Bullet tumble, etc.

[R9SCarry]

Hi Dan - I will be very interested to know the final info - hope the wait is not too long.

[dmobrien2001]

Interim news.  Sent in via FEDEX Overnight to factory on 6/1.   Per Maria it was evaluated by Karl and others at an offsite range and the fix is to "run a new barrel on the machines when the current run is finished..."  It will likely be next week before I hear anything else.

Now that I type this I'm confused why they need to setup the machine different to run a new barrel for my pistol?  Thoughts?

Perhaps there is a later overall design change and my early serial number gun requires an early style barrel (with whatever magic they've done to straighten out the keyholes -- more twist? less freebore?).

Others?  I'll ask Maria next week.

Gee, I miss the little fellow.  I'm tired of running around with this BLOCK 26 IWB...

Ok, update.  I spoke with Maria and she said Karl would be calling me back, and he DID!  It was truly an honor to speak to the President of the company and Chief Designer of my little R9S.  Karl is truly a customer-focused person, and he thanked me for bringing this problem to his attention.  We spoke a long time, and he related his experience and philosophy regarding firearms, firearms manufacture, ammo, shooting, and so on.   He explained his reasoning behind the barrel design elements and said that he would be working with experts in the industry to see what can be done to fix my reported problem.  He wants me to be a satisfied customer; he also wants his pistol design to be the very best and sees fixing this problem as one more way achieve that.

BTW: no more BLOCK in my waistband.  It was relegated to the bedroom. I now have a S&W 940 (9MM) snubby in my pocket...

[MountainMan]

It is great Karl called you back dmobrien - it shows what a great company we are dealing with.

What I didn't get out of your post is if Karl is saying this is a posssible design problem in all guns made to date, or something that just happened to your pistol.  My guess it is all pistols otherwise just redo your barrel.

On the "Frame Wear Thread" it seems to be the same were all early guns may have the same problem and if sent in they will do something to the gun.

This is the usual problem with a new gun (or any quality product) - it takes awhile to get the unexpected to expected.  My R9 is still about two months away for delivery and I'm sure it will still have a few things.  The only way to get around this is wait several years and who wants to do that.

At the same time all those who already have the gun want it to be perfect.  So what happens if there is a fix for something like bullet tumble, frame wear, and etc.  If all sent them back for updates the company would be overwhelmed and lose their profit edge, small as it may be.   Just wondering.

[dmobrien2001]

What I didn't get out of your post is if Karl is saying this is a posssible design problem in all guns made to date, or something that just happened to your pistol.  My guess it is all pistols otherwise just redo your barrel.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be obtuse. It's a problem for me as a customer so he wants to solve my problem first and foremost. I want to be able to shoot 147 grn ammo (brand to me doesn't matter).  What he plans on doing globally, I don't know.  For example, Chris has two guns.  One seems to exhibit with WWB 115, the other doesn't.  It is a problem for Chris?  I don't know.  It's not necessarily a design problem, but rather the consequences of design choices they made to fit their overall design criteria.  

At the same time all those who already have the gun want it to be perfect.  So what happens if there is a fix for something like bullet tumble, frame wear, and etc.  If all sent them back for updates the company would be overwhelmed and lose their profit edge, small as it may be.   Just wondering.

I don't want my R9S to be perfect (what does that mean exactly).  I do want it to shoot in a reliable manner 147 grn SD ammo.  Many on this board seem satisified with their current R9 functionality.  Heck, Kahr had a PM9 barrel recall to "fix" functioning with some JHP ammo.  Many owners felt there wasn't a problem their PM9 and so never bothered with the time and expense of sending it back.

When Glock makes design changes to their pistol, do they recall every pistol made?  Heck, they don't even call major problem like frame rail breakage a "recall", but rather a voluntary upgrade.  Many owners just shoot them until they break (if they even do break).

[MountainMan]

Dan,

I guess "perfect" is in the eye of the owner.  For you it would be that 147 grain ammo does not tumble.  This is reasonable especially if you're using a hollow point.  Some others may not mind a round tumble here and there.  As was noted by someone there seems to even be a few tumbles in the video R9S Chris was nice enough to provide.

Wasn't talking about any kind of recall.  Just some items that Rohrbaugh may take of in later guns that are cosmetic or minor functioning may bother someone who has an earlier design enough to want it taken care of.  A good example is the slide wear thread.  This really bothers some and others it doesn't.  

Many own, or desire to, the R9 because it is special and very high quality.  Reading the posts for many months make me believe many form a kind of attachment to their pup.  I will probably do the same when mine arrives.  So as Rohrbaugh continues to upgrade the R9, as people like yourself bring to their attention areas of concern, will those with guns not having the upgrades be satisfied.  Depends of the owner.  Of course could just buy an extra every year.  Starting to ramble.  Hope your problem is solved Dan.

[dmobrien2001]

Hi Dan - I will be very interested to know the final info - hope the wait is not too long.

My R9S came back 1/31/06.  I've not tested, but Karl assures me it's fixed. I'll get out to the range next week so I can get used to it again. More later.

[R9SCarry]

Hi Dan - ain't ''seen'' ya in a while.

Yes indeed - hope all is well with the returned pup - and hope therefore you'll be able to report back thusly!!