HK P30L failure -- help with warranty

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DesertKing

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I took my BRAND NEW HK P30L to the range last week for the first time ever and it failed miserably. It had about 6 failure to ejects on 3 clips -- using 3 different types of ammunition. Very upsetting considering HK's reputation. The slide even failed to lock open on 1/3 of the clips. There is a point when racking the slide where it "sticks" and there seems to be a small piece of the frame that is being hit by the slide so it's showing visible signs of damage -- I'm guessing this is the cause of the failures...

I called the store where I bought it and they gave me their supplier's #. The supplier said they don't handle HK warranties -- but they don't mind selling HK's... they gave me a new # to call. Basically I've been getting the runaround and nobody is helping me. I call the store everyday, usually speaking to someone new each time who promises to call me back and they never do. So no help from the store.

Is the store responsible? Can I make them exchange it for me, or take a return on the pistol? Has anyone had to warranty an HK? I don't know the regulations in this situation and am wondering if the Better Business Bureau can help.

PLEASE let me know what I can do (ideally I would like to exchange this HK for a completely different 9mm)
 
Take it into the store and see what they will do with it.

I'm guessing you were having feeding issues with mags as far as I knew there weren't any new HK's that took clips.

Will be interesting to see how it all turns out. Maybe you were using light bullets and it takes some time for the gun to break in. I know I had a few that didn't like to cycle lighter ammo, not enough recoil to cycle, main spring was too strong and hadn't really broken in. Maybe try a box of heavier ammo?
 
The store has no responsibility to return or exchange your pistol. They should, however, help you out with getting the pistol repaired via the HK distributor.

Best case for you is if they transfer the defective pistol back to their inventory, and transfer a new P30L to you. They can then get another pistol from the distributor while the distributor worries about getting that defective pistol replaced.

I suggest you call the store and speak to the owner. Bypass managers and other employees. What store did you purchase from?

This only applies if your pistol does in fact have a major defect. Kind of hard to tell based on your description, it may be a magazine issue. The firearm is new, may just need a proper break in. I would find it surprising the frame is out of spec.. have never seen that on an HK.

I say this having worked for the biggest pistol dealer in Montreal, and also for the Canadian HK distributor.
 
using my trusty Google-foo I found things like this that might help...

"Is it a v2 LEM? My gun experienced this until I swapped the mainspring."

"P30's have very stiff recoil springs when they are new and sometimes need to be broken in with a few hundred rds. of hot 124 gr. hardball ammo. 200 - 300 rds of NATO or +P will get it running smoothly.
It's a very common question about the P30's. (European ammo tends to be much hotter than American). "

"I stopped shooting Blazer (both brass and aluminum) when I switched to the P30 because it was too weak. I only trust Speer Lawman and Win NATO through my gun. "

"Just be sure to use 124 grain (assuming you are getting 9mm's) ammo until the guns are broken in. I'm sure you have heard all of the posts on this site about 115gr ammo not cycling on a new (500 rds or less) P30 with a recoil spring that is still very stiff."

"PMC 115 grain will not cycle my new P30 or P30LS. Winchester does, though. I just bought some PPU 124 grain that I plan to use until both guns are broken in. "
 
If the frame is being damaged then that is a major concern and not worth the risk of continuing to use the pistol. That being said my new P30L took several hundred rounds to "break in". The stiff recoil spring seems to be thing that most people report causing problems. Mine would eject casings back and over my head; sometimes onto my head, and I believe I had a few FTE's as well. It now functions well but at the time I too was pretty disappointed with the pistols performance.
Could you post a pic of the frame where you think the damage is occurring ?
 
Slide failing to lock open was common for me when I had my P30L, due to the placement of my hand on the slide stop while firing. I also think pictures of the frame damage would help people assess the situation.
 
post photos of the inside of the frame please and I might be able to help you. I have had 4 P30L and none have shown the damage on the frame, nor failures to eject even with light loads, they all worked!
Something is wrong in that gun.

To assess your problem please post photos of the damage of the frame, the recoil assembly, the recoil assembly mounted on the barrel, and the slide with barrel and recoil assembly. Also a photo of the locking block.
I would recommend signing up at HKPRO and posting the photos there as well.

As for warranty issues you need to contact the importer: http://www.rnicholls.com/en/index.php (R N Nicholls) do not call the store Ottawa EAST, they do not know they are the importers. You need to call the HEAD OFFICE.

Another thing to consider: HK mags are VERY easy to take apart. In the case the gun store you bought it from took the mags apart, it is really easy to put the spring up side down or backwards, because the mags will work. What happens is that although they work, they do so unreliably. So that is something to consider. Make sure the spring is installed properly.

I would like to see photos, if you can upload them that would be great, If not, it is going to be really hard to help you.
 
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Mine doesn't like light loads. With medium to hot loads it functions perfectly. With light loads the brass just sort of trickles out and I get frequent stove pipes. I have heard before that they like hot loads until broken in.
 
I'd like to see pics of the damage. Where is the frame being damaged?

Most certainly the failure to lock on an empty mag is a grip issue.

Brand new pistols shouldn't need break in with any type of factory ammo. Especially ones that cost as much as the P30.

This is the first time I've heard of a needed break in with the P30, though admittedly I've never really cared enough about them to do any serious research.
 
another option might be the hold... is it possible that there is some limp wristing going on which is eating up the slide momentum causing issues with ejecting and not making it far enough back to lock the slide on an empty mag?
 
Limp wrist kind of happens to new shooters, right???... I saw a woman on Saturday, first time shooting, first shot, totally 'limp wrested' or (insert another limp ###X invented term here) the gun. I guess it happens by wrapping your hand too low around the grip (small hands), right?
IT does not seem the case here...

From my experience: the P30 needs no breaking in. My two new ones shoot anything and have shot everything from day 1, including light loads.

Unless, this is a trolling thread and we all fell for it?....
 
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Shoot 500 rounds of 147 gr. 9mm ammo. Use very firm grip. Then reassess to see if there are any more FTE's.
 
Failure for the slide to lock on last round fired on new HK-series (HK45 & P30) is usually a result of the shooters grip.

I have also found that for most people who have had similar issues with HK's is that it is limp wristing.

Please post photos of any possible damage.
 
Sinasta said:
Try using mags. That might solve your issue. ;)
Click to expand...



imagejpg1_zpse95c2cc8.jpg
 
Post pics I'd be curious to see what you're talking about. Also if a store sold a defective pistol (vs one that broke down the road) if they value customer service they should exchange it.
 
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When my PPQ was new, it needed to add a few drops of oil the first few trips to the range to get it to cycle reliably. After a few hundred rounds it loosened up enough to not require oil, and shoots everything I feed it now without fail.
 
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