My nelson finally failed.

First topic message reminder :

Aside from a few stovepipes here and there my Nelson has run great for probably close to 10,000 rounds. Today during practice after about 150 rounds it failed to extract, the casing had been pulled about 1/2 way out of the chamber then stuck. The slide was stuck solid, I couldn't budge it.

So I figured I better get the conversion off the lower. I tried to loosen the rod and it was very tight. I really got worried when the resistance persisted, usually once you break it loose it gets easy to turn. I get the conversion off and have no option but to get the rod out so I can remove the slide. The rod has resistance the whole time while turning. Then I noticed the rod is getting scarred as it comes out. I had no option but keep turning, by time I got it off there was a nice corkscrew shaped scar all the way up the rod. Then once it was unscrewed all the way I still couldn't remove it, the spring also wouldn't come off, I had to have my buddy pull on the spring while I turned the rod. At this point I realize the spring some how got stuck around the front of the rod which locked up the conversion and was stuck so good the spring scarred the rod when backing the rod out.

So am I the only one lucky enough to have this happen. Need to call Larry Monday. The funny thing is I was just thinking today how reliable this conversion has been, guess I jinxed it.

I have 2 units and 3 barrels I will send them out to sams unless can do it . They really run 99.6% I will inspect the breach but I think they are ok

I'm not taking on any more work. Sams will do a great job on them.
Jon

Possible ways to fix this and not worry about it occurring?  Shouldered steel washer dropped into the slide?  Haven't had that issue but don't ever want to experience it either...

I spoke with Larry today. He said during the prototype phase they saw this malfunction but the redesigned the recoil rod and spring to fix it. I think he said this was the first production piece in 2000 conversions that he has seen this with. I think they're replacing the slide, rod and spring. 

Jon, how did your buddy recrown the barrel, did he cut it on a lathe or just hone it with a cone and lapping compound?

Lathe! I'm not a fan of hand reamer for crown.
Jon

I put a new Nelson on my Roddy made Baer lower.  Great single shot gun with CCI SV.  I forgot to put the red 8# spring in.

Jack H wrote:I put a new Nelson on my Roddy made Baer lower.  Great single shot gun with CCI SV.  I forgot to put the red 8# spring in.

Shue told me Nelsons and Marvels work with #8 springs. I think Baers use high Mag Catches and standard Mag Catches are what you need. 

I talked to Sams tonight and will send him one of my Nelsons for a potential barrel job it's got +/-25K rounds through it runs about 99.6% but it had those flyers. I think I settled the flyers and tumbling issue and I just bought some new GSG mags which seem to run better than my old GSG mags and the nelson mags. 

My thinking is if the gun is shooting 2 inch groups I will have him re crown the barrel provided the liner is undamaged which I cannot ascertain. I think the gun is printing around an 1 1/2 based on my scores which average 93 3x on the long line with a high of 98 5x (one8 ) . 

If it was new I would have it relined because I heard sub 1 inch is very likely but I do not want to spend the money because I do not think I am buying points here. Anyhow I will let you know in a few months how it turns out.

rich.tullo wrote:

Jack H wrote:I put a new Nelson on my Roddy made Baer lower.  Great single shot gun with CCI SV.  I forgot to put the red 8# spring in.

Shue told me Nelsons and Marvels work with #8 springs. I think Baers use high Mag Catches and standard Mag Catches are what you need. 

I talked to Sams tonight and will send him one of my Nelsons for a potential barrel job it's got +/-25K rounds through it runs about 99.6% but it had those flyers. I think I settled the flyers and tumbling issue and I just bought some new GSG mags which seem to run better than my old GSG mags and the nelson mags. 

My thinking is if the gun is shooting 2 inch groups I will have him re crown the barrel provided the liner is undamaged which I cannot ascertain. I think the gun is printing around an 1 1/2 based on my scores which average 93 3x on the long line with a high of 98 5x (one8 ) . 

If it was new I would have it relined because I heard sub 1 inch is very likely but I do not want to spend the money because I do not think I am buying points here. Anyhow I will let you know in a few months how it turns out.

My sams 22 liner tested at .46 at 50 with tenex

Why reline a Marvel? I'm thinking it would be easier to simply replace the barrel, the barrel will unscrew, it's left hand tread, 40 TPI.

Froneck wrote:Why reline a Marvel? I'm thinking it would be easier to simply replace the barrel, the barrel will unscrew, it's left hand tread, 40 TPI.

I think you are right Frank. Walther makes a barrel  that is maybe .005 larger OD than a factory barrel. Cut blank, turn od, cut some threads, chamber, crown, and cut extractor relief. Well I think that's that is required. I don't operate machinery though.

It's probably 16mm. Might not need to be turned. However it wouldn't be that much more work to use a larger diameter blank and turn it to size. I would think it would be much better than relining, the threaded section if my memory is correct is 3/8" X 40 TPI so there is not much material. Probably the threaded part is cut off and the liner threaded so there's not much more than a barrel liner with a sleeve on the end.

Got the Nelson back today so they had it for a bit less than a week. They replaced the slide, recoil rod, spring and buffer. I'm going to test it tomorrow and sight my dot back in, then to the match in Columbia on Sunday. So for service I give them an A+, I hope I don't have this issue again but it sounds like it's pretty rare.

The Nelson worked like a champ today at the range, shot a really nice slow fire target. Shooting it in a match tomorrow.

Shot an 847 today with the nelson, blew away my previous high and got me over 2500 for the first time. Last update till I break it again lol.

Wow! congrats!!!

zanemoseley wrote:Shot an 847 today with the nelson, blew away my previous high and got me over 2500 for the first time. Last update till I break it again lol.

Congrats!!! Sorry I couldn't be there to see it. I plan on making the October match, and maybe the State Championship match in September.