Hello all. Just joined the forums in hopes for a bit of help. I have a Firearms International .380 Model D pistol. There is some good info on this forum on the gun and it's been super helpful so far.
A lot of people seem to have some trouble with it feeding a next round. Some find resolution when changing ammo, or buying new mags. I know there has been some spring issues with the gun, being installed incorrectly.
The issue I am having with this is it wont eject the next round properly or if it somehow does manage to eject, it wont feed properly. I've narrowed the issue down to a few things.
First, the gun was taken to some gunsmith and altered to better fit a magazine. Pins were added at the base of the well which prevented the magazine from being inserted all the way. And then, the hole in which the mag catches the release was enlarged to catch before inserted all the way.
Here is a photo of the magazine's larger hole - I think it's larger than it should be. It seems to have been cut.
I am pretty sure this is why I am having all the issues. Because of this widened hole, the mag sits lower than it should.
Here are photos of where the pins where machined in - I have removed them. You can also see how the mag doesn't sit flush with the frame as it should if the pins where in. WHen the mag catches with the release, it isn't flush with the frame.
Then, while looking into the gun, the mag sits lower than it should
And this is where I suspect it should sit, when I push it all the way in.
So in the end, I really think this is just a magazine issue. Some gunsmith tried to fix something the hard way, and ended up not fixing a single thing.
The extractor and ejector seem to be fine. They aren't worn down or anything.
I've been searching online for magazines, which I know are difficult to come by. I've found a few sites that seem to have them, but most don't have any in stock.
http://www.triplek.com/products/id/38/grp/412/prd/729/ - in stock, is that the correct magazine?
http://www.gun-parts.com/star/ - never answers email or fax so I have no idea...
Any help would be great. I also just purchased a S&W m&p22 and an m&p 15-22. Love them both. They are two of my first guns and after I want to use the m&p22 to practice before a 9mm, and the 15-22 is just super fun.
Thanks!
A lot of people seem to have some trouble with it feeding a next round. Some find resolution when changing ammo, or buying new mags. I know there has been some spring issues with the gun, being installed incorrectly.
The issue I am having with this is it wont eject the next round properly or if it somehow does manage to eject, it wont feed properly. I've narrowed the issue down to a few things.
First, the gun was taken to some gunsmith and altered to better fit a magazine. Pins were added at the base of the well which prevented the magazine from being inserted all the way. And then, the hole in which the mag catches the release was enlarged to catch before inserted all the way.
Here is a photo of the magazine's larger hole - I think it's larger than it should be. It seems to have been cut.
I am pretty sure this is why I am having all the issues. Because of this widened hole, the mag sits lower than it should.
Here are photos of where the pins where machined in - I have removed them. You can also see how the mag doesn't sit flush with the frame as it should if the pins where in. WHen the mag catches with the release, it isn't flush with the frame.
Then, while looking into the gun, the mag sits lower than it should
And this is where I suspect it should sit, when I push it all the way in.
So in the end, I really think this is just a magazine issue. Some gunsmith tried to fix something the hard way, and ended up not fixing a single thing.
The extractor and ejector seem to be fine. They aren't worn down or anything.
I've been searching online for magazines, which I know are difficult to come by. I've found a few sites that seem to have them, but most don't have any in stock.
http://www.triplek.com/products/id/38/grp/412/prd/729/ - in stock, is that the correct magazine?
http://www.gun-parts.com/star/ - never answers email or fax so I have no idea...
Any help would be great. I also just purchased a S&W m&p22 and an m&p 15-22. Love them both. They are two of my first guns and after I want to use the m&p22 to practice before a 9mm, and the 15-22 is just super fun.
Thanks!