Beretta 71 issue

[Ebola]

Just picked up a new to me used surplus Beretta 71. Had it out to the range just now. Thing shot as staight as a arrow when it did shoot. Problem is the slide stop is engaging randomly while shooting.

After looking at it at the range I have determined the mag is fine and not the culprit. When I take the slide and barrel off and #### the hammer and drop it, you can see the stop move up a tiny bit.

My initial diagnosis so far is, it seems the force of the hammer dropping and the slide cycling is moveing the stop up for what ever reason.

So when I get this thing home from the range for a complete tear down what should I be looking for that is either broken or worn out before I call the shop I bought it from complaining its a dud gun?

 

[dogzilla]

I had that problem, but only with aftermarket mags. The factory mags function flawlessly. Also my gun works best with standard velocity ammo. Anything hotter and the slide seems to cycle to fast giving ftf problems

 

[caramel]

Both mags on my Model 74 (10 shots, adjustable sights) were thoroughly stripped and cleaned, since got at least 350 rounds per pistol without a single glitch, those pistol are fullproof, the mags need to be taken care of... Total hapiness after that... JP.

 

[m39a2]

Take off the left grip and check to see if the little thin spring is in the hole on the rear of the hold open catch, it is designed to keep it forced down unless the mag follower pushes up on it.

Scott

 

[Ebola]

Take off the left grip and check to see if the little thin spring is in the hole on the rear of the hold open catch, it is designed to keep it forced down unless the mag follower pushes up on it.

Scott

First thing I checked. Spring is there and definitely under tension. The second I slid the slide stop out the spring shot out and fired up into the air and bounced off the ceiling. Spent 45 minutes looking for the damn thing.

Im also using the factory mag as well. When you watch the mag you see that the follower is hitting the slide stop at the correct time when it is empty and not before then. That is why I believe it is not mag related. That and the fact when you drop the hammer when the slide is not on you can plain as day see the slide stop moving up and down. With the spring being where its supposed to be behind the slide stop lever I'm unsure why it is moving up. I tried bending the spring to give it more tension, but alas it didn't work.

 

[Ebola]

Take off the left grip and check to see if the little thin spring is in the hole on the rear of the hold open catch, it is designed to keep it forced down unless the mag follower pushes up on it.

Scott

It was the spring as you said. After bending it to give it more tension last night I reinstalled it wrong while working to solve the issue.

When the spring shot out as I mentioned in my earlier post the first time I took it apart I didn't get to see the correct orientation the spring goes in. So after I bent the spring and reassembled the pistol the spring was in wrong spot. Unfortunately there is no how to guide anywhere I could find for a complete disassembly / reassembly on the net.

Anyways I just discovered this apon further tinkering. So now the spring is in the correct orientation after bending the spring to increase the tension. All is good now. Minus the few scratches I put on the frame resembling the pistol.

Lucky it is 30 year old surplus. Otherwise I would feel bad.

 

[Skinny 1950]

Glad to hear you got it sorted out as these are a great little pistol, accurate and reliable with standard velocity ammo.
The only problem I have had was with some Winchester ammo which failed to fire even when I tried it again (probably forgot the primer compound).
Some think the gun is ugly with the pinocchio 6 inch barrel and I agree to some extent, the 4 inch barrel looks a lot better on the gun but the extra two inches makes the gun so much safer and has no doubt saved countless lives.
On the plus side the extra sight radius allows me to get pretty good groups with this gun, not as good as an old Colt Targetsman which I picked up a while back which has better sights.