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March 9, 2024
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New to Dan Wesson firearms and recently traded for a DWX compact 9mm. I really liked it a lot but then I started having issues. The first few hundred rounds (Herter's 115 grain) seem to perform pretty flawlessly but then I started having issues on my second, third, and fourth visit to the range. The slide not going all the way forward after recoil was the first issue. It happened a few times, so I took it home and gave it a good cleaning. I also thought my thumb was hitting the safety because it seemed halfway up when this was happening. I went back to the range and noticed a different issue, the brass not extracting from the barrel and another round trying to load behind it. Again, took it home and gave it a through cleaning. I took it to the range yesterday and tried some new ammo, Maxx Tech 115 grain, and had 3 issues in the first 100 rounds I put through it. I continued to have more of both issues. The safety seemed to continue to go up about halfway when it was jamming, so I repositioned my thumb because I thought it was hitting it, as I am mostly a DA/SA shooter. This did not help at all, so I verified it was not my thumb hitting the safety during recoil. By the last 10 or 20 rounds of the Herter's, it was jamming almost every shot, with the slide not fully going forward. I could push the slide about an 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch it forward with my thumb and the hammer would cock forward but as SAO goes, I would have to manually pull the hammer back to fire another round. I feel like the issues may be related but not sure. Has anyone seen these kinds of issues and have any recommendations?
February 16, 2016
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Presume this semi was used when you traded for it and now you possibly know why.
A bad extractor can cause many issues, including the slide not going into full battery, if extraction of a spent case is slow or impeded in ejection.
Since you have repeatedly cleaned it, I presume dirty and clogged parts is not the issue. It may not be properly broken in. Are you running it wet?
The safety being partially engaged is interesting, leading me to suspect internal parts are not working together as designed.
I'll be interested to hear what others have to say.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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If you could post some pics of the extractor that would be helpful. I will look at the safety on mine but I have not had any issue like you are describing.
Now, it sounds like the hammer is falling to the half cock position after the slide returns forward since you have to manually move the hammer to full cock??
If so this is definitely not good.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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I am guessing that the round is coming up and out of the mag ahead of the extractor and not letting the slide return to battery. This can be caused by a few things, extractor spring bad (least likely), weak mag springs, weak recoil spring, possibly a weak main (hammer) spring. Which would also explain the hammer falling to half cock at times (if I correctly surmised from your description). If you push on the rear of the extractor it should move and then return to position with a felt spring resistance. If you bought this used and have no idea of round count I would change out all the springs, minus the extractor one, and clean the mags for starters.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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Oh, and make sure there is a little plunger in the tube that comes out to click in the recess in the thumb safety.
It should move in and out with spring tension.
March 9, 2024
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605Dart said
If you could post some pics of the extractor that would be helpful. I will look at the safety on mine but I have not had any issue like you are describing.Now, it sounds like the hammer is falling to the half cock position after the slide returns forward since you have to manually move the hammer to full cock??
If so this is definitely not good.
I took it back up to the range today and was not able to duplicate the shell extraction issue, which may be a good thing. I also wasn't shooting that dirty Herter's ammo from bass pro. Actually it was 100 each of Herter's and S&B that I brought the other day and today was 100 each of Maxx Tech and Magtech today. The issue that continued today is the safety seeming to creep up while I am firing it and appears to eventually to interfere with the slide (internally?). The gun is making it to battery but the hammer is not all the way back, about 90%. I can either drop the safety, which kicks the hammer forward (without firing the loaded round) or I can pull back the hammer the last 10% and then drop the safety (it seems about halfway up at this point) and that will let me get back to firing. I have enclosed a picture of the pistol when it jams...
On another note... The previous owner claimed the gun had not been fired before and I trusted that it hadn't. It did perform flawlessly for the first 400 rounds or so the weeks after I first purchased it. Again though, I trusted he was being honest.
March 9, 2024
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scodag77 said
605Dart said
If you could post some pics of the extractor that would be helpful. I will look at the safety on mine but I have not had any issue like you are describing.
Now, it sounds like the hammer is falling to the half cock position after the slide returns forward since you have to manually move the hammer to full cock??
If so this is definitely not good.
I took it back up to the range today and was not able to duplicate the shell extraction issue, which may be a good thing. I also wasn't shooting that dirty Herter's ammo from bass pro. Actually it was 100 each of Herter's and S&B that I brought the other day and today was 100 each of Maxx Tech and Magtech today. The issue that continued today is the safety seeming to creep up while I am firing it and appears to eventually to interfere with the slide (internally?). The gun is making it to battery but the hammer is not all the way back, about 90%. I can either drop the safety, which kicks the hammer forward (without firing the loaded round) or I can pull back the hammer the last 10% and then drop the safety (it seems about halfway up at this point) and that will let me get back to firing. I have enclosed a picture of the pistol when it jams...
On another note... The previous owner claimed the gun had not been fired before and I trusted that it hadn't. It did perform flawlessly for the first 400 rounds or so the weeks after I first purchased it. Again though, I trusted he was being honest.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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Falling to half cock is dangerous you're very close to going full auto. Maybe/probably the thumb safety is contributing to this malady??
Does the thumb safety function as it should when on?
Can you remove the thumb safety?
If so check that the plunger is free moving in it's tube then if so you may have to deepen the recess
notch in the thumb safety so the plunger catches it better.
March 9, 2024
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605Dart said
Falling to half cock is dangerous you're very close to going full auto. Maybe/probably the thumb safety is contributing to this malady??Does the thumb safety function as it should when on?
Can you remove the thumb safety?
If so check that the plunger is free moving in it's tube then if so you may have to deepen the recess
notch in the thumb safety so the plunger catches it better.
I spoke to customer support and they said that it was still under warranty and to send it in on their dime. We will see what comes of it but it was delivered today to them.
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