problems. I finally sent it to S&W, they replaced the bolt in the slide and attached a note that said "Quit using HV".
CCI SV has been almost perfect in mine. I have probably shot at least 15,000 - 20,000 (between 3 and 4 cases) and probably have had a total of less than 10 malfunctions.
The M41 doesn't need HV to work.
I would NOT use HV ammo. I used about a case of it years ago in an attempt to solve reliability problems. I finally sent it to S&W, they replaced the bolt in the slide and attached a note that said "Quit using HV".
CCI SV has been almost perfect in mine. I have probably shot at least 15,000 - 20,000 (between 3 and 4 cases) and probably have had a total of less than 10 malfunctions.
The M41 doesn't need HV to work.
M41 Misfire - Problem Solved
Problem solved. I removed the nylon non-factory recoil buffer and the misfire issue went away. In hindsight it seems like the first thing to eliminate rather than the last. However, the buffer had been in place for years never causing a problem with the original barrel. I considered it neutral to the reliability of the gun. Clearly not the case. It is interesting to note that after all of the playing around with this thing to make it function better, it now works best in dead stock standard factory configuration. 7.5lb factory recoil spring, no aftermarket add ons, factory recommended ammo, etc. There is a lesson in that I think. Thanks guys for all of your insight.
Problem solved. I removed the nylon non-factory recoil buffer and the misfire issue went away. In hindsight it seems like the first thing to eliminate rather than the last. However, the buffer had been in place for years never causing a problem with the original barrel. I considered it neutral to the reliability of the gun. Clearly not the case. It is interesting to note that after all of the playing around with this thing to make it function better, it now works best in dead stock standard factory configuration. 7.5lb factory recoil spring, no aftermarket add ons, factory recommended ammo, etc. There is a lesson in that I think. Thanks guys for all of your insight.
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