P38 malfunction

This is my first P#* that I purchased at t local gun show Sunday. It is an AC 41 (Walther manufacture, 1941?) and looks to be mostly matching. I brought it home, cleaned it up a little and brought it out to the range. I found it to be very accurate, and it chambered, fired, extracted and ejected every round flawlessly. But after about every third shot the slide would close with a round in the chamber, the hammer down and the trigger not reset. Pulling the hammer back would reset the trigger and I could fire the next round. At no time did it double. It was almost as if the safety was on and the hammer decocked. When I got it I tried the standard M1911 test or pulling and holding the trigger while manipulating the slide. In this case the hammer always followed the slide. I am not familiar with this action so I am not even sure that is a valid test.

Any suggestions or comments?

Pictures below.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_1143-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_1144-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_1145-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_1146-1.jpg

Thanks

Howard

That's just a sear thing. Same as a .45 would do. Change a couple of parts and it's fine again. Sear and hammer. They're available.

If you don't hold the trigger it stays cocked ?? Sounds more like a disconnector and /or trigger spring problem to me. I wouldn't just start swapping out parts willy nilly to find out "which one it is". Have a reputable gunsmith look at it for you if you are unable to discerne what is causing the problem.

HTH,

Emri

Yes if I don't hold the trigger the hammer stays back and most of the time it does while firing. I suspected a disconnector issue too, but I don't see one on the parts list. I guess I need to find a good book about this action, as well as a gunsmith.

CDNN has/had the spare parts cheap. Get a few and try a swap yourself.

Sarco does too, but they didn't have the disconnector. CDNN does.

Thanks

Howard

It has been a long time since I had one apart. I would have to examine one to remember specific details of the P38. However, like most all DA autos the trigger "connector" that cocks the hammer and trips the sear is also the disconnector. When the slide moves rearward after firing, it pushes the connector down and out of contact with the sear. That is why I stated it could be a spring problem causing the malfunction. Remove the top end and grips to be able to see them easier, and study how the parts interact with each other. By doing that you should be able to isolate the part or parts that are giving you trouble.

Good Luck !!

Emri

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Emri

Remove the top end and grips to be able to see them easier, and study how the parts interact with each other. By doing that you should be able to isolate the part or parts that are giving you trouble.

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By following this advice this is what I found. The parts in question seem to have 2 different names depending on the diagram I am looking at. There is the trigger bar/connector and sear/cocking piece. I will use connector and sear since they are easier to type. The end of the connector fits into an opening in the sear. It is supposed to move around in this opening variously engaging or disengaging the sear. When I manipulate the slide the end of the connector is sliding under the sear and coming out of the opening, lodging itself under the forward part of the sear. This is letting the hammer follow the slide. Pulling the hammer back moves the sear enough so that the connector slips back into the opening. Looking at the connector with a magnifying glass the end looks worn and rounded which is probably causing the problem. I have a sear and I have ordered a connector. I will try replacing the connector first since it looks to be easier than replacing the sear.

I don't know if there is anyone still paying attention, or that cares, but the problem is solved. :)

I purchased 1 sear and trigger bar each from Sarco and CDNN. none of them were marked. The all looked to be new manufacture. I first tried replacing the trigger bar. While this perturbed the problem (the hammer now fell only half way) it did not solve it. I then tried replacing the sear. I put back the original trigger bar because it had inspection marks. Once I got it back together the hammer now stayed back. I just took it to the range and put three magazines through it without a malfunction. The hammer always stayed back. I am always amaze when I actuall fix something instead of breaking it worse :thup: so I am a happy camper tonight.

Thanks for all your help

So....it WAS the sear?

Yes, although I can't see anything wrong with it.

You can't always tell with those. It doesn't take much to throw them out of whack.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hsr

I don't know if there is anyone still paying attention, or that cares, but the problem is solved.

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Congradulations and good for you!! I'm glad you were able to fix it yourself and everything functions fine.

Emri

---------- Post added at 06:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:46 PM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

So....it WAS the sear?

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I'm sure that was directed at me, and you were correct in the end; but I will stand by what I said in an earlier post...

[I wouldn't just start swapping out parts willy nilly to find out "which one it is".]