Newest adventure of an Idiot with a new old pistol

[Rogerbutthead]

So, the latest old pistol I acquired is this Browning 1955 that I thought was an FN 1910.

I watched this take down video - and tried to follow it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIvhbBJHPhU&

The slide was very hard to pull back (again) so I oiled it the best I could, got it in the slide take off position - and the slide would not come off - after I thought I had turned the barrel the 90% that I thought it would go.

Since the slide wouldn't come off, I thought I turned the barrel back to where I thought it was originally, and the slide would not go back into the correct position.

It is now stuck in this position.



I understand now that I should have pushed the bushing in first and turned in 90 degrees to remove it and the spring, but it apparently won't move now. (I also notice now - from the picture - that it is not centered exactly - but it ain't budging for me now)



Any FN 1910/Browning 1955 owners able to tell me what to do to fix this?

I knew when I started to take this pistol apart, I was asking for trouble - but I am a retired idiot who likes playing with my toys.

Your advice is requested.

I have centered the bushing and the slide still won't budge. I have moved the barrel the tiny portion it will move, and within this range of motion, the slide still won't budge.

[Rogerbutthead]

I see that this guy made a tool to remove the bushing but I can't read the dimensions (and would like to know exactly how he made it).

https://www.bevfitchett.us/firearms-assembly/browning-xww.html

I can't seem to find anyone selling old FN 1910 or Browning 1955 bushing removal tools.

[Rogerbutthead]

This guy seemed to make one, guess I will try too.

https://www.gunvaluesboard.com/wrench-for-fn-browning-1910-barrel-ring-484183.html

Guess this must be fun, cuz I seem to be in similar predicaments fairly routinely.

[Rogerbutthead]

Read this, https://www.lugerforums.com/threads/...ushing.123068/

pushed the bushing down very hard and got the bushing, barrel and spring out of the slide.

However the slide is still stuck on the frame in the same position.

Not sure why the slide is stuck. Will spend some time looking at takedown videos to see what could be stuck on what.

[Rogerbutthead]

Bounced the front of the gun on a rubber mat, slide came back, took the magazine out and the slide came off.

Not really sure why the slide was stuck.....

[Rogerbutthead]

Well got everything together but the bushing. My fingers hurt too much to continue trying to push the damn spring down enough to get the knurls into their slots.

I really pity the people who had to work with these pistols way back when. Their hand strength must have been much greater than my wimpy hand strength.

I don't seem to learn that lesson.....

It's back together, F this gun.

[sealocan]

Maybe it's best just think of it as a learning experience/adventure where you got a good finger and hand exercise workout?

I don't know anything about the take down of either of those models but I did notice this...

"Bounced the front of the gun on a rubber mat, slide came back, took the Magazine Out and the slide came off."

You probably know this already but a lot of firearms require you to remove the magazine before take down or disassembly.
It's not always the case and sometimes it might hurt anything but that's my suggestion....
In the future remove the magazine first and with the other things you've learned from this "learning experience" maybe things will go a bit more smoothly.

Thankfully you shared your adventure with everyone here so they now know that pistol can get jammed up if not disassemble properly.

[Rogerbutthead]

In the video, I didn't think he removed the magazine.....but maybe I am wrong.

It was still giving me trouble with the magazine out.....as I recall.

The problems I have had with the FN 1922, the Savage 1907 and this Browning 1955 all seem to stem from my weak hand strength, my inability to keep enough pressure to maintain the parts as far as they will go, and the strength of these - in some cases - 100 year old springs.

I really appreciate the internet, all the various gun forums, and the DIY disassembly people on YT.

I mean, my mother's house hasn't burned down yet from my DIY replacement of her wiring in her living room. So, apparently the DIY teachers on that video were competent enough so that my efforts to follow their lead still work. Of course, my mistakes before I found the right video, well, you guys were probably right that I could easily burn down the house because I don't know feces.

*you're right, the magazine was out, I missed that point. The slide doesn't stay back on an empty magazine so probably that had me thinking there was no obstruction from an inserted magazine. So I was wrong again.

[dfletcher]

The minuscule distance that bushing is pressed to be able to turn makes it seem as though it accomplishes nothing. But, that's the way to do it. I take a different approach with mine.

Bring the slide to the rear and pop the safety into the hold open notch on the slide. This allows you to turn the barrel and its locking lugs from the receiver into the slide. Release the safety from the hold open notch and the slide, barrel and rest slide off as a unit. This is generally sufficient to clean everything that gets dirty and oil as needed.



Things to be careful of -

Do not pull the slide beyond engaging the safety into the hold open notch. This will cock the gun, and capture the FP and fully compress the FP spring. Doesn't prevent disassembly but will have those parts under tension and exposed.

The safety engagement on the hold open notch isn't rock solid, at least on mine. Take care that it doesn't release when when you're turning the barrel up into the slide.

There should be firing spring guide pin at the rear of the FP. It will drop out, even though the FP spring will not be compressed.

If curiosity gets the better of you and you turn the barrel while it's captured in the slide, you can either compress the barrel from its back end and turn back into place, or remove the bushing.

The finished product back together -

[highpower]

If you want to test the limits of your hand strength, take apart and then reassemble a Astra 300/400/600. I have fairly strong hands a fingers due to a lifetime of being a mechanic. I took my 400 down one time and swore I would never do that again. I cannot fathom why they thought that a blowback pistol was a good idea for reasonably powerful 9mm.

[Rogerbutthead]

Hmmmm, I have an Astra 400 that I bought back in the early 80's at a gun show. $200 dollars and I took it home that day, the good old days of gun collecting. Only fired it once to see if it was true that 9mm would work - never bought any 9mm Largo.

I am tempted to go pull it out of the safe, but I think I should just take your word for it. Thanks. I will look for a disassembly video to see what you are talking about, I don't recall how I cleaned that pistol.

*Watched an Astra 400 disassembly video and I am pretty glad the first pistol I ever bought was a Browning Hi Power. So easy to take apart and clean, a bad experience with my first pistol could have dulled my love of firearms.

[highpower]

I think that hardest part of the Astra disassembly is marking where the end cap
lands after you launch it across the room.

[Rogerbutthead]

So, I got my Sauer 38H today. Took it apart and the slide wouldn't go forward on reassembly.

Read on Gunboards to give it a sharp whack on the back/top of the slide - and it worked like a charm.

Still don't understand why it hung up. I cleaned and oiled it - but it was clean and appears like new before that.....constant whacking of the pistol can't be good....I would think.

Any advice?

[hambam105]

"Read on Gunboards to give it a sharp whack on the back/top of the slide - and it worked like a charm.

You are aware that Harbor Freight does sell 18 oz. firearms precision reassembly charm hand tools in the hammer & mallet isle.

[SkyHawk]

I recently disassembled and detail stripped my new to me Astra 400 - it was quite the adventure for sure. It has a very similar if not same takedown procedure as that Fn.