Dan Wesson Customer Service

[yorketransport]

Well, a few weeks ago I posted the story of how I shot my computer. Here's the old post http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,30087.0.html I just thought I'd give an update.

I got the gun back from Dan Wesson on Monday. The good news, is that their customer service is top notch. The gun came back looking better than ever exactly 2 weeks  after I shipped it to them. They went in and reworked the fire controls, refinished the slide which was showing some holster wear, and buffed and pollished everything. They did this all at their expense, including shipping both ways. Big thumbs up for Keith at Dan Wesson for doing amazing work.

Now for the bad news. They couldn't find anything wrong with the gun.  As hard as they tried, no one was able to duplicate the slamfire either. It was just a one time thing. In my house. At my computer.  Now I'm beating myself to death trying to decide if I trust the gun enough to keep it, or if I have to let it go. Everyone, including the gunshop I bought it from, says to sell it and move on. The thought being that I'll never really trust it again, and that's unacceptable for a carry gun. Right now I plan to think on it until I find a suitable replacement. So if anyone here has any words of wisdom to help my decision, feel free to share. Thanks

Andrew

[Buckmark]

I would not trust it, put it in a safe place and i'll drive down and get it, make your house and computer safe.
I will exercize the demons and make every thing ok...

[JackOfAllTrades]

Well, I'm glad to hear that CZ is treating the DW owners well. I've been procrastingating for quite a while about sending a 15-2 in to get retimed.

That said, I am a 1911 fan, (Colt and Kimber). Knowing how they work inside, (I am not a gunsmith), a slam fire is a rarity unless the sear and disconnect have ever been modified.  Anything can happen with what appears to be a clean gun. A piece of grit can hang the sear up. If the grip safety is depressed enough, it'll fire when you drop the slide. No, it's not supposed to, but dirt inside the fire control can do some things you wouldn't expect.

As a competitive Bullseye shooter, not one of my pistols isn't modified. Never had a slamfire. I take precautions to make sure there isn't one. First, never drop the slide on an empty chamber. It's actually harder on the locking lugs of the barrel and the slide than shooting the gun. Second, With the slide locked back, pull the trigger, keep it pulled as you release the slide to fall on a loaded round. It can't fire. It's not designed to fire. -because the trigger is pushing the disconnect so it can't be engaged by the sear. (try this with a once fired shell if you don't believe me.) At the Camp Perry Nationals, they teach this and to hold the hammer back with the left hand/thumb when releasing the slide in Small Arms Safety School.

I guess there's a safer procedure for the DA M9 pistol too.

Am I putting the slamfire blame on you. NO. But I am pointing out that there are safer ways to avoid the situation completely.  

I'll bet that there was some grit in the fire control, which can happen with ANY semi-auto -that can make things operate other than designed. I would keep the gun if DW has given it a good bill of health and you like how it shoots.

-Steve

[littlebuf]

i cant in good consonance let you do that buckmark. ill come get the gun and put it in my safe that way i know everybody and there computer is safe  

[yorketransport]

Thanks for the tips Steve. I knew about not dropping the slide on an empty chamber, but the rest of them are new to me. I've always been more of a revolver guy. I got my first semi-auto about 5 years ago, and I've always been just a little leary of them. I like the DW enough that I think I'm willing to give it another chance using some slightly different handling techniques.

As for the rest of you who have so generously offered to protect meand my computer from the gun, your noble offers will not be forgoten.

Andrew