Reliability Test for Semi-Auto's ???

[flop-shank]

Originally posted by Model520Fan:
Ron H. is most definitely correct. I had a Diamondback break a firing pin twice. I had a near-new 547 pierce a primer and the firing pin wouldn't come back. It took a lengthened decapping tool to fix that enough just to open the cylinder.

Revolver malfunctions may be MUCH rarer than those of bottomfeeders, but they do occur.

A great reason for a second gun if you can, especially if you carry a revolver. Revolver malfunctions will almost always render the gun completely useless and unclearable.

 

[gold40]

To continue this thought just a bit more...perhaps any LEO's on this board might tell us what their department does when it receives a new shipment of hanguns (presumably the same model they already issue).

Does the "armorer" fire each one as a test? Or do they just issue them to officers with a box or two of ammo? I know that many/most LEO's supposedly have minimal interest in their handguns.

Thanks for your comments.

gold40

 

[Doug M.]

What they SHOULD do is have each inspected and fired by the armorer/instructor staff. I have seen this advocated in professional journals. This way if there is a problem, it is found before an officer gets the gun and loses confidence. I have not seen it done this way, but I have only been in one agency which issued guns. In that one, the new guns were handed out at in-service and shot there. Several took a ferocious dump on the range when new out of the box. In one case, an academy student had one completely fail the first day he had it. The more recent issue guns worked every time, as far as I know, including once when someone cranked a round in to his leg.

 

[Agent6-3/8]

Originally posted by Ron H.:

I carry a L-frame 357, so I don't have to think about failures.

Sir, revolvers can and do fail. I've had it happen several times with Smith and Colt sixguns, as well as lesser makes. If you're not thinking about revolver failures, you might want to start.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

The only gun I've ever had to send back to the factory was a S&W 25-13.

 

[dennis40x]

There are apparently differing view points / opinions on the subject in regards to break-in expenditure/amounts of ammunition.

That said I've experienced magazine related problems in regards to functionality.
The absolute best semiautomatic pistol in reliability that I personally own is the S&W-4506. When first introduced there were issues with the magazines. I've had problems with Wilson 47D magazines in certain 1911 pistols. The pistols weren't problematic when other manufactures magazines were employed.

If I was forced to select a pistol for immediate usage with out test firing for functionality it would be a Glock G17 or G19.

 

[WR Moore]

Originally posted by gold40:
To continue this thought just a bit more...perhaps any LEO's on this board might tell us what their department does when it receives a new shipment of hanguns (presumably the same model they already issue).

gold40

Since new weapons will go to new officers, they will fire the weapon through basic school. Roughly 1000 rounds. The armorers are available for issues and have inspected/function fired the weapons prior to issue. Our weapons are also armorer inspected/function fired once per year.

BTW, IIRC, the FBI 5000 round requirement was for parts breakage.

 

[glypnir]

I'm comfortable with less for revolvers, and less for tactical tupperware. My M&P 9 mm full size has about 500 rounds through it, mostly the cheap stuff, but a few magazines (17 round magazines) of the stuff I carry in it.

I'm rather far from an expert, but I think this 500 round thing got started when people started messing with the sloppy old mil spec. 1911s and making them more target worthy. I get the impression that it took (takes?) a while to get those tuned up nice.

I suspect that one of the characteristics of the go-to weapon - Glocks now, and Model 10s of yesteryear - is reliability.

 

[uncle norman]

Originally posted by flop-shank:
After a fluff and buff, I put two hundred ball reloads through my P3AT, after which I cleaned it thoroughly. Then I ran fifty Speer Gold Dots through the gun, relubricating it after every couple of magazines or so. Whenever I have run carry ammo through the gun it is when the gun is clean. Since it passed the carry ammo test I've run several dozen Gold Dots through the gun, even limpwristing it and had no problems. When I take it shooting, after four magazines or so of range ammo that gun will get stoppages, but it never will when clean and lubed, or dirty and kept relubed. Part of the process can be learning the animal you're dealing with and how to make it tick. Since I keep my K-T meticulously clean and lubricated I know it will get me through the seven rounds I keep in it. After that it doesn't matter. I New York reload.

Larger autos tend not to be so finicky.

Getting an auto running is a lot of horse crap. That's one more reason I like revolvers.

I've been able to obtain 3 really nice semi-autos this past year: A Springfield XD40, a Glock 19 and now a Glock 30. I put a couple hundred through the XD and 19 with no problems whatsoever. I carry the 19 every day. However, I fired the first 75 rounds through the 30 today and after about 35 the thing didn't completely lock up for the next round. This happened intermitently. The ammo was Wally world white box 230gr ball and Magtech 230 ball. The barrel and inside the slide looked like it had been dragged through a coal mine. I don't think I'll have a problem with even this dirty stuff for the 11 rounds of defensive fire out of a clean piece. (Both types of ammo were extremely accurate, however.)