Does Your Self- Defense Gun Work?

Seriously, when was the last time you took your self-defense gun out for a functional check to make sure it is still working? Those of you that carry a concealed hand gun on a regular basis probably do check it to see that it is loaded, that there is a round in the chamber, and hopefully you are shooting it periodically. But, what about that pump shotgun you stuck in the back of the closet or that pistol that is setting in your nightstand? When was the last time you checked them?

You are probably thinking to yourself right now; “What kind of question is that?” It worked the last time that you shot it, but when was that? And just because it worked then doesn’t mean that it is still working — you did clean it after you shot it didn’t you? Maybe your gun broke when you fired the last shot. I’ve had that happen myself! Firing pins have broken into two pieces, flat springs have broken, screws have come loose or fallen out, etc. Remember, firearms are mechanical devices made up of a series of parts and any one of those parts could break or come loose at any time.

One example that I’ve experienced myself was with a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless semi-auto pistol. I bought it used, but it looked practically brand new, came in the original box, and was manufactured about 100 years ago. The slide worked smoothly and everything seemed to be okay — until I took it to the range to shoot it for the first time. Instead of going “bang” when I fired it, it went “bang-bang-bang-bang-bang”! That was exciting and I found myself holding a fully automatic handgun because it kept firing without me pulling the trigger again. In troubleshooting it, I figured the firing pin had stuck out because of an accumulation of lubricants and dirt that had turned into a solid mass inside the firing pin channel in the slide. I gave the slide a good soaking in solvent, but that did not seem to solve the problem. My next step was to send it to my gunsmith to get a more thorough checkout. He ended up replacing the sear and although the new one appeared to be identical to the old one in every way, that solved the problem. Sometimes the problem with tolerances between moving parts is so small they are invisible to the naked eye.

Another example was a Colt Single-Action Army clone (a “black powder frame” model) that I was using for cowboy action shooting. One day the cylinder just fell out of the revolver in the middle of a stage of fire. The small screw that was holding the cylinder base pin in place — the use of a screw to hold the cylinder base pin is what makes it a “black powder frame” model — worked loose and allowed the base pin to come out. With nothing holding it in place anymore, the cylinder just dropped out of the frame onto the ground. It would have been a relatively easy thing to fix if the small screw hadn’t also fallen out and was lost in the grass. I was done shooting for that day and had to order a new cylinder base pin screw to get the revolver working again. A few years later a small metal projection on the back of the loading gate on my Winchester lever-action rifle—another Italian-made clone—broke off. That small projection was what held the rounds in the tubular magazine under the barrel and with it gone there was nothing to prevent the magazine spring from pushing the rounds into the action of the rifle thoroughly jamming it. Again I was done shooting until I could get a replacement part and install it.

Finally we have an example that comes from a retired police officer acquaintance of mine. He worked with another officer in a small town police department. At the time they joined the force, they were issued their .38 caliber revolvers but received little or no training. In those days is was assumed they already knew about guns and needed no training. Twenty-some years later this officer’s co-worker retired from the same police department. When he turned in his revolver — in those days police officers were issued their gun and they kept it until they no longer worked for that department — it was cocked, had ammunition in the chambers that was corroded in place and would not eject, and the gun was covered in rust. It seems the officer in question had to draw and cock his handgun just once very early in his career and couldn’t figure out how to un-cock it, so he just left it that way. At least he used duct tape to hold the hammer in place so the gun would not accidentally fire — it probably wouldn’t intentionally fire either. This officer never practiced with his revolver and he never cleaned it. He just left it in his leather holster for 20+ years and even though he carried it daily while he was on duty, he basically forgot all about it. And you thought police officers were highly proficient in the use of firearms... While this is no doubt an extreme example, what about that old pistol your father or some other relative left you to use for home protection?

Even if you shoot your guns regularly, there is no guarantee something hasn’t broken or worn out. Magazine springs used in semi-automatic pistols weaken the more they are used and may no longer exert enough force to push the next round up to be caught by the slide and loaded into the chamber. This is one reason why some firearms expertsrecommend you never use your “carry/duty” magazines for training, but rather use separate magazines that are only used when you are practicing with your handgun. In the “good old days” when semi-auto pistol magazines were cheap, this was no problem, but have you seen what they cost these days??!!

Have the cartridge cases you use been in your gun so long they have developed that “green” coating on the brass and now they no longer smoothly slide in and out of the chamber? You ought to be firing the “carry rounds” in your gun and replace them with new rounds once every year or so.

Isn’t it about time you pulled your guns out of wherever you are storing them and check them to see if they still work? Hmmm...maybe I should take the .243 Winchester bolt-action rifle that I have not fired for over 35 years out to the range to see if it still works???

Gary Evens is a NRA-Certified Instructor and Range Safety Officer.