I has Firing Pin Problems, Verne! - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

SergeK · 08-26-2008, 08:12 PM

Anyways, i went to the range today to join a buddy of mine who just got a new Sig. Anywho...

I start firing and I go through about Two magazines, then on the third or fourth shot of the third magazine, my slide stays locked back. First, Time, Ever. I know this has nothing to do with the firing pin, but bare with me. Anyways. I fire another mag, and i get slide locked again in the middle of the magazine. Im fairly certain its because I have a new magazine and its not broken in. So, i take a look at the brass to see if maybe it has something to do with the ammo, its georgia-arms ammo, dirt cheap so im not ruling it out.

I take a look at the primer, and notice the impression is kind of tear-dropped/keyholed. I pick up the brass i left on the ground and see that they're all like this. I go to see the gunsmith/range owner and he quickly tears down my xd to take a look. I hold the firing pin out through the breach face with a small flat head as he fiddles with it under a flashlight. He says the firing pin is wiggling around and the opening in the breach face is pretty damn big, causing the firing pin to wiggle, therefor causing the weird impression on the primers.

Is this normal? Should i be worried? I am going to send my XD back to springfield in a few weeks to get the Combat Carry Package installed. He said to include a spent shell casing and a detailed description of what I saw.

So, any advice/info/thoughts?

The Knight Of Light · 08-26-2008, 08:16 PM

Many different handguns do this. It is normal.

The gun unlocks faster than the firing pin can retract. Causes the strange teardrop shape.

**agalindo** · 08-26-2008, 08:19 PM

The firing pin smear is normal and can be seen in Glocks too. Don't worry the owner "gunsmith" doesn't seem to know much. What caliber is your gun, there was a problem with the slide staying open on .40s. It has to do with the slide lock "pin" that is a bit long and engages the rounds as they come up in the mag when the slide is back.

SergeK · 08-26-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agalindo

The firing pin smear is normal and can be seen in Glocks too. Don't worry the owner "gunsmith" doesn't seem to know much. What caliber is your gun, there was a problem with the slide staying open on .40s. It has to do with the slide lock "pin" that is a bit long and engages the rounds as they come up in the mag when the slide is back.

Well, the gunsmith said its not a problem regarding the firing pin and is pretty normal.

And yes, my gun is an XD40 Tactical. Can you give me some more info on the slide lock pin?

**agalindo** · 08-26-2008, 08:59 PM

Try this site.

Premature Slide Lock with the XD-40:Causes & Possible Cure

Kaboom · 08-27-2008, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SergeK

He says the firing pin is wiggling around and the opening in the breach face is pretty damn big, causing the firing pin to wiggle, therefor causing the weird impression on the primers.

Is this normal? Should i be worried?

Yeah the Gunsmith is a knot-head! I would be worried that he has no working knowledge of such an extremely common "problem". I have like 20 pistols or something, XDs, Sigs, M&P, Styer, 1911, HK and I think ALL of them make primer smears.

azxdfan · 08-27-2008, 01:41 AM

Agalindo,

That link and its informations is great. I have a 40 service model and I really enjoyed that write up.

AZXDFAN

SergeK · 08-27-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaboom

Yeah the Gunsmith is a knot-head! I would be worried that he has no working knowledge of such an extremely common "problem". I have like 20 pistols or something, XDs, Sigs, M&P, Styer, 1911, HK and I think ALL of them make primer smears.

Like I said, he never really said it was an issue. I was the one flipping out about it... well, not flipping. But he said its not a problem and is pretty common.

Im just really pissed about the premature slide lock problem. I was gonna do my first ISPC match tomorrow but i guess i gotta get this fixed.

**agalindo** · 08-27-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SergeK

Im just really pissed about the premature slide lock problem. I was gonna do my first ISPC match tomorrow but i guess i gotta get this fixed.

Have you tried altering you're grip a bit might be that it's not the slide lock. Maybe you're thumb is pushing the slide lock up? Have you had a chance to look at the link?

tenring · 08-27-2008, 09:11 AM

Had this problem very early in the career of my XD40 sub. Adjusting my grip and properly cleaning behind the slide lock lever which tends to collect fouling has eliminated it entirely. FWIW, my 45 never did this, probably because of the lessons learned on the 40. If your thumb hits the lever at precisely the wrong moment it can cause this. The high/forward thumbs grip helps this as well as having the added benefit of making you potentially into a much more accurate shooter and helping with recoil recovery.

I have heard some folks who had some mag follower issues that did this too! but I think that was more it not locking when empty.

Oh yeah, and every XD I have seen creates the tear drop primer hit. Its a feature.

08-26-2008, 08:12 PM	#1
SergeK XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 14	I has Firing Pin Problems, Verne! Anyways, i went to the range today to join a buddy of mine who just got a new Sig. Anywho... I start firing and I go through about Two magazines, then on the third or fourth shot of the third magazine, my slide stays locked back. First, Time, Ever. I know this has nothing to do with the firing pin, but bare with me. Anyways. I fire another mag, and i get slide locked again in the middle of the magazine. Im fairly certain its because I have a new magazine and its not broken in. So, i take a look at the brass to see if maybe it has something to do with the ammo, its georgia-arms ammo, dirt cheap so im not ruling it out. I take a look at the primer, and notice the impression is kind of tear-dropped/keyholed. I pick up the brass i left on the ground and see that they're all like this. I go to see the gunsmith/range owner and he quickly tears down my xd to take a look. I hold the firing pin out through the breach face with a small flat head as he fiddles with it under a flashlight. He says the firing pin is wiggling around and the opening in the breach face is pretty damn big, causing the firing pin to wiggle, therefor causing the weird impression on the primers. Is this normal? Should i be worried? I am going to send my XD back to springfield in a few weeks to get the Combat Carry Package installed. He said to include a spent shell casing and a detailed description of what I saw. So, any advice/info/thoughts?

08-26-2008, 08:16 PM	#2
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska(sublocated at a Sandy location far, far away) Posts: 8,873 Blog Entries: 13	Many different handguns do this. It is normal. The gun unlocks faster than the firing pin can retract. Causes the strange teardrop shape. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

08-27-2008, 01:41 AM	#7
azxdfan XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 20	Agalindo, That link and its informations is great. I have a 40 service model and I really enjoyed that write up. AZXDFAN __________________ The Second Amendment is a fight we can't loose!! XD40 Powder River Rocks

08-27-2008, 09:11 AM	#10
tenring XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MI Posts: 997	Had this problem very early in the career of my XD40 sub. Adjusting my grip and properly cleaning behind the slide lock lever which tends to collect fouling has eliminated it entirely. FWIW, my 45 never did this, probably because of the lessons learned on the 40. If your thumb hits the lever at precisely the wrong moment it can cause this. The high/forward thumbs grip helps this as well as having the added benefit of making you potentially into a much more accurate shooter and helping with recoil recovery. I have heard some folks who had some mag follower issues that did this too! but I think that was more it not locking when empty. Oh yeah, and every XD I have seen creates the tear drop primer hit. Its a feature. __________________ "The Sound of freedom is a .45 empty bouncing off the ground" ~ Rob Leatham

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