More often than not, the two most common times you will notice a defect in your firearm will be either while shooting it, or while cleaning it.
When cleaning your firearm, you become very familiar with all the moving and non-moving parts of your gun. Over time, you will likely notice when something doesn’t look or feel right if you’re observant.
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However, to notice it, you must clean it on a regular basis. A dirty gun may not always perform as it should, and this may be your first indication that something is amiss. Keep in mind, a dirty gun is not a defect, but rather neglect.
If you suddenly start having feeding malfunctions, where they didn’t occur before, check your magazines. Over time, the springs in your magazines may become lose or worn, particularly if you store them loaded for long periods of time.
A worn recoil spring can cause the action not to cycle properly and result in failure to feed or failure to extract (“stovepipe”). Gun manufacturers recommend changing your recoil spring assembly after a specified number of rounds. Consult your owner’s manual or the manufacturer on when you should do this for your particular firearm.
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Be observant of your spent casings. There could be an issue with your guns firing pin. This can be easily observed by inspecting the primer area of the casing. If it hit anywhere other than center (or rim for rimfire guns), or didn’t strike firmly enough, you could have a bent or misaligned firing pin. Consult a reputable gunsmith or the manufacturer to correct this issue.
Frequent firing and cleaning your gun will allow you to become as familiar with it as you are with your vehicle. Anything that doesn’t sound, feel or look right should alert you to possible defects in your firearm and prompt you to take immediate action to correct it.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
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