M41

[ODB]

I have an issue w/ my ’85 Model 41. I bought it new, shot it a bunch for the first few years then stuck it in the safe. It’s clean, no dried gunk, no rust, no scratches, still looks exceptional. That is except for the front grip strap, bluing is a bit thin. My issue is it’s turned into a single shot. I’ve got nine mags, four with the metal follower and five of the newer ones. The pistol will fire, eject the shell and cock the hammer. It will not feed the next round. My first thought was it’s the mag. As stated, I’ve got nine, does it with any mag I try, hard for me to believe every mag I have is defective. My next thought was the recoil spring, to the best of my knowledge, it is the original. Can’t remember ever changing it, both ends are closed. Slide is lubed and seems to move easily when cycling by hand. The only ammo I have ever run through it is CCI SV. The only 22 LR ammo I have is SV and some sub sonic hollow points for squirrels. Don’t really want to run HV or Mini Mags, I feel that may work but it would only be masking the issue. I was all set to get a new Wolf Spring (7 ½ lbs.) but I can’t wrap my head around the idea of a stiffer spring allowing the slide to move further back. I’m not sure how it is cocking the hammer but not picking up another round out of the mag. If I slingshot it, the round will load. Who’s had this issue and how did you correct it?

 

[Hair Trigger]

When it ejects the fired round, what happens next? Do you get a partial feed, or does the round not strip off the follower and holds the slide back, or....?

Sounds like the recoil spring has lost tension. The recoil spring does two things: it slows the slide from recoil so it doesn't bash the slide stop, and it gives the slide more energy as it returns to battery after stripping the new round. Sounds like you're not getting that rebound energy to properly feed. As you say, when you slingshot the slide it feeds, you're pulling back a little further than the slide normally travels under recoil and as it returns from the "slingshot', it has just enough energy to feed and close into battery. Springs aren't all that expensive, I'd get the full set and see what happens. If it doesn't fix your issue, at least you have a new set for after you figure out what's going on.

Just curious, what is the 3-letter SN prefix on your pistol? My M41 is also a 1985 production, prefix is TAF. I bought mine about 5 years ago, practically new in the box. I don't think it ever got shot more than a few times. The previous owner was an Army SF guy who stayed deployed a lot and I don't think he ever had much opportunity to shoot it. Mine runs pretty good, I get occasional failures to feed, usually from a stovepipe extraction of the previous round, but it isn't that often. Given mine is 30 years old, I might ought to get new springs too.

 

[chief38]

The standard weight spring is 7.5 pounds. You might want to order a 6.5, 7.0, 7.5 & 8.0 pound spring and see which one works the best.

CAUTION: If ordering from Wolff Springs and they are still selling one side finished only springs MAKE SURE the finished end faces the muzzle!!! You do not want the unfinished end facing any direction except to the rear. If put in wrong, the gun will most likely jam up quite badly and possibly do damage!

 

[Narragansett]

Take the 4 mags with the metal followers apart ( they should have the hole in the bottom. Clean the mags good. You can get dirt and bullet lube in them. Order new springs for mags( wulff does not have them ). Don't spray a lot of lube in them to gunk them up. If you do not want to change the springs, then just do the cleaning. If that works, soak the other ones in mineral spirits and clean as best you can. Report back

 

[SS336]

This tip will work with all semi-auto magazines. Always a good place to start.

 

[chief38]

Take the 4 mags with the metal followers apart ( they should have the hole in the bottom. Clean the mags good. You can get dirt and bullet lube in them. Order new springs for mags( wulff does not have them ). Don't spray a lot of lube in them to gunk them up. If you do not want to change the springs, then just do the cleaning. If that works, soak the other ones in mineral spirits and clean as best you can. Report back

Certainly not a bad idea to clean your mags out once in a while but since the OP says it happens with ALL 9 mag's I really doubt that cleaning is gonna solve his issue. He also states it happens ALL the time so I am thinking magazines are not the cause in this instance.

The OP also states he shot the gun without issues when new so I am thinking there must be some dried crud, congealed oil or grease that formed while sitting in his safe for so long. Purchased in 1985 means the gun has sat for 40 years. It very well might be a cleaning issue but with the pistol. Hard to diagnose over the internet without having it in front of me but a good cleaning of the internal parts might not hurt just to eliminate another possibility.

Since the M41 is a bit complicated for most to fully strip, a spray solvent could be used followed up with a light lubrication - then see if that changes anything.

 

[ODB]

When it ejects the fired round, what happens next? Do you get a partial feed, or does the round not strip off the follower and holds the slide back, or....?

Sounds like the recoil spring has lost tension. The recoil spring does two things: it slows the slide from recoil so it doesn't bash the slide stop, and it gives the slide more energy as it returns to battery after stripping the new round. Sounds like you're not getting that rebound energy to properly feed. As you say, when you slingshot the slide it feeds, you're pulling back a little further than the slide normally travels under recoil and as it returns from the "slingshot', it has just enough energy to feed and close into battery. Springs aren't all that expensive, I'd get the full set and see what happens. If it doesn't fix your issue, at least you have a new set for after you figure out what's going on.

Yes, I think you are correct, the three spring pack from Wolfe is $24±, probably the easiest first step.

Just curious, what is the 3-letter SN prefix on your pistol? My M41 is also a 1985 production, prefix is TAF. I bought mine about 5 years ago, practically new in the box. I don't think it ever got shot more than a few times. The previous owner was an Army SF guy who stayed deployed a lot and I don't think he ever had much opportunity to shoot it. Mine runs pretty good, I get occasional failures to feed, usually from a stovepipe extraction of the previous round, but it isn't that often. Given mine is 30 years old, I might ought to get new springs too.

TAE

The standard weight spring is 7.5 pounds. You might want to order a 6.5, 7.0, 7.5 & 8.0 pound spring and see which one works the best.

CAUTION: If ordering from Wolff Springs and they are still selling one side finished only springs MAKE SURE the finished end faces the muzzle!!! You do not want the unfinished end facing any direction except to the rear. If put in wrong, the gun will most likely jam up quite badly and possibly do damage!

Well aware but thanks for trying to save me from a bad situation.

I appreciate all of your suggestions but I am confident the gun is not dirty. It’s not the only .22 target pistol I have. I mainly shoot one of my two Ruger Government Target’s from ’84 or one my several H.S. Victors. There are also Colts and Brownings, not to mention the revolvers. So I know how to keep ‘em clean.