[leeward419]

Hi, My dad bought a new hi power, slide kept seizing up with round in chamber, couldnt move it back or forward, kept pressuring the slide back and forth, eventually got it cleared and empty. sent pistol back, they repaired it, wouldnt say what was wrong, even after calling. Just got it back, doing the same thing. anyone know what might be the problem, or likely suspect issues?
Thanks for any information

[h2o-5o]

Oversized ammo, or undersized chamber/leade?

Try removing the barrel, and dropping a loose round into the chamber to see if it goes in and out easily and completely. Also look at the round that was "locked up" and see if there are any rifling marks on the bullet.

[leeward419]

I will Check, I am going to ask him to save the ammo, so we can measure a typcial round from the box, (WWB from walmart) , I am leaning towards the undersized chamber/Leade, Have you seen this before.
thanks again for the input!

[h2o-5o]

Haven't seen it specifically in a BHP. I have seen out of spec ammo lock up other guns though, most recently a batch of Speer Gold Dots locking up my personal Seecamp LWS32. I had some .223 ammo lock up several different personal/issued AR's. I also has a specific lot of Winchester Ranger ammo that was inconsistent in functioning in previously reliable custom 1911's, that had been tested and proven with other lots of the same ammo.

WWB is typically decent ammo, but marketed to a certain price-point, which would indicate some QC/QA measures are more lax than higher priced ammo. Also, with the not-so-long-ago shortage of ammo causing ammo factories to ramp up production, I wouldn't be surprised at all if even more QC/QA steps are relaxed than normal.

[Two Guns]

Out of spec ammo I would say.

[Berto]

Make sure the barrel/slide locking lugs are clean and deburred and the gun is properly assembled (ie: guide rod not upside down)

[Poohgyrr]

Ever learn what the problem was? From experience, I'd check the guide rod installation - you can guess what my experience was.

And Commander Cody!!!

[merlewag]

The only problem I ever had like this was when I used Blazer aluminum ammo. The BHP would shoot it a while and then it would refuse it. It wouldn't extract.

[FireForged]

blazer ammo ! I dont like that stuff

[Bret]

leeward419, what was the problem? I'm here to learn.

[leeward419]

Bret, as it turns out, the chamber is abnormally tight on this pistol, we cannot utilize lead bullets, (lead typically run a thousandth or so larger in diameter). The lead bullet just got stuck in the chamber. It took a while to determine the cause. It is corrected with a KKM barrel. The Brownings are noted for being tight Ive been told. H20-50 had it right. It was undersizedchamber.

[Bret]

Thanks for the update. That's a little bit more information to add to my cache of knowledge.

[vmr357]

I have two Hi Powers. One has a Bar-Sto barrel in it and it won't shoot anything but factory ammo. Their barrels are quite tight.

I bought an ammo can of reloads at a gun show once. It would jam those cartridges about half way to 3/4 of the way into the chamber and your were stuck. I couldn't force it shut and it was a bear to retract the slide an get the cartridge out. I had to drive one out with a dowel down the barrel and some taps with a mallet. The same ammo feeds fine in my Sig and the other HP. I ended up taking the barrel out of the gun and using it as a gauge to check that batch of ammo. I sorted out over 200 rounds that wouldn't drop cleanly into that barrel.

As long as the slide is oiled or greased, I've never had any trouble with an HP if I used good ammo.

Vern

[El_Ron1]

I have a stock MKII and several stock MKIIIs that rarely see anything but reloaded lead. It was not a big deal at all to work up a reliable load for them. I'd send a gun or barrel like that back for service.