issue with Beretta PX4 Compact - slide stuck to rear after discharge

[JackNeat]

At the range today and something is up with my PX4. Watch the video. The slide is getting stuck out of battery to the rear and requires a tap.

I am able to duplicate this by hand if I pull the slide back with enough force. This is happening with a loaded mag and with no magazine or an empty magazine. In all instances a smack to the back of the slide puts it back in battery... something is locking up and I am not sure what it is. Pistol was just cleaned and lubed so I'm pretty sure that isn't the cause. Field stripped at the range to double check spring assembly was properly installed and there was no visible debris lodged in the slide tracks.


Link to short video
PX4 malfunctions

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Sorry I'm sure it's super obvious but it looks like slide is locking all the way to the rear, your not riding the slide lock are you?

 

[JackNeat]

No. I can rack the slide back and if done hard enough, it will lock back in that position - further back than it would with the slide lock engaged... pictures incoming

 

[JackNeat]

I just rack this back by hand with a little more force than I would normally and it gets jammed up and requires a sharp tap and the rear of the slide.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Do you have any springs cracked or broken? Do you have any unusual wearing?

 

[JackNeat]

nothing visible. Checked recoil spring closely. Nothing back in the Trigger group looks off. No signs of excessive wear anywhere. Last visit to range and it ran smoothly. Really odd. Slide goes on and comes off smoothly. Racking it normally back and forth and it's smooth. It just gets stuck in the extreme back position when fired or if I hand rack it hard enough to put it in that state.

 

[Saltwater60]

Can you put some excessive lubrication on it to see where it is hitting? Put some grease between the slide and frame mating sections and then rack the slide a few times and that should tell you if anything is catching and hanging up.
Also a fryer the last range session what did you do? Just a simple field strip or something more? Good luck and this is weird.

 

[FP1201]

I have seen grains of Ball-Spherical powder get caught between the slide to frame rails causing binding.

 

[JackNeat]

I’ll clean it up again with a brush this time - I normally just use rag / patches with a pick to get the extractor pin … maybe something got in there during the last cleaning and I’m not seeing it. It worked fine last range trip… field stripped cleaned and just dry fire for the last week until today.

before cleaning, I’ll try the grease to see if any indications are left of where it might be jamming up.

 

[Paxal]

Maybe wear to the barrel? Those grooves in the barrel that rotate it could have a burr or wear in just the wrong spot? I remembner MAC having a PX4 jam when a grain of sand got into one of those grooves.

 

[JackNeat]

I started to think that could be possible. I put the recoil spring assembly in but left the barrel out before putting the slide on. There was no resistance or binding up. It was late though so I didn’t go any further investigating.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Any updates?

 

[JackNeat]

I went to range tonight and still having that same issue. It seems as though something is binding between the rotating barrel notch and the recoil spring assembly nub. I wish I knew for sure. I cleaned it the night before and inspected for debris or burrs. I do see what might be an indication of some abnormal wear but it might have been there all this time. I haven't really inspected the barrel like this prior to the issue because I had not issues. I will take a picture and maybe someone could tell if the wear is normal.

It's out of EDC for now because I can't rely on it. I'm thinking I might have to take it to a gunsmith familiar with the pistol... or send it to Beretta.

 

[JackNeat]

Images - so it actually looks like some wear happening when I zoomed in with phone. I can’t see that as clearly with naked eye.

 

[Saltwater60]

I’m no expert but that rotating barrel lug looks prone to having issues IMO. Check to see if there is a detent. I didn’t see one but looks like a detent notch. I’ve never seen one taken apart so I could be way off base here, but you hunch seems to make sense to me.

 

[Paxal]

Maybe polish that groove and the nub that mates with it to see if that helps.

 

[Paxal]

Any way to get photos of a different gun for the sake of comparison?

 

[JackNeat]

Any way to get photos of a different gun for the sake of comparison?

A different PX4? Good idea. There is one in local gun shop that I could probably get a look at for comparison.

 

[Saltwater60]

Before polishing I’d rinse it with lots of solvent to ensure there’s nothing stuck in there. Of that doesn’t work you could look into polishing it. To me this seems to be the issue.

 

[JackNeat]

I got some additional info from a PX4 owner on the Pistol Forum that seems to be very well versed in the pistol. He pointed out that the cam lug and the barrel channel the lug rides in should be greased. I have not done that. He looked at my images and said there is nothing wrong with the pistol from what he sees.

So, a good rinse of solvent followed up by a lubrication and grease rings around the cam lug tomorrow will hopefully set me up for success. I'll report back. If the condition continues I'll get some info on polishing the parts.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I got some additional info from a PX4 owner on the Pistol Forum that seems to be very well versed in the pistol. He pointed out that the cam lug and the barrel channel the lug rides in should be greased. I have not done that. He looked at my images and said there is nothing wrong with the pistol from what he sees.

So, a good rinse of solvent followed up by a lubrication and grease rings around the cam lug tomorrow will hopefully set me up for success. I'll report back. If the condition continues I'll get some info on polishing the parts.

From what I've heard is the px4 are some what of a niche pistol, not very common but the people who own them give lots of positive feedback that they are well liked.

 

[JackNeat]

I chose the pistol after seeing so many reviews that had nothing but great things to say. Almost a cult like following. Hoping this is just a matter of learning how to properly deal with the unique design of the pistol!

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I chose the pistol after seeing so many reviews that had nothing but great things to say. Almost a cult like following. Hoping this is just a matter of learning how to properly deal with the unique design of the pistol!

I believe it. I really enjoy my Beretta APX and it's the same story on that discussion. Everyone hates Beretta for making such a great product and doing such a piss poor marketing campaign that it never caught on or picked up the aftermarket support

 

[Saltwater60]

I’m sure you can download the manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.

 

[Acer-m14]

how to find the wear spots .. old school machine shop item ..

Prussian Blue, Non-Drying, Improper Fitting Dye​

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PTX80038?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&campaign=GSC-Chemicals&campaign_id=6478876245&adgroup_id=115972171828&adtype=pla&gclid=CjwKCAiAs8acBhA1EiwAgRFdwyQa8C6Y_E-IPam9obcoMUM5bZGSr026xu6QBzgecIpJRuwW2562VBoCwtYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&

 

[Paxal]

I pulled my PX4 out to have a look. It is not heavily used, and always works.
But, what I found was, on the side of the barrel channel that has the detent at the end toward the barrel and small burr had formed. It was too small to see, but I could feel it. Since you use your gun more than I use this one, maybe it got worse and is now interfering with it’s operation.

A couple strokes with a file and the burr was gone. I then decided to lightly polish the channel just for kicks. The gun has never malfunctioned in the past, but maybe I’m nipping a potential problem in the bud.