Malfunction

[MikeRz]

Hi folks,

I asked this question on the M&P site but didn't get an answer so I thought maybe only the mfg could answer??

"Hi gang!

I just had my first major malfunction in almost a year and I'm trying to figure out exactly what happened?

I have a M&P 40 compact and it has performed flawlessly since being returned to S&W almost a year ago. I reload and had my first squib. I missed loading a powder charge. When I fired the round in the middle of firing proper rounds, I immediately noticed that nothing happened. I thought it must be a misfire and pulled the slide back to eject the round. But it wasn't a misfire. The primer had detonated and pushed the bullet into the barrel but not enough to put striations on the bullet.

But I could not pull the slide back. It was jammed! No matter what I tried I couldn't pull the slide back so I got the range master. He couldn't pull the slide back either so he got out some tools and went to work. I couldn't see exactly what he was doing but he poked and prodded and eventually the slide pulled back and ejected the case.

It was a good thing that I decided to field strip the weapon because that's when I found the bullet in the chamber.

What I want to know is why the slide would not pull back ejecting the case? It's almost like something dropped down a little keeping the slide locked. Any info would be appreciated."

Thanks,
Mike
(Never let your guard down - remember Pearl Harbor)

 

[MikeRz]

Hi folks,

I asked this question on the M&P site but didn't get an answer so I thought maybe only the mfg could answer??

"Hi gang!

I just had my first major malfunction in almost a year and I'm trying to figure out exactly what happened?

I have a M&P 40 compact and it has performed flawlessly since being returned to S&W almost a year ago. I reload and had my first squib. I missed loading a powder charge. When I fired the round in the middle of firing proper rounds, I immediately noticed that nothing happened. I thought it must be a misfire and pulled the slide back to eject the round. But it wasn't a misfire. The primer had detonated and pushed the bullet into the barrel but not enough to put striations on the bullet.

But I could not pull the slide back. It was jammed! No matter what I tried I couldn't pull the slide back so I got the range master. He couldn't pull the slide back either so he got out some tools and went to work. I couldn't see exactly what he was doing but he poked and prodded and eventually the slide pulled back and ejected the case.

It was a good thing that I decided to field strip the weapon because that's when I found the bullet in the chamber.

What I want to know is why the slide would not pull back ejecting the case? It's almost like something dropped down a little keeping the slide locked. Any info would be appreciated."

Thanks,
Mike
(Never let your guard down - remember Pearl Harbor)

 

[rbert0005]

Maybe the bullet was not completely out of the case.

Bob

 

[MikeRz]

I had thought of that Bob, but I should have still been able to pull the slide back, at least a little. The bullet wasn't lodged in the barrel. In fact when I discovered that the bullet was in the chamber I pushed it out with a wooden dowel I carry. It almost seemed that the slide or barrel was locked in some firing position. It wouldn't even budge.

I'm thinking that the firing sequence must lock the slide/barrel and the rearward movement of the case after firing must unlock the slide and force it open?

Or maybe the primer detonating expanded the case enough to lodge it in the chamber and I just didn't eat enough Wheaties that day?

Mike