Slide Popped Off My P64 During Firing

[espania1958]

The slide of my P64 fell off the pistol and flew about 6 feet forward landing on the ground. I had fired about 25 rounds of Brown Bear when this happened. I put the slide back on the gun but it now comes off when you move the slide all the way back as with disassembly. Anyone have an idea what may have failed? It was pretty embarrassing.

[juniustaylor]

Sounds like the part of the trigger guard that comes up and blocks the slide from coming completely rearward during disassembly. That's why you have to pull the trigger guard down. Does anything on the slide look out of the ordinary. Check your trigger guard well and make sure that it looks complete. Other than that, I'm out of ideas, I'll have to check with my P-64 for any other ideas. Very interesting problem, never heard this one.

[juniustaylor]

If you look at number 24 in this picture, that is the block that keeps the slide from coming back all the way except during disassembly when you pull the trigger guard down. This is the part of the trigger guard where the grooves are that hold against the frame to hold the trigger guard down when you go to remove the slide.


The other item circled is part of the slide. It's right below the muzzle and it is the part of the slide that butts against the stop (#24). This should keep the slide from coming all the way to the rear. Other than these, the only way I could see a slide being able to come off is if the parts of the slide and frame that hold each other together would have to be broken and that would be almost impossible.

Does your trigger guard have the stop piece still built onto it? No one has ground it off have they? I was looking at my P-64 and this is all that I can come up with.

[juniustaylor]

Better pictures. You can see the stop in this picture holding the trigger guard down.


In this picture, you can see the trigger guard is in its raised position and the stop would be blocking the slide from coming back too far. If you try installing a slide with the trigger guard up, you will never get it back on until you lower the trigger guard.


Are you able to put the slide back on without lowering the trigger guard?

[espania1958]

Thanks juniustaylor, you nailed the problem right on. The stop broke right off and made such a clean break I could not find it until I saw your Photo.

I spoke with AIM today and they said they would exchange it with another P64 even though I'm 30 days past the 30 day warranty. AIM has always been great to work with. Thanks again, this is a great forum and website.

P64 Broken Slide Stop.jpg (27.23 KiB) Viewed 14052 times

[juniustaylor]

Oh WOW! That is crazy. This is a new one on me. I don't think I have read of this on the board yet so you've got something going. I am real glad that AIM is going to take care of you even though you're outside the warranty window. I am real glad to have been of assistance.

[peewee102]

Oh WOW! That is crazy. This is a new one on me. I don't think I have read of this on the board yet so you've got something going. I am real glad that AIM is going to take care of you even though you're outside the warranty window. I am real glad to have been of assistance.

Ditto! I bet finding a trigger guard would have been fun!

[espania1958]

I already have a new wolff recoil and trigger spring kit that I was going to install in this pistol. I will install in the new pistol before I fire it. It will be a stronger spring and should reduce the load on the slide stop.

[lklawson]

Thanks juniustaylor, you nailed the problem right on. The stop broke right off and made such a clean break I could not find it until I saw your Photo.

I spoke with AIM today and they said they would exchange it with another P64 even though I'm 30 days past the 30 day warranty. AIM has always been great to work with. Thanks again, this is a great forum and website.

P64 Broken Slide Stop.jpg

Holy Mackerel!

Glad AIM is taking care of you.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[mjmelland]

Now that's a new one... interesting. It would be nice to know the exact reason for the failure.... metal fatigue would have been my guess. Enough hot rounds with a weak recoil spring could do it... or one very over pressure round <grin>.

[juanace]

I had my PA 63 slide fly forward once. The trigger pull was so bad/heavy that I did forced the trigger guard down pulling the trigger and off we gooooo!

[espania1958]

I exchanged the pistol yesterday and received one that looks like it was never used. I haven't installed the new springs yet and the trigger pull in double action is extemely hard. I will let you know if the new recoil and trigger spring kit tames the kick and pull.

The old pistol was holster worn and loose with a relatively light trigger pull. Must have been shot quite abit. In two outings I shot around 85 rounds before the slide stop failed. I also agree that it was probably a worn out recoil spring, because it really kicked when fired.

Note: I was using Brown Bear ammo when it failed. I don't know what their quality control is, but they seemed to fire just fine except for one limp wrist jam, which of course was my fault.

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

Thanks juniustaylor, you nailed the problem right on. The stop broke right off and made such a clean break I could not find it until I saw your Photo.

I spoke with AIM today and they said they would exchange it with another P64 even though I'm 30 days past the 30 day warranty. AIM has always been great to work with. Thanks again, this is a great forum and website.

P64 Broken Slide Stop.jpg

Holy cow. Calculate the odds of that happening!