How many magazines do you have? If just one, try a different mag. Many feeding problems in semi-auto pistols are caused by bad mags.

 

Use CCI STD for baseline. Don't use old ammo. Clean chamber and plop test the ammo. Make sure safety is not creeping towards on. Purchase a wolf calibration kit. Start firm then move towards weaker. My 41 likes a 6.5# spring. Check yourself for a firm hold, make recoil come straight back into your arm, don't let the gun roll up during recoil.

 

Did you field strip it, clean, and lightly lube? Have you tried running a box or two of quality high velocity ammo like Mini-Mags through it?

Old lube ossifies in safe queens. It can look pristine on the outside and be all gummed up inside.

Doubs magazine advice is on point too. Don't give up on the old girl yet!

Frank

 

I have 2 mags, same issue with both. The ears on one of them are a bit tight when loading. The other is good.

It was very clean when I got it, but lube may be old. Will give it a good cleaning and try again.

I have some Mini Mags in the safe, will try those also.

I called S&W, they are sending a new recoil spring.

It's a beautiful pistol and extremely accurate - just need to get this feeding issue sorted out.

Thanks,
centershot

 

I have 2 mags, same issue with both. The ears on one of them are a bit tight when loading. The other is good.

It was very clean when I got it, but lube may be old. Will give it a good cleaning and try again.

I have some Mini Mags in the safe, will try those also.

I called S&W, they are sending a new recoil spring.

It's a beautiful pistol and extremely accurate - just need to get this feeding issue sorted out.

Thanks,
centershot

I'm sure you will get it running and be glad when you do.

Great looking pistol.

 

I would think a worn -weak recoil spring would eject mtys fine as the slide would be moving faster than with a fresh spring. Look at your ejector and extractor. The extractor might be releasing the empty too soon or holding it loosely where the ejector can’t kick it out. I’ve been shooting Federal 36 gr bulk box in mine but I use a buffer.

 

What is the buffer and were does it go? Where can I get one? Would love to run AutoMatch through it reliably. I have a bunch of it and it shoots well in my other 22's.

 

Hello Center Shot:

first thing you need to do is do the "plop" test.

Remove the barrel, take a loaded 22 round, and plop it in the chamber. It should seat itself all the way in. Turn the barrel breach down and it should fall out.

If it does not, take a bore mop, coat a half inch with butch's bore shine, valve grinding compound, or other paste lapping compound and use a drill and lap the chamber so it is really smooth. If it is really dirty, take some 1000 grit paper and wrap around a old brass brush and lap it with that and the drill.

Make sure you get all the gunk out of the chamber and a mirror smooth finish in there. Only way to check is with a loaded round and then check with a empty brass case.

There may be other issues but this is where you start.

Regards,
Crankster

 

Model 41 buffer drops in around the back end of the recoil spring. Look on line. I found these but know nothing about the seller. You have to remove it to pull the slide far enough to the rear to remove the slide.

 

do not polish the chamber, clean it only. anything to change the size ruins accuracy. the extractor has nothing to do with ejection timing. if it doesn't run without a buffer don't look there. 36 grain too light, affects recoil. 40 grain ammo

 

Hopefully a simple fix for a great gun.

 

I would still be suspicious of the magazines. Ive saw a lot of target pistols not cycle correctly and most of the time it was the magazine. Hope you get her working, they are nice pistols.

 

IF, as I suspect, the M41 has a match chamber, a cartridge will not seat fully by simply dropping it in. Generally a match chamber is cut so that the lands engrave at least the front drive band of the bullet and requires a bit of force to fully seat.

 

Give the pistol a very good cleaning first. This is mandatory on any firearm you receive used, or new. Round up some CCI SV ammo for testing. M41's seem to favor this ammunition out of all others. Make sure to put a small dab of grease on the hammer face to help the pistol work. Clean the chamber very well as this can be an area of neglect. Any dirt or carbon in your chamber will mess things up. In my PC M41 rounds will drop completely into the chamber, I don't have to push them in. This can be different on different pistols. If you can, take a good look at the extractor. This recess for the extractor can get all sorts of crud in it and should be cleaned well. Examine the extractor itself for any signs of wear and replace if suspect. I run a Volquartsen extractor in mine and it works very well. As a matter of principle you could replace the recoil spring, but if the pistol hasn't been shot much it may be acceptable yet. You can obtain recoil springs with different ratings to see if things correct themselves, but that requires trial and error. My M41 likes oil so I oil it but not to excess. The weak link in a M41 is the ejector/bolt stop. These can be finicky to get working properly. I assume your bolt stop is in good condition and is intact. Good luck getting it working properly. I will add I encounter problems when my wife shoots my M41 and she limp wrists it. The pistol needs good form from the shooter.

