[Christov]

As the subject line says, I'm new to the forum, have a new P32, and have discovered a problem for which I haven't found an answer doing the usual web searches for problems.

The problem is this: Using either ball or JHP, when chambering the first round out of the magazine - pistol's unloaded, then rack the slide chambering a round - there's no tension on the trigger although the round is loaded. If I release the magazine and remove it from the pistol, then rack the slide again, the live round ejects from the ejection port, which is how I know a round's been chambered.

This only happens with the first round from the magazine. If I continue to rack the slide, which I think is called manually cycling the rounds through the pistol, every subsequent racking of the slide results in trigger tension. Of course, I only lightly feel for tension with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction when I check this.

Any idea why this is happening?

Aside from this annoyance, I like the P32 very well and intend it for carry while bicycling as it's small enough and light enough to carry in a jersey pocket.

Thanks in advance for advice and tips,

Chris

 

[lbj]

I watched someone use my P32 at the range the other day.
She racked the slide and chambered a round, but apparently the trigger did not reset and the trigger was loose no tension.
I have never had this problem before or since.
My guess is that it is possible to rack the slide just far enough back to let it go and have it chamber a round, but not far enough back to reset the trigger.

My other suggestion is to try a different magazine, couldn't hurt.

Is it possible you are not pulling the slide back all the way?

 

[Christov]

Thanks for replying. What you've described sounds like what I'm experiencing, but repeatably, not as a one-off problem.

I guess it is possible that I've not racked the slide sufficiently, although I'm not sure why I'd fail to pull it all the way back the first round and only the first? Tomorrow, I plan to do some shooting with the pistol, so whatever the problem is, maybe I'll get it sorted out. I have already field stripped and frog lubed it.

 

[WPhilB47]

The problem is this: Using either ball or JHP, when chambering the first round out of the magazine - pistol's unloaded, then rack the slide chambering a round - there's no tension on the trigger although the round is loaded. If I release the magazine and remove it from the pistol, then rack the slide again, the live round ejects from the ejection port, which is how I know a round's been chambered.

Any idea why this is happening?

Thanks in advance for advice and tips,

Chris

Are you loading that first round with the slide closed, or with the slide back and locked on the slide lock?

 

[lbj]

As I said above, I saw someone do this with my P32. She is very small and chambered a round with great difficulty, aimed and pulled the trigger. All it did was move forward and back seemingly unconnected to anything.
I pulled the slide back, the chambered round ejected, another round was chambered and all was well thereafter.

I tried to replicate what happened and have not been able to do so.
But I did witness it happen first hand and was then handed the pistol with a chambered round and the trigger not reset.

Therefore, I believe there is merit to what the OP has posted.

To be honest, since the incident with my pistol, I hadn't given much thought to this type of malfunction until I read this topic.

 

[Christov]

Are you loading that first round with the slide closed, or with the slide back and locked on the slide lock?

I've tried it both ways with the same results.

Additionally, this afternoon, I was carrying the P32 around in an old, soft-suede Bianchi IWB holster while working in the garage and then on about an hour-long bike ride. When I'd holstered the pistol, there was tension on the trigger; two or three times when I checked the gun during the day and once after my ride, I found the trigger had gone slack again. The slide will move slightly if I gently move it backward, and that sometimes resets the trigger's tension.

Yes, I understand it was perhaps foolish to carry an untried, unbroken-in pistol, but part of what I'm up to is getting used to carrying while riding. Today, in cargo shorts and t-shirt, not my dedicated cycling kit.

 

[Christov]

As I said above, I saw someone do this with my P32. She is very small and chambered a round with great difficulty, aimed and pulled the trigger. All it did was move forward and back seemingly unconnected to anything.

For what it's worth, I don't have any trouble racking the slide on the P32. My grip strength and upper body strength are pretty good for a guy my age, and I've not had a problem like this with my other semi-automatic pistols in larger caliber, three of them very old. All that's to say, I don't think the problem's operator error. Hoping for something simple that doesn't require factory attention.

 

[lbj]

The mere fact you checked it started out in a proper functioning trigger condition and discovered it in a disconnected state is cause for alarm. It appears this happened several times.
Plus you say you can move the slide slightly and the trigger will reset, but doesn't stay reset.

Something isn't right.

 

[Christov]

Yep. I've never had any firearm malfunction like this one has. It'll be interesting to see how it acts at the range tomorrow afternoon. Maybe it will fix itself or maybe it will just not work. Dunno.

The pistol it's replaced always, more or less, worked fine given decent ammunition - it was just too bulky for concealed carry; too likely to snag for bike riding in addition to being too large. So, we'll see.

 

[WPhilB47]

Yep. I've never had any firearm malfunction like this one has. It'll be interesting to see how it acts at the range tomorrow afternoon. Maybe it will fix itself or maybe it will just not work. Dunno.

The pistol it's replaced always, more or less, worked fine given decent ammunition - it was just too bulky for concealed carry; too likely to snag for bike riding in addition to being too large. So, we'll see.

Have you fired this P-32? I think it may just be tight and needs to be broken in. Before you shoot it at the range, try putting a partially loaded mag in and see if the problem occurs when you load the first round from a partial mag. If you will check, you will find that if the slide is not fully in battery, the trigger will disconnect. This is a safety device to prevent the pistol from firing when unlocked and out of battery. Just a slight push back on the slide will cause the trigger to disconnect. It may just be too tight to lock up completely. If this problem persists after shooting it at the range, there is no user fix. send it back to the factory. If you bought it from a dealer, have him send it back. Make sure you disassemble the slide and clean and lube the pistol before you shoot it, and repeat after the range trip.

 

[Christov]

No, I got the gun new-in-box in trade for the other pistol. Never fired except, I would guess, at the factory. I'll try your half-full magazine suggestion to see what happens. I've racked the slide to chamber a round with both one round in the magazine and with a full magazine. I am hoping this is a break-in problem. I have already field-stripped, cleaned, and frog-lubed the pistol.

 

[WPhilB47]

No, I got the gun new-in-box in trade for the other pistol. Never fired except, I would guess, at the factory. I'll try your half-full magazine suggestion to see what happens. I've racked the slide to chamber a round with both one round in the magazine and with a full magazine. I am hoping this is a break-in problem. I have already field-stripped, cleaned, and frog-lubed the pistol.

Let us know how it does after your range trip today. Pictures would be nice.

 

[Christov]

I shot 70 rounds today - mostly fmj 71 grain target ammo, but about five rounds Hornady jhp. The problem manifested every time - before I could fire any of the chambered rounds, I had to move the slide back and forth - maybe a quarter to half an inch of free play there - before the trigger would reset, if that is the right terminology for getting trigger tension and being able to fire the next round. Loading from a half magazine made no difference. At least three times the trigger had tension and the hammer or trigger went "click" with failure to fire. Finally, I got fed up and returned to the house - I've got a paper due in a few hours. This pistol will be going back to the factory for repair or replacement. To be clear, the gun never once came to a fire-able state in the usual, semi-automatic fashion one has come to expect from semi-automatic pistols. Bummer, because if it worked as it ought to, it'd be a terrific carry piece.

Attached are a couple of pictures - the range, the pistol and practice ammo, as well as the pistol with the rifle I shot today.

 

[haugrdr]

Are you placing the round in the chamber with your fingers? While the slide is locked open?

 

[Christov]

No, racking the slide to load rounds using the magazine. Never once was I able to fire normally, after racking the slide and chambering a round. Every time, I had to jiggle the slide back and forth, along the firearm's longitudinal axis, if that makes sense, sometimes several times before the trigger became operable. I'll call Kel-Tec either tomorrow or the next day.

 

[haugrdr]

Are you letting the slide snap shut? We call it slingshotting...pulling the slide back and letting it go like a slingshot. That's the proper way.

 

[Christov]

Yes, slingshotting.

 

[haugrdr]

Hmmmm...I'm stumped. Something must be off internally.

 

[lbj]

I'm in the something is broken send it back camp.

 

[cluznar]

Yes, call Kel Tec and they will most likely have you send it in. Have no fear, Kel Tec will get it right for you. Once you have it back, you will realize why we all love the P-32.

:rayof: