First time out after having slide replaced and??

[lexasgs400]

I just got my R9s (serial # in the 680's) back from the factory due to a cracked slide on its first time out
I put 80 rounds through it and this is how it faired
Accuracy very good

68 rounds WWB 115 grain
Magazine A 26 rounds - 9 FTF  
Magazine B 42 rounds - 6 FTF

12 rounds GD Hollow Point 115 grain
Magazine A 6 rounds - 1 FTF
Magazine B 6 rounds - 2 FTF

Total 80 Rounds - 18 FTF

if you subtract the 14 first founds that were hand racked it is really 18 FTF out of 66 rounds the gun had to actually feed

two trips to the range
one cracked slide and 22.5% FTF or 27% depending on how it should be calculated


I absolutely love the gun and want to be positive, but this gun is bought and carried to be a possible life saving device.

I have sent it back once and now appears to be headed back again.

Does anyone have any suggestions or comments

[Skyhook]

 :-/

I forgot, is the WWB stuff fmj or hp?

My last session with my re-done gun had hardball feeding two mags of five each of the hardball w/o FTF. I could not get that with the HPs.

I have yet to go back out to shoot the lil beastie.. Got my fingers crossed..

[Aglifter]

Just wondering, assuming that Eric, etc would have test fired it -- ever have anyone else shoot it?  Just seems so odd, since mine has always fired everything that I ever put through it.

[Michigunner]

I would recommend having two different friends shoot it.

Bill

[lexasgs400]

WWB is FMJ

Had a friend shoot 12 rounds with about the same results.
I don't claim to be perfect, so I may be doing something to  somehow cause the problem.
Although I have never had this problem with any of my other guns.

But, this is a self defense gun and the perfect shooting scenario  is rarely going to happen in the real world were this gun will be used, so I feel it is not asking to much for a gun of this quality  gun to function, feed, and eject shells without having to worry about the perfect grip etc.

[lexasgs400]

Just a little additional info
all of the FTF's were the nose of the round is hitting the top of were it would chamber
Sorry if I used the wrong terms

[R9SCarry]

Lex - this may be pure speculation but from reports I have read etc I am getting the impression that a brand new recoil spring is maybe just a shade too strong.  If slide does not go 100 back then it strikes me these ''nose up'' FTF's could occur.  It seems as tho the slide must travel from full rear to pick up round properly and slap it into battery real quick - but maybe if travel just a bit lacking the nose up can occur.  That said if the spring fresh the power of fwd travel should be enough.

Mind you too - we know that on about any semi, mags matter but then it must be assumed Eric fired this pup - so that makes me wonder what the heck is going on.

I am just thinking aloud so - really I am somewhat puzzled and disappointed for you.  

Perhaps - leave that gun with slide locked back (insert empty 9mm case perhaps to hold open) and try again after day or two - seems useful to try this, in case any difference.

[TW]

>>Hi lexasgs400...

I don't know if I've met you or not before but regardless - nice to see you here on the Forum.  Sorry to learn of your problems with the R9.  Bottom line, and as has been discussed before = there is no acceptable reason for an R9 to experience failure when it is cared for properly and provided with desirable ammo.  I regularly use the ammo you mentioned in my R9s, and I'm surprised in particular to hear the ball ammo failed (Win White box .115).  

What will it take to get your gun right depends in part on the limit of your patience.  You should not HAVE to deal with a cracked frame or functional problems.  However, it is well documented that a handful of the 1000+ guns out there have experienced one problem or another.  I am one of those people, having experienced feeding problems with two R9s...sent the guns back to the factory...and when I got them back with a gracious phone call from Karl Rohrbaugh - both guns functioned fine the first time out with four types of ammo...so far so good, and I hope it stays that way.  

Before I forget and regarding guide springs...my guns each had ~100 shots on each spring when the FTFeed problems first occurred.  I mention this because it is an issue Chris (R9SCarry) has been looking at regarding feed problems, and mayby it is a problem in some guns.  At this point we just don't know...  And for all we know...similar problems may be caused by different issues.  We just don't know for sure, nor does the factory, which is why it is so important that we all work together to to sort things out and get all of our guns up to specs.  I love my R9s...it is a beautiful design and so well made, and for now at any rate I am willing and able to work together towards solutions.

You have already shown a good deal of patience dealing with the cracked slide on your R9.  I hope you will continue to hang in there, working with factory folks, as needed, to finally get it right.  Still, we all have our limitations, and this is understandable.  Those of us here on the Forum desire to be of help and support to you, as does Karl based on our history with him.

At this point I would suggest putting a call into Maria explaining the current problem, asking advice on what to do from here.  I doubt the problem is your ammo, but it may be worth trying a couple more brands, like Blazer .115 FMJ and Win Silvertips in .115 (both used regularly for testing at the factory).  

As suggested by others I think it a wise idea to take at least two additional experienced shooters with you to the range to test it with the new ammo before making any harsh decisions from here.  Keep up the scientific approach, recording data on which magazine you use, and which shot per mag may experience a failure of one kind or another, etc.  And remember to clean and lube per factory reccomendations every 50-80 shots = very important to keep the gun working properly.

Good luck and let us know if we can be of further help, and of course please keep us posted on your progress.

I wish you and yours a Wonderful Holiday Season...!...TW<<

[Skyhook]

TW,
Excellent post.

[Michigunner]

TW,

One of the best posts ever.

Bill

[Michigunner]

At the risk of beating the subject into the ground, I noticed that my R9 squirmed around in the hand during firing, despite my strongest attempt to hold it.

In other words, I held it as tight as possible, and it was still out of control, considering my hand characteristics, and its shape.

It's a wonder that a malfunction did not occur.  The only known problem was a nasty jolt of pain to the hand.

Chris has described the addition of abrasive tape as making a profound difference.  I also would call it profound.

I'm not saying the pistol would be reliable if tape was introduced into the equation, but I would not leave home without it.  It would be interesting to see if it calmed down with tape applied.

Bill

[lexasgs400]

I already did the grip tape and everyone is right.  What a differance it made.   After shooting the first time out, after your hands get a little sweaty I did move around in my hand quite a bit.  So I was quite impressed that the gun stayed in my hand much better yesterday

[harrydog]

Just a little additional info
all of the FTF's were the nose of the round is hitting the top of were it would chamber
Sorry if I used the wrong terms

Exactly the problem that I'm having. I've got 120 rounds through mine, so I don't think it's a break-in issue. I'm trying to be patient about it, but this is the only gun I've ever had a serious problem with, so it's very frustrating.

[Skyhook]

 You know, this is not something the R9 invented. Other guns I have owned, notably 1911s, also had similar FTFs. Once the feed ramps were polished and the FTFs continued, the fault was usually the mag lips.

Is this experience of mine something familiar to other seasoned shooters here?

Then there is the follower... sometimes that thing can be a trouble-maker.

(Trying to cover bases. )

[harrydog]

I realize that lots of people have problems with lots of different guns. Just visit any gun related website and you'll find plenty of people with problem guns.
In my personal experience though, I've never owned a gun that wasn't trouble free or almost trouble free, including four 1911s. So, this is a new experience for me. I've always said that if I ever bought an unreliable gun, I'd get rid of it in short order. In this case however, I'm giving it a chance (more than one if necessary), because I really want a 9mm of this size.