Troubleshooting Failure to Feed

[MGMike]

To diagnose any feed stoppage in a Walther PP, PPK or PPK/s (or for that matter, any other semi-auto) pistol, FIRST try the following, one remedy at a time, in this order:

1) Try other ammunition. Use standard U.S.-made FMJ of known quality and performance.
2) Scrub out the chamber with a bronze brush until it's squeaky clean when inspected in sunlight.
3) Disassemble, inspect and clean the magazine. You must take it apart to clean it properly. If it's an aftermarket mag, don't bother; find an original.
4) Clean the extractor and see that it moves freely.

Then, and only then, if the problem persists, look elsewhere. New springs are way down on the list, and copious oiling seldom cures anything.

If you want to learn something from the experience, try only one remedy at a time. Otherwise you won't know which one was the cure.

M

[searcher451]

Thanks, MGMike, for the help. You are a man among men, sir.

[halfmoonclip]

Originally Posted by MGMike

If you want to learn something from the experience, try only one remedy at a time. Otherwise you won't know which one was the cure.

M

Truer words never spoken.
Moon

[spectre765]

Thanks, MGMike. Will save some shooters a lot of time and aggravation.

[ActionExpress]

Some PPKs also had issues with the chamber loaded indicator being the culprit.... Also, they seem to require a LOT of rounds through them before they're broken in as mine was.

[MGMike]

My original post was not intended to be an exhaustive list of everything that MIGHT be wrong. Rather it is a sort of "immediate action" checklist of the simple, easy and cheap things one should try FIRST, before going off on a wild goose chase of diagnostic speculation buying new parts, changing springs, dremeling feed ramps, changing lubricants, fluffing & buffing, and hundreds of rounds of "breaking-in".

M

[ActionExpress]

Not trying to rain on the parade....your input is spot on. I went through almost every tip you stated (and it DID help).

[Jayparker]

The list works...It did for me at least...New ppk/s, feed jams with Finucci(?) fmj at least 1 in five rounds...Usually first round..Got through 250+/- thinking maybe a breaking period...Nope..Purchased Federal(50 FMJ), Rem(same), 100 Wichester white box expecting pretty much the same...All worker Super and now I Love this gun...I was almost going to give up on it. Both clips with 3, 5 and 7 worked like a charm. Did 2 rapid fire 7 round clips nd what a gun...It shoots where you aim it. I cannot wait to see what it is like with a laser sight. Some say 380 is too mall for self defense..Only if you cannot shoot straight..This baby does. Expensive. Sure. But now it was worth every penny. Consider me one happy PPK owner..

[daltrey99]

Never had any luck with Fiocchi. My P38sand PP's love Winchester and Selleir & Bellot rounds

[MGMike]

Points 1, 2 and 4 are equally applicable as "immediate action remedies" for chronic failures to EJECT in which the fired case stovepipes in the ejection port or is jammed above the top cartridge in the magazine.

Points 2 and 4 are the first things to try when one experiences failures to EXTRACT in which the case is found wholly or partly still in the chamber. Bear in mind, however, that in some cases it is really a failure to eject rather than to extract: the slide doesn't recoil far enough for the extracted case to strike the ejector, and the empty is simply rechambered. In that case, Point No. 1 also applies.

M