[ncsurfer]

I was thinking about something else when I loaded 9mm rounds into my 40 Expert. Shot a couple before I realized what was going on. Since then I have had a recurring problem with the last round in the magazine failing to go into battery. I tried cleaning thoroughly including the extractor and this has not solved the problem. It is otherwise functioning normally up to that last round. Did I break something? Time for a visit to the gunsmith?

 

[ecsuser-closed]

I'm not passing judgement, nor can I offer any potential ramifications of said activity. But I have to know - how did the gun perform while firing 9mm? Did you hit the target? Did it feed and eject correctly? Details please.

 

[ncsurfer]

It fired accurately, hit the target squarely, but did not eject. Neither did it feed the next round. It did not jam on the next round. So I don't think the slide move much at all. When I moved the slide by hand, the casing was still in battery and ejected OK. The casing had neatly expanded to the diameter of the chamber.

I'm thinking I must have damaged the extractor. Where can I get a new one? Any trick to installing it?

 

[III The Chad III]

If you want to replace the extractor, here is what you will need.

HK USP Extractor - HKPARTS.NET

Probably wouldn't hurt to change the spring while you are at it.

HK USP Compact Extractor Spring - HKPARTS.NET

There really isn't any trick to installing it. Punch out the pin (holding the extractor in place) and release it slowly to keep the spring from flying. Do it the opposite way to install the new one.

 

[ncsurfer]

Thanks Chad, I think this is worth a shot. Do you push the pin from the inside of the slide out through the top?

I have seen others with this kind of issue in this forum and many have suggested that the problem was with the magazine. However, no matter which magazine I use from my collection, I get the same behavior. So, it will probably be less of a pain to order this part and try it than to send the whole piece to H&K for repair.

 

[TooSixy-closed]

Do you push the pin from the inside of the slide out through the top?

Yes, to prevent accidental marring of the slide. Use a 3/32 roll-pin punch. The extractor roll-pin is the one circled in Red in below pic.

 

[ncsurfer]

Brilliant! and thanks for pointing out the tit!

 

[III The Chad III]

If you change the extractor and it still is giving you issues, I would say it's probably time to call HK and let the pro's look it over. If you get to that point, just be straight forward with them and tell them what happened and they will help you out.

 

[ncsurfer]

I agree Chad, that will be the process. From another post, I am aware that this may not fix it. I am in no hurry though. Shot it in a little club action pistol competition this morning. It works fine as long as you don't get down to the last round in the magazine.

 

[bordercop]

You'll want to use the magazine release pin to replace that roll pin (just trade them out). You really shouldn't re-use a roll pin in the slide.

I doubt it's an extractor issue, or you'd be having problems with more than just the last round, though. Exactly what happens on that last round? Does it move out of the magazine at all or does the slide lock back? If you depress the slide release will it go into battery? If you push in on the magazine will it go. What condition is the magazine catch in?

Like you said, it's not a magazine issue, because it isn't happening with just one mag - like wise I don't think it's an extractor issue, because it's only happening on the last round.

 

[ncsurfer]

Thanks for asking Bordercop - The round is stripped off of the magazine, but the nose of the round is lodged in the upper portion of end of the chamber. The slide clamps the nose of the round against the top of the entrance to the chamber holding it at about a 45 degree angle pointing upward.

The slide is not locked back because the last round did not fire. The magazine is always firmly in place. I have to release the magazine and rack the slide to clear the jam.

So, are you saying that removing a roll pin deforms it?

 

[LSP 972]

Be aware that that those pin holes are tapered. IOW, the pin is supposed to go in one way only.

That proper direction is from the top of the slide to the bottom. Drive the pin out from the top, re-install from the bottom. And while the advice given not to re-use the same roll pin is sound, I dunno if I'd use the one from the mag release. Those pins are cheap; buy some new ones.

.

 

[ncsurfer]

Good News Y'all!
I did some deep cleaning of the feed ramp - really getting it slick and all around the entrance to the chamber. This fixed it. I just cycled about 25 mag changes with 5 to 10 rounds each without a single fail to feed or fail to anything. If anyone's faith in H&K ever faded over this odd scenario, it should now be restored!!

 

[ncsurfer]

Update

A little more bad behavior occurred after I thought it had been fixed. I replaced the extractor and gave all of the mag springs a stretch to increase their stiffness. Now, the problem seems to be solved. Apparently, the mag springs for these semi-transparent plastic mags can be a bit weak and need a stretch from time to time.

 

[svtpwnz]

I'm surprised the pistol functioned as well as it did and glad to hear it worked out with little damage.