FNP-45 Tactical (or any semi-auto) trouble shooting

[daniph]

Hello,

I recently purchased a NIB FNP-45 Tactical, but since threaded barrels are illegal, I had to swap out the barrel with an EFK Ported barrel.

The first 50 rounds were full of FTE and FTLs (but I realized the pistol had not been fired or maintained in over 18 months -- based on the factory fired date). After a quick clean and lube it dramatically reduced the FTE and FTLs (by like 90%) during my next shooting session (~ 200 rounds). I noticed a couple of instances of the slide failing to lock back on the last shot.

I also had to insert blocks into my mags to reduce capacity to 10 (another California thing). I'm not sure if that issue is because of the recoil not moving back far enough to catch the lock or if the mag blocks inserted are interfering with the spring.

In the photos below I noticed quite a bit of "rubbing" against the slide on the barrel. My guess is that the friction is absorbing the recoil enough to prevent the slide from fully going back?





I was able to consistently simulate FTL at home with a practice round if the slide did not extend fully back but just enough to pick up another round to try to chamber it. My guess is that is what is causing the intermittent FTLs and FTEs.

I'm not sure how to address this... is this the "break in" period?
Do any of you see these kind of marks on your barrels?

I noticed the FTLs and FTEs towards the end of the 200 round session leading me to believe the lube (Pro-shot products) was failing to offset the rubbing against the slide or whatever else it could be. Does anyone recommended cleaner/lubricant?

Thanks for your time.

[Javi]

Not sure how much help I'd be but I own a FNP-9 that was manufactured in 2007(I bought it in 2011, I believe) and I've only had 2 failures out of nearly 2,000 rounds & the slide always locks back. I have some barrel wear at the top where the slide contacts it but yours looks much rougher than mine.

[dousan]

I have an fnp45 with an efk barrel
I have the standard barrel though
No issues minis a ftf but it's good new after a few hundred rounds and it does lock back
I also bought new mags 10rd for it
Your barrel looks trashed quality control? I dunno
Hit up the fn board and see If they can assist. There's at least 2 good fn forums I believe

[missiontrails]

It's gotta be the aftermarket ported barrel for some reason. I would get a standard FNP45 barrel.

[The sarge]

That barrel has a pretty extreme amount of wear for a couple hundred rounds. I think it was poorly machined and out of spec.

[Javi]

It's gotta be the aftermarket ported barrel for some reason. I would get a standard FNP45 barrel.

I'd definitely try that out. I took down my FNP & I had forgotten that since I cleaned it, the barrel still looks nice & doesn't show much wear. Somethings going on with that after-market barrel.

[HiveDR.]

What ammo? FNP45s are known for not liking WWB ( rounds are slightly out of spec or something). Mine is one of these, has feed problems every few rounds with WWB. Everything else is 100%.

[missiontrails]

What did you do with the threaded barrel? That thing is worth $$ and should have paid for a standard FN barrel.....

[ThiZZ]

Barrels should not look like that after 200 rounds.

[daniph]

What did you do with the threaded barrel? That thing is worth $$ and should have paid for a standard FN barrel.....

I still have it but its illegal in CA to assemble and I can't really do that at the range to verify it is the ported barrel causing the FTE and FTLs.

I used PMC ammo FMJs 230 grain.

Thanks for the comments guys, I'll forward this thread to EFK and see if they'll send me a replacement. I'll also check on the FN forums.

The reason I went for ported barrel because it's 5 inch (similar to a threaded barrel length), plus the threaded barrel allows for a suppressor (also illegal in CA) which dramatically reduces muzzle flip. A ported barrel helps reduce that as well.

[missiontrails]

I still have it but its illegal in CA to assemble and I can't really do that at the range to verify it is the ported barrel causing the FTE and FTLs.

I used PMC ammo FMJs 230 grain.

Thanks for the comments guys, I'll forward this thread to EFK and see if they'll send me a replacement. I'll also check on the FN forums.

The reason I went for ported barrel because it's 5 inch (similar to a threaded barrel length), plus the threaded barrel allows for a suppressor (also illegal in CA) which dramatically reduces muzzle flip. A ported barrel helps reduce that as well.

What I'm saying is list it on AR15.com, here, or EBay, and use the money on a FN non threaded version.

[missiontrails]

Barrels should not look like that after 200 rounds.

Sigs do

[daniph]

here are some additional points of view requested. keep in mind I believe the factory barrel is unfired with exception to the test fire.









I think the threaded barrel is easier to assemble because the threads make the needed space for the longer barrel where the ported needs a gentle nudge.

I sent EFK an email asking them to check out this thread to see if the wear is what they would expect from this barrel as well.

[missiontrails]

Those look like the usual wear marks that you see on CZ's, EAA's with the stainless barrels etc... it's just that yours does not look hard anodized, it looks Duracoated or something, and that stuff is just coming off.

[daniph]

Hey guys,

I just wanted to update in case someone else runs into this issue later down the road.

Dragon Fire (the company I bought the ported barrel from) did agree the wear on the barrel is more than they would expect from one of their barrels with 200 ish rounds through it.

He explained their process for machining one of their barrels and it can sometimes be slightly different and verified if it may need "break in" to polish down the areas that are tight.

His suggestion is to keep shooting until the FTEs and FTLs stop, which should mean there's less rubbing on the barrel (it was probably dampening the recoil causing the FTEs and FTLs). Then send the barrel back to them and he'll re apply that black coating again.