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Q&As since 1989


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Nickel plated gun misloading

I have recently purchased a nickel plated .380 handgun. It is a semi automatic, except that it will only shoot one round at a time the next round jams every time. I've taken the gun back to the dealer and they suggested that it try a different brand of rounds and that because it is nickel plated it will take longer to "break in" I'm worried that there may be something wrong with the gun. Any suggestions?

Danielle Archuleta
consumer - West Valley City, Utah, USA
2007

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Good afternoon:

You live in metro Salt Lake City, there's got to be several reputable gunsmiths in your area. I'd suggest you find one, let them look at your pistol, and get their 3rd party opinion. It sure beats trying to have one of us diagnose your problem online, sight unseen. Remember, your dealing with a gun...safety and reliability are important. Good luck.

Steve Bizub
- St Louis, Missouri
2007

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2007

Danielle, your worries are over, there is something wrong with the gun. It will only fire one round at a time before jamming.
I can't believe the dealer would give you that line of baloney with you standing there holding a gun, it must not have been loaded. You have the right to be assertive and demand it be replaced with one that works properly or get your money back, it's his responsibility to sell you a functional product.

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina

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The gun was loaded, Sheldon, but the dealer had already fired a round before handing it over, so there was little danger of a second round being successfully discharged :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Sheldon's exactly correct. A gun which malfunctions out of the box is the dealer's and manufacturer's problem, not yours. Guns have to be "broken-in"? Hogwash! Get your money back and buy a gun from a reputable manufacturer.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2007

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

I'll admit I'm not an expert on semiautomatics, but the dealer might have a point about changing ammo. I've heard about that problem before. I think it used to be a big problem in 9mm, when one of the ammo manufacturers made their bullets too long to feed in some pistols. Go to the gun forums and you'll find discussions about auto pistols that jam. As well as emotional testimonials about whether certain manufacturers pistols are either the most reliable gun ever invented, or expensive paperweights. Or that the problem is with the shooter being too limp wristed. Or some other reason.

I guess that's why I prefer revolvers. My plain-Jane Taurus always goes BOOM when I squeeze the trigger :)

Steve Bizub
- St Louis, Missouri
2007

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Danielle, make sure you break in your gun before someone tries to break in your house :-)

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2007

Personally, I prefer revolvers. You should go to another dealer to have your gun examined. A gun is dangerous in ways when it jams. It most likely has something wrong with it. Have it examined by someone else.

Joseph Podhorsky
- San Diego, California, United States
2007