Nolan Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 I think I may know why my Limited Gun started jamming at the end of the Limited Nationals. This Sunday at a local match it ejected the removable breechface along with the empty case. Unfortunately I didn't notice this and proceeded to clear the malfunction, chambered a fresh round and pulled the trigger.....KABOOM! The video is here Kaboom I'm OK, but haven't had the ambition to even really look at the gun to see what the damage was. I checked the breechface retaining screw when I cleaned the gun before the match and it was tight. We recovered the breechface and the retaining screw was sheared off leaving about 4 threads in the breechface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikW Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 Yeah I saw Ron D.'s fall out of his gun when he was loading and making ready at the nationals. Seems the screws either come loose or break. I haven't heard of anybody actually firing a round without a breechface. I'm glad nobody's hurt. Can't you just weld that thing in place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L9X25 Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 The problem usually occurs when the bolt is overtightened. Since it is hollow, for the firing pin to pass through, and threaded on the outside the metal is pretty thin. It cannot tolerate a great deal of torque when tightening. If the bolt is stretched once it will eventually shear as yours did. I don't know the solution beyond not overtightening it and using a mild loctite to keep it from loosening. Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 Weird...I was just reading about these on SV's website recently. They are pretty sticky about using ONLY the special screw from SV. Nolan, did your's have this SV screw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew_Mink Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Local shooter here in Arkansas had his partially fall out, then the gun's slide suffered some damage. Don't really know much more than that. I am really leery of my SV now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted October 22, 2003 Author Share Posted October 22, 2003 Weird...I was just reading about these on SV's website recently. They are pretty sticky about using ONLY the special screw from SV. Nolan, did your's have this SV screw? Yes, mine was and I say WAS an SVI screw. It's hollow for the firing pin to pass through. I use a standard allen wrench to tighten the screw by sticking the long arm down the firing pin hole and turning the short arm. Maybe I don't know my own strength, but I shouldn't be able to overtighten it just using my fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Nolan...it is hard to watch that video and not feel bad. And, it's hard not to watch that video over and over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 I'd be contacting SV about it, if I were you... if you get my drift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOtherErik Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 I just find it hard to immagine that the next round would chamber. Good thing you are ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Nolan, I'd have thought this kind of problem was something like a once-in-a-million until the last italian Nationals ten days ago. I saw one of the top Open competitors (shooting an SVI), who was tied for winning the match, have something similar happening to his gun: the start was in condition two, so at the beep he racked the slide to chamber a round and, much to his surprise, he saw the breechface flying out the same way your video shows it. He was luckier than you (and I'm really glad you are safe), because he didn't actually fire the gun, but with a 27 rounds stage zeroed, his chances of winning the match went zero too. Upon inspecting the gun after this incident, he too found the hollow screw teared apart in two pieces. In getting worried about this happening to my SVI. How many rounds did you fire with that gun/breechface before the incident? Maybe a planned screw substitution every 40/50k rounds will help preventing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMC Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 (Off topic mode on) Hey Skywalker67, if he didn't fire a shot how do you zero a stage, there is no time to record so it cannot be scored. I've never run into this in a match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikW Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 Been There, Done That, closed the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 TMC, since this would be a topic drift, PM with full explaination is incoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 Nolan, Glad you are OK. My new SVI should be here shortly and I guess I should order a box of breach face screws along with it. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singlestack Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 Dang, Now I don't trust my SV I never have liked/understood the removable breechface. Nolan, Had you ever taken the BF off? Was the screw ever loose? I bet I have 25k through my SV and I have never checked to see if the BF screw was loose. Hell, after I had to smooth out the junction on the rail where the BF and slide joined (the BF was about 2 thou lower than the slide on the disconnector rail. This made a good brass shaver. ), I had kinda forgotten all about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew_Mink Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 Dang,Now I don't trust my SV I never have liked/understood the removable breechface. Ditto singlestack. The concept is neat, but who actually uses it? I can't believe a dedicated Limited or Open competitor who sets up their gun to run 100% would actually think about changing calibers to shoot something else, no matter the reason. Matter of fact, who does use it? Does anybody know someone that has actually changed out their removable breechface? I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalmas Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 I've had the same problem with mine but after adding some locktite to the screw it has stayed in place, but be gentle and careful. I can get mine out without overstressing the screw, now I have no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted October 24, 2003 Author Share Posted October 24, 2003 Yes I've had the breechface off quite a few times during cleanings. Sometimes when I've checked the screw it's been loose, but most of the time it's been tight. I will be using loctite from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 I love the thing. And not because I could change calibers, but only because, once a year or so, I can install a new breechface (in a few minutes) to return the headspace to dead-nuts-on without having a gunsmith weld and regrind the barrel's hood. The replaceable breechface turns a nightmare into a cakewalk. I use a standard allen wrench to tighten the screw by sticking the long arm down the firing pin hole and turning the short arm. Maybe I don't know my own strength, but I shouldn't be able to overtighten it just using my fingers. That could be the problem. It's not that you are overtightening it, it's that you are not tightening it enough. SVI has a torque specification (although I don't know exactly what it is at the moment) for that allen bolt, and you couldn't even begin to tighten it enough by hand (with the short end of an allen wrench) to reach the specs. Being a mechanic most of my life, I used the feel method.... With a bit of blue loctite on the threads, slip about a 3 inch long tube over the short end of the wrench (to gain some leverage) and tighten 'er till you hear a little "creek" sound. You might want to have a spare laying around before attempting this technique. Seriously, I used the removable breechface for a couple years with nary a problem. be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianH Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 Ahhh! The cheater tube.....with manual torque sensor built in!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PistolPete Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 I recently ordered an SVI Limted gun that I should be receiving in a few weeks or so. Should I be worried about this or should I just leave it alone and just shoot the gun? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted October 25, 2003 Author Share Posted October 25, 2003 I love the thing. And not because I could change calibers, but only because, once a year or so, I can install a new breechface (in a few minutes) to return the headspace to dead-nuts-on without having a gunsmith weld and regrind the barrel's hood. The replaceable breechface turns a nightmare into a cakewalk. Brian, Thanks for the tip. Replacing a worn breechface is why I went ahead with the removable breechface. Well that and the fitted slide/barrel/frame kit certificate I won I guess folks really do go to the races to watch the car wrecks! The web stats for Kaboom are 4 times any other video on the site! I looked the gun over yesterday and it looks like the only real damage (besides the cleaning bill for my underwear!) is the broken screw and a bent firing pin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted October 25, 2003 Share Posted October 25, 2003 I sent this thread to Sandy Strayer of SVI. His response: The breechface sets in a "pocket" facing the chamber of the barrel. The natural forces of chambering / firing keep the breechface pushed into the pocket. It logically can then be understood that the screw is unstressed during operation. Its only function is to keep the breechface from falling out of the pocket forward when a round is not being chambered or is not chambered. Over tightening is the only way the screw can break. The screws are manufactured from a premium stainless that is fully heat treated for maximum performance when changing breechfaces / calibers. This makes the internal hex a very rugged structure that will not easily be stripped out. The front face of the head of the screw is tapered to match a locking angle in the slide for a "tapered seat" self locking screw system. The use of loctite will keep the threads sealed from powder residue, dirt and oil, providing more reliable overall operation of the breechface. SV has thousands of interchangeable breechface slides / guns in service and has a near perfect service / performance record. Thanks, Sandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redmercury2 Posted November 11, 2003 Share Posted November 11, 2003 ive used one in 40 and one in super for tens of thousands of rounds,blue loctite and no looseness. wish all my blasters had changeable faces,especially good for rimless brass. both were supplied with xtra screws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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