Gunsmith in Houston?

[varko]

My friend has an XD-9 V-10 that had a Blazer steel case cartridge explode (please forgive my lack of knowledge for the correct term) in the chamber. Since then she has frequent jams (about every fifth round) and most of the time the slide-lock will not engage when the magazine empties. I have fired the gun myself and it never jammed with me, but the slide-lock only engaged correctly once. Can anyone recommend a good gunsmith in the Houston area who could look at this?

[Mithras61]

My friend has an XD-9 V-10 that had a Blazer steel case cartridge explode (please forgive my lack of knowledge for the correct term) in the chamber. Since then she has frequent jams (about every fifth round) and most of the time the slide-lock will not engage when the magazine empties. I have fired the gun myself and it never jammed with me, but the slide-lock only engaged correctly once. Can anyone recommend a good gunsmith in the Houston area who could look at this?

I don't know a good gunsmith, so I can't help you there.

Have you contacted CCI & Springfield about this? CCI may be willing to help cover the repair if the cartridge was defective. I'd want to talk to Springfield & see if they have anything to say on the subject as well.

[varko]

I don't know a good gunsmith, so I can't help you there.

Have you contacted CCI & Springfield about this? CCI may be willing to help cover the repair if the cartridge was defective. I'd want to talk to Springfield & see if they have anything to say on the subject as well.

When I spoke with her yesterday I advised her to contact Springfield and she said she would. The person she was with when the incident occurred disposed of the cartridge, so there probably won’t be much help from CCI.

[PBratton]

if you still need a good smith:

Freer Gun Shop
8928 Spring Branch Dr # B1
Houston, TX 77080
(713) 467-3016

[Mike1951]

My friend has an XD-9 V-10 that had a Blazer steel case cartridge explode

Perhaps it is nit picking, but CCI and Blazer don't offer ammunition with steel cases. The Blazer ammunition is either aluminum or brass.

Were the remains of the case saved, as it would be required to prove any claim with the ammunition?

[varko]

if you still need a good smith:

Freer Gun Shop
8928 Spring Branch Dr # B1
Houston, TX 77080
(713) 467-3016

Thank you! I'll tell her to give them a call.

Mike,
My friend told me steel, but I'm sure she probably meant aluminum. I've never used Blazer so I was unaware. Thank you for the clarification.

[TDDude]

My friend has an XD-9 V-10 that had a Blazer steel case cartridge explode (please forgive my lack of knowledge for the correct term) in the chamber. Since then she has frequent jams (about every fifth round) and most of the time the slide-lock will not engage when the magazine empties. I have fired the gun myself and it never jammed with me, but the slide-lock only engaged correctly once. Can anyone recommend a good gunsmith in the Houston area who could look at this?

I'm a bit confused. If the pistol "exploded" that would mean that the chamber and part of the barrel and also the slide are now in pieces. Plus your friend probably has chunks of her hand missing as well as burns on her face.

You wouldn't be needing a gunsmith as the pistol would be a total loss.

[varko]

My friend has an XD-9 V-10 that had a Blazer steel case cartridge explode (please forgive my lack of knowledge for the correct term) in the chamber. Since then she has frequent jams (about every fifth round) and most of the time the slide-lock will not engage when the magazine empties. I have fired the gun myself and it never jammed with me, but the slide-lock only engaged correctly once. Can anyone recommend a good gunsmith in the Houston area who could look at this?

I'm a bit confused. If the pistol "exploded" that would mean that the chamber and part of the barrel and also the slide are now in pieces. Plus your friend probably has chunks of her hand missing as well as burns on her face.

You wouldn't be needing a gunsmith as the pistol would be a total loss.

I said the CARTRIDGE exploded, not the pistol.

Second, I admitted it wasn’t the correct term. (And I noticed you didn’t provide the correct one.)

[CompVest]

TDDude and varko, please, don't let this escalate any farther.

Thank you

[RECIT]

I would also try calling Fountain Firearms. I have had them look at a few guns I have had with issues. They are nice and knowledgeable. Good luck.

Has anyone else had any issues with other than brass cased ammo in their pistols?

[TDDude]

TDDude and varko, please, don't let this escalate any farther.

Thank you

I wasn't trying to be glib when I said I was confused because I really was and still am about what happened. My apologies if it came across otherwise.

The symptoms that Varko is describing after the incident, if it were a Beretta or even an AR, simply tells me that there's not enough lubricant being used. All of my Berettas do exactly what he described when they are being run dry. When they get cantankerous, adding a couple extra drops on the rails will always fix them right up. I don't have an XD but I was going to suggest the same thing before going to a smith.

I've had steel cased ammo get stuck in my pistols after the pistol gets hot, such as after a hundred rounds or so. On the shots where it gets stuck, the recoil is much greater, the round sounds much louder, possibly because the action did not cycle and the first time I also thought, "Oh heck!! Now what??" Right there at the bench I had to take a rod & brass hammer to tap out the case. Afterward, my pistol wouldn't work at all. I was getting jams and stovepipes on every round.

I ultimately gave it a good cleaning including using a brush in the chamber, good lube, and then all was well. After I had to go through this procedure a second time, I stopped using steel cased ammo in my Berettas.

That was 5 years ago and since then, I've had thousands of rounds through that particular pistol with no problems.

Good Luck!!

[CompVest]

Good reply and thank you for the clarification.

[varko]

Yes, thank you for the clarification TDDude. I’m under the assumption (because she’s former military) that my friend regularly cleans and lubes her pistol, but I do not know that for a fact. I will let her know about your experience.