Musings from the Gunsmith…

Hi again…
Mrs. Gunsmith informed me that I should write about jamming guns… I will try. Due to the variety of designs out there there are no, real, hard and fast rules about why a gun jams. It can be as simple as a bad magazine, something that’s loose inside the action, damage elsewhere in the feed system. Also, one problem can mask another problem that doesn’t become apparent until the first problem is cured… which is one of the reasons I don’t have a lot of hair left.
It can also be something in the ejection system such as a stuck ejector or something in the firing system such as a firing pin that’s stuck forward which can also lead to unlocked, uncontrolled full auto fire which is very dangerous even under the best of conditions because it my not shut off till it runs out of ammunition… Yikes!!! (Actually had that happen once) 😬
Part of diagnosing these problems is actually seeing what’s going on in said firearm and fully understanding exactly how the design functions. There are so many different designs out there that appear to be just like another but operate on an entirely different principle, think Model 12 Winchester as opposed to a Model 1200. They are both pump shotguns made by the same company 60-70 years apart and couldn’t be more different both inside and out.
Same with say an M1 rifle, M14 rifle and an M1 carbine… all are .30 caliber, gas operated rifles but share no common characteristics of operation other than a rotating bolt and a firing pin arresting system. Understanding exactly how they work and why is very important in diagnosing and correcting their problems… pistols and revolvers have their own little idiosyncrasies that are special to their respective designs as well as the “normal” issues that must be dealt with.
In short there is no clear-cut rule to follow when dealing with a jamming firearm and is best left to someone that knows what to look for and why. Give us a call for an appointment if you have a misbehaving gun and let’s see if we can cure its ills so you can enjoy it again, no reason to relegate it to the back of the safe because it’s been “Bad.”
Till next time, be safe, have fun and happy shooting.