Rick H.

 

center_shot,

SonofaGunsmith: "Purchase a wolf calibration kit."

Rick H: "You can obtain recoil springs with different ratings to see if things correct themselves, but that requires trial and error."

Before installing a spring from the Wolff Recoil Calibration Pak into your Model 41, it would be best to check this out first:

ALERT - (now with updates) WHEN CHANGING RECOIL SPRING ON MODEL 41..........

NOTE: PICTURES ADDED 02/15/19 IN ANOTHER OF MY POSTS BELOW (#15). I WOULD SUGGEST LOOKING AT THEM CLOSELY. NOTE #2 : More pictures ADDED 02/17/19 - post #26 & #27 If and when you ever change your Recoil Spring on a M41 and intend to buy Wolff Springs you MUST know this fact! While the...

smith-wessonforum.com

 

Thanks for the replies. I scrubbed it up good last night. Lubed the rails and any sliding parts with lithium grease. Springs and buffers all look good as well as the extractor. Trying to find some CCI Standard Velocity ammo to try but may have to order it.

The pistol is in beautiful shape, maybe because nobody has been able to get it to run? I'm determined to get it to shoot.

What is the proper amount of drag on the ears of the magazine?

 

+1 on keeping the chamber clean. In my experience, that is essential.

 

I'm not handy enough to offer advice, but when you get it there, you are going to love it.

 

Plop test was fine with AutoMatch and slight drag with Aguila. Pistol is very clean - I think I'll work with the magazines to see it that is the culprit.

 

lithium grease too heavy, light oil only. Kroil oil is what I use

 

Thanks, will clean the grease off and use light oil. I did find some CCI SV's to try also. Just need to get out now.

 

Received new recoil spring and guide from S & W. Installed, cleaned gun, lightly oiled and took it out. Will now shoot 5 or 6 without issue. Shot CCI SV's, Fed AutoMatch & Aguila all with very few issues. Loading the mag full and it would not run a full magazine without a stovepipe or fail to feed. Pretty much points to magazine issues. So I will try to take them apart and clean/lube and see how it goes.

FWIW: The original recoil spring was about 1/2" shorter than the new one S & W sent.

It's shooting, not perfet, but getting closer.

I think I am going to sell it. Just prefer revolvers.

 

Any update? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Rick H., kudos on well presented sage advice.

YouTube on complete slide disassembly a must see and then do.
The VQ extractor is so small but it's effect is large.

Folks on this site are so knowledgeable and generous in sharing
their accumulated knowledge on 41. We all are so lucky.

 

I second RichH's wise advice.

For example the only ammo ever had problem with
has been Remingtons. For plinking, zeroing in, testing systems, they are
good fodder.

But CCI SV have never had problems for serious target or distance.
Of course this is with a 1963 S&W41 when real trained craftsmen
were building them ... with indicators in back.

Sad to read of later year's models, e.g., Smith and Wesson Performance Center output
have had problems.

Old Latin saying holds:
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

 

Center-shot, finding th burr is an example of the wisdom of using a hard Arkansas Stone ... not a file ...
to smooth all parts of. a weapon that your touch finds.

Do you attribute the burr to the manufacturing process?

Once you have eliminated all burrs, sharp edges on slide and frame, etc., you will
have your 41 to the standard it is meant to be experience the same smiles we
all have when it functions flawlessly ... or as esteemed USMC Major
once said "... as slick as goose s&$t on a linoleum floor." 😁
Best.

 

Very fine jeweler's files. Working slowly and checking often. I don't think it was a manufacturing error. Looked more like something that happened later. Unknown how, as the pistol was used when I traded for it.

 

Sorry that you gave up on it. Mine was giving me trouble with the magazine safety so after it messing up a couple of my matches I removed the thing and haven't had any other issues.