Walther Mod 4 Malfunctions--Any thoughts?

[Robert357]

I purchased a Walther Mod 4 over the weekend at a gun show.  I really like old 32 Auto handguns.  This fit the bill and I don't own any Walthers, so I thought it was about time to take the plunge.  They have such a fine reputation.

The gun is very nice, it is a Model 4, Type 3 with all its blueing and just some heavy wear on the grips.  Feels great to hold and points well.

I got it home and cleaned the barrel and then took it to the range with S&B factory ammo.

Very disappointing.  I shot 10 round and didn't hit the target once at 25 yards.  Not only that, but I had three rounds (chambered 13 rounds) that didn't go off and had light dents in the primers.  To make matters even more frustrating and scary, I had the first slam fire I have experienced with a handgun.  Two shots one trigger pull.  

After I calmed down, I stripped the magazine and just chambered one round at a time.

I came home, logged onto the Wolf Springs website and ordered the recoil and firing pin springs kit from them.  

Any thoughts, besides stripping it down and cleaning the hell out of everything and putting in some new springs?

Thanks

[Type99]

Hello...

I think you are on the right track, by ordering the spring set.  A thorough cleaning might reveal worn parts that need replacement.  I don't know what would cause a slam-fire - could be a worn sear.  Check trigger pull - does it seem irregular?  

I have an Imperial marked Modell 4 which occasionally stovepipe jams.  I don't have a clue what causes this.  I have never replaced the springs, and it would be interesting how it would function were I to do that.  Other than that, the barrel is terrible, but it shoots OK.

Cheers,
Gary

[Robert357]

Thanks.  Another thing I noticed was that on the 3 in which the firing pin didn't cause the round to go off, I noticed that the dents were a bit off center.  I have earlier read that sometime firing pins get bent and can do strange things.  I found a place that sells firing pins and intend to examine the firing pin with a straight edge very closely.

Looking forward to the springs arriving and tearing it down for a supper cleaning this coming weekend.

[Mikey]

Robert357 - a new set of springs and a new firing pin for that Model 4 would do you and the pistol a world of good and should resolve your functional problems.  As to the accuracy - can't tell.  You should check your barrel to see what that looks like.  I don't recall if the Model 4s have a pinned barrel or if it detaches - a new one, if you can find it, may help.  Where did the slugs hit btw???

Type99 - try a couple of aftermarket magazines, especially if yours stovepipes on the last round.  Also, a new set of springs may help resolve that stovepiping problem.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Robert357]

Where did the slugs hit btw???
 HTH.  Mikey.

Somewhere downrange, but not on the paper target.  I have no real idead where they went.  I figured that I would change the springs, clean the heck out of it and check the firing pin.  I have found a company that makes reproduction firing pins for this 1920's vintage firearm and after I clean the firing pin and carefully examine it, probably replace the firing pin.

This Walther has a fixed barrel and Walthers have a reputation for accuracy, so I was really surprised.  

This is about as close to feeling like I got taken at a gun show, I have felt in a long time.  Luckily, the fixes I am exploring so far are pretty cheap.  Oh, well, I will know a lot about Walthers when I am through with this.

Thanks for confirming my approach.

[Mikey]

Robert357:  I would do conduct two additional checks - one is to drop a 32 acp slug or case into the chamber and see how it fits and also see if you can fit the slug tightly into the muzzle end (you may have a horrendously large chamber/bore, or vice versa).  The second is on the range- stand close to the target and shoot for accuracy and see where they hit - that should at least tellya what direction they are going in.  Then let us know and we can hopefully walk through this with ya.  Mikey.

[Robert357]

Today, I got the new Wolf action and firing pin spring installed and I installed the new firing pin.  The new firing pin is a bit different from the one that came out, it is shorter and some parts are a little smaller. However it appears long enough.  

I also looked carefully at the old firing pin I took out.  Besides a layer of varnish (i.e. evaporated oil) it has some rough spots on the main body of the firing pin, like minor rust pitting that may have caused it to hang up in the past.  I put some molly grease on the new firing pin where it runs through metal just to help it along.

I took your advice and dropped one of the dummy 32 Auto rounds I use to set up my reloading dies into the chamber.  It fit very well so I dont think that is one of the problems.  

Now I need to find some time to take it to the range and see if the new springs and firing pin work.  If they don't, I am going to opt for sending the old firing pin back to the manufacturer so he can get those dimensions and see if he will make me up another one.

I'll let you know how things go.

Thanks for the suggestions.