Failure to Feed!

[Chuck_S]

Honeymoon is over on R93x!

Fired most of a box of generic Federal 115gr FMJ 10 days ago, cleaned, lubed and back to the range last night to find a reliable JHP.  Wouldn't feed the only standard velocity Golden Sabers the shop had (147gr) so, rather than waste all the time I decided to fire 115gr FMJ again.

Wouldn't feed that more than every other round either!  I don't think the slide is cycling far enough as sometimes the chamber is empty, other times there's a live cartridge half way in.  Extraction and ejection is fine.

Any quick fixes before this goes back to the factory?  Cleaned, lubed (per the instructions!), solid grip, etc.

-- Chuck

[Skyhook]

Does anyone else see a pattern developing?

I am trying my darnedest to remain objective and clinical about the R9, but "What we have here is......"

Chuck_S, I wonder why you didn't try those Gold Dots by Speer? It made no difference with my 9s, but I was wondering.

As for 'quick fix'.. I polished the feed ramp and used the lube as advised ... not that that helped, either.

Other, more experienced with the R9 should have something of interest to add. I know I'll be watching.

[theirishguard]

I am  so sorry for those forum members that are having problems with their R9s.
Having said that, we should consider that only a small amount of R9s are having problems.
Some of my customers are so excited about getting their pups that they rush out to shoot it and in their hurry cause some little problems.
When they slow down and pay attention to what they are doing and get use to shooting the gun,the problems go away.
Most of my customers have had no problems with their guns at all.
Shooting Gold Dot 115 or 124 gr helps.
Tom

[Skyhook]

Tom, I respect your take on this; " we should consider that only a small amount of R9s are having problems.", but I have been doing some soul searching and memory work and in all my buying experiences- and I did run my own gun shop for several years-  Very few handguns I've known can claim more feeding and reliability problems.

Yes, all my 1911s, Colts and others, needed ramp polishing and decent mags, but once the mods were accomplished, those guns ran faultlessly. None of my numerous Glocks or Sigs or the few S&W autos I've owned, had this amount of difficulty.

That said, I still have all the confidence I can muster that Rohrbaugh is committed and talented enough to get this little gun of theirs running reliably. We all agree on that, I believe.

 

[SAWBONES]

I've continued to have frequent, that is, every round or every other round, FTFs even after top end replacement (for a slide crack), and even after firing now some 210+ rounds through my #R9xx Rohrbaugh.
This appears to improve as the gun gets dirty, say after about 20 rounds, then becomes problematic again past a certain point, maybe 50 rounds, during any particular outing with the gun.

FWIW, I'm a decades-long experienced shooter with advanced training certificates who's owned and shot dozens of