2nd time to range problem

[renrew]

This was my 2nd time to the range.  The first time I shot 30 rounds of 124 Gr Gold Dot's without any problems.  I cleaned the gun very well and applied FrogLube.  I went to the range today for the 2nd time and had this problem 20 rounds into the day.  The slide is stuck part way open.  I can pull it back, but it won't go all the way forward.

Have any of you seen this before?

Thanks...

[renrew]

Well I have found what the problem was.  There is a small square piece around the firing pin and it can more left.  This piece had shifted to the left when the slide was back and was catching on the frame of the gun.

My question is should this be able to move like this.  It looks like it designed to move to the left to take apart, however it can't move to the right as it runs into the slide.

I would like to feel comfortable enough that this wont happen again!  Has anyone else expiranced this?  And what can I do to put my mind at ease that this will not happen again?

Thanks...

[renrew]

I took two more pictures with the gun apart.  The first one is the little square piece around the pin when it is moved to the left like when it was stuck.

The second picture shows the piece to the left of the hammer that it was getting caught on and keeping the slide open.

[renrew]

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=5444.0

Looks like others have had the problem with the firing pin retainer rotating and catching on the frame like my problem.  I am wondering what Rohrbaugh does to remedy this as it seems to be a problem.

This is a fine gun however I need to feel comfortable I can trust my life with it!  Will talk with Maria on Monday.

[backupr9]

I had the same problem...the firing pin retainer was out of speck...sent the gun back to Karl and he said he'd seen only one other incidence...replaced the piece and now my pistol works each time, every time.  There was a thread i started about a year or two ago, but I can't find it....posted the same pictures you did.  KR stands behind his work...he'll fix it.
Regards,
John

[renrew]

John,
This appears to be a design flaw.  This looks like it could happen to ANY R9 as the firing pin retainer can be moved or slip to the left.  With the power of a 9mm round it this small gun, what would stop this from happening again?  I certainly would not want this to happen when I was in a real life situation.  Take a look at the way the retainer is set in your gun, and you will see it can move to the left on any R9 and go out of spec, even if originally in spec.

[backupr9]

Scary!  I'm in Florida and only carrying a Seecamp due to clothing limitations but will definitely check when I get home.  After Karl worked on my pistol the retainer did not move, but I hadn't really thought to check on it after a few hundred rounds downrange.
J

[Richard S]

renrew:

PM sent.

Subject to correction, yours is only the third such incident of an "out-of-spec" firing-pin retainer reported on the Forum out of more than 6,000 R9s issued -- and one of those may have been inadvertently caused by some customization elected by the owner.

Long story told short -- let the factory install a new retainer. You will then have a pistol on which you can bet your life, every time, all the time.