Beretta 96 .40

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I have a 96 Brigadier Border Marshall .40 cal. On a recent trip to the range, it started acting funny when the slide went forward. What is happening is that when the slide comes back and cocks the pistol, it hangs up on the hammer when it goes forward. If you look inside the slide, the material that contacts the hammer is squared off. The bluing on this corner has worn off and the resistance is enough that the pistol will actually jerk when the slide goes forward at this spot. It does it while firing and when simply sliding it by hand. I'm not sure if the issue is the hard corner or the hammer pressure or if the hammer is not catching like is should. I have about 300 rounds in her and this is the first issue I have seen. This is also my first semi auto so if this is normal for a new weapon developing normal wear please let me know.

[Adaminak]

I've seen quite a few autos with this problem, and usually it's nothing more than a break-in issue. 300 rounds is getting close though, and it shouldn't be a noticeable jerk anymore. I'd hit the top of the hammer face and the slide with a piece of crocus cloth to smooth it out. If it still continues it might be a simple lubrication issue (my duty Beretta is prone to slow chambering if I let it get really dirty), or something a gunsmith can smooth out with a few quick strokes of a file. There is also a possibility the recoil spring is a bit weak or short. As a simple rule of thumb I shoot 200-300 rounds through all my pistols with factory springs, then I replace them with Wolff springs and fire another 200-300 rounds. Quality springs are just too cheap not to use.