First time out with R9 - not what I expected

[harrydog]

I just got back from the first range session with my new R9S and I have to say, I'm somewhat discouraged.
I shot a box of 124gr Speer Gold Dots and a box of Winchester white box - 70 rounds total.
Recoil was sharp but not excessive. No problem there.
Out of the 70 rounds I had 8 or 9 FTF where the nose of the bullet would lodge against the top side of the chamber. It happened with both the Speer and the Winchesters almost once every mag.
I feel certain that I wasn't limp wristing. I was making a  conscious effort to maintain a very firm grip. I've been shooting for over 30 years, but I'm not vain enough to think that it's not possible I was doing something wrong. Can't imagine what though.
I did notice that racking the slide to chamber a round was not very smooth.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[RJ HEDLEY]

 Did you use both magazines ?  If so, did you notice if the problem occured with one or both of the mags.?

[harrydog]

RJ, yes it happened with both magazines.

[FireBreather01]

HD - bummer! Is/was your R9 well-lubed? - it sounds as though your slide may not be returning to battery as quickly as it should - especially if you noticed that racking the slide was a bit rough. I would try cleaning the gun thoroughly and then using something like Superlube or one of the other high quality lubes frequently discussed here - http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=Cleaning;action=display;num=1092897604. Then hand cycle the slide a few hundred times or so before your next range visit.

If you still feel the slide is a bit rough after your next range outing one little trick you can do is to disassemble the entire gun - remove all lube, then apply some Flitz to the slide, rails, and contact points - reasssemble and hand cycle the slide again another hundred times or so. Then carefully remove all of the Flitz and relube, reassemble, and try it again.

Also, make sure the spring is placed exactly as it should be and make sure the spring and guide are well-lubed as well.

Good luck!

[itguy]

Hi FireBreather01,

Your suggestion of manual cycling the slide a few hundred times got me thinking.  Would this not prematurely weaken the spring that Karl recommends replacing every 250 rounds, or so?  I have manually cycled the slide a few times myself to make sure it was well lubed, but I wonder if each of these cycles should be included in the recommended number of rounds fired before the slide is replaced.

Or is this another spring?

[FireBreather01]

Itguy - that's a good point and I suppose that yes, it could contribute somewhat to spring fatigue, but, if it helps to break the gun in then perhaps it is worth it? I suppose one could also cycle the slide without the spring just to 'mate' the parts together, especialy with the Flitz, and wear them in but for my money I would keep cycling the pistol as necessary and replace the spring after several hundred hand cycles + live firing - maybe 200 + 150 or something like that.

[harrydog]

Thanks firebreather.
I'll re-lube it well and give it another try. I'm hesitant to do the flitz thing though. Wouldn't it remove the anodizing from the rails?
If the fresh lube job doesn't help, I'll probably give rohrbaugh a call and see waht they say.

[tacticalbob]

should we really have to do this much tinkering witha $1000 firearm!? I just commited to buying one and the question keeps popping up in my head ...should I have waited for a later model???...just my thoughts..

Bob

[LCP]

HD
I took my new R9 to the range a few days ago and had experienced the same problem. Bullet nosing up to top and above the chamber. However, this problem began after I had fired close to 50 rounds and the gun was very hot and dirty.  I also noticed that the slide did not move as smoothly as early on when the gun was clean.  I thought that the problem might be a function of the movement of the slide slowing down as the gun got progressively more dirty. I took it home and cleaned and relubed and will go back and try it again. I want to start to carry this pistol but want to feel comfortable with its ability to function flawlessly.  BTW it did not occur as much as you experienced. I had it happen 5 times over about 30 rounds fired.

[waterburybob]

If you just want to polish the rails, just apply the flitz and put the slide on the frame without the barrel or recoil spring assembly and proceed to cycle. You won't have the pressure of the spring to fight while working the slide, and you won't be doing anything to fatigue the spring that way.  When you're done, clean and lube and reassemble.

[theirishguard]

Bob, you should not have a lot of problems. Don't over worry about it. Get the gun, make sure it is lubed good and go out and shoot it. Try Gold Dot 115 or 124 gr.  Tom

[R9SCarry]

Hmmm - LCP's prob' again it seems.  Well for now shoot some more and just GD's if poss.

Like I said to LCP - hand rack slow to watch the feed characteristics just to see how much rounds tip up.  I would not worry one bit about hand cycling and spring effects!!!

I have a theory tho haven't run it by Eric.  I am wondering if initially the spring rate is effectively a bit high until it sets - such that slide is not fully going to max and so the fwd speed is reduced just a bit with fractionally reduced travel - and so the round stripping off mag is not chambered quite as fast, giving time for a tip-up.

Further break in could possibly see a fuller/faster slide excursion.

I am thinking out loud only - may be a loada horse puckey!

[harrydog]

Your spring theory sounds like a possible explantion.
I'll going to try all the suggestions I've gotten so far and hope the problem resolves itself.
Thanks.

[Slowhand]

Now that I think about it, the spring did seem to soften a bit, it was very stiff when I first got the gun.  In my case, I know it was the high thumb grip that was causing problems for me, but perhaps the spring does need a few rounds through it to let the slide get all the way back.  Either way, you can tell it's a gun that isn't forgiving of limp-wristing.

[theirishguard]

no limp wrists allowed!!    Tom