Repairing Firearms With Unusual Issues

Firearms are capable of withstanding a substantial amount of abuse and neglect. The question with a firearm having an unusual issue is to figure out to what amount of compounding issues will push the firearm past its tolerances. Here we’ll look at one such problem pistol I worked on. I examined and repaired a Taurus G3 chambered in 9mm. From what my client told me, this firearm had been used for many different applications and has withstood different elements and conditions.

Despite this, the pistol had a few problems that the standard first response of take down and cleaning was incapable of solving. The first issue addressed was the consistent jamming once the firearm had been fired. I was able to place the firearm back into battery once the jam has been cleared, however, the issue remained consistent after a few test ejections with snap caps. To address this issue, I conducted a complete take down and an extreme cleaning of every part of the firearm.

This provided a clearer visual of the parts that maybe experiencing more friction and wear than normal. This requires typical cleaning items such as cotton swabs, your preferred cleaner/ degreaser, small rasp files, and performance oil. To repair the friction issue I used a small flat rasp file to create an even surface so that the slide glides across the top of the rail. Keeping a straight and even stroke allowed the rail to be even and straight.

I did this the same way for each rail so that the all of them provide a consistent amount of material to guide the slide dur- Over time, the rails are capable of causing a high amount of friction where the slide travels reward during operation. This issue can typically be caused by a build up of oils, carbon, and debris. ing operation. Don’t use a tremendous amount of force when using the file on the rails; simply apply the file to remove any minor defects that maybe causing issues during operation.

I then tested the fit of the slide and added a small amount of Prussian blue dye paste to the rails of the grip module to ensure that sufficient contact was being made. Once the rails have been filed down and the slide was capable of

Birchwood Casey Cleaner-Degreaser helps remove all types of debris and oils, cotton swabs help in the application of degreaser and the removal of carbon build up from hard to reach places, and a small flat rasp file to assist in removing some material to create a level surface. Far The next part to inspect is the slide for any unusual wear and that could cause a safety issue for the user. Most of the wear and friction that is caused by normal use should be even and consistent on both sides of the rails and slide.

An uneven amount of wear will show that there could be high pressure and force causing the slide to slightly twist and cause the minimal bending on the rails. moving properly, I cleaned off the build up of dye and metal shavings. This is likely to accumulate in smaller areas where such debris can cause issues with smaller springs, ejections, and any moving parts. I have always used a degreaser from Birchwood Casey as their product is clean and simple to use with the cotton swab that is attached to the cap.

This makes it easy to apply, especially in tight areas that require very little application during the process. Once the degreaser is applied in the areas that have had material and oil built up, I used smaller cotton swabs to remove the debris that has been loosened by the degreaser. I then wiped down all of the parts that have been cleaned and degreased, finishing by oiling to lubricate the firearm for functional testing.

I used a small amount of Hoppe’s Black, a high-performance precision oil, on the rails of the firearm, just enough to allow a light amount of lubrication and removal of heat caused by friction during operation. With a light amount of oil applied to the rails and everything reinstalled, I tested functionality of the firearm to observe if it was capable of fully completing the ejection cycle. Diligent cleaning and a small amount of judicial filing along with fit checks using marking dye had this job done right.

The firearm was complete and functional with minimal down time, returning the job with totally clean parts and minimal delay to my client. AG Far The dye can be applied with nitrile gloves or by a cotton swab. I prefer the swab due to the different sizes that they come in and the way they can be apply small amounts depending on how much is needed. Utilizing the dye allows a perfect view of exactly where the areas of contact are being made during the firearm’s operation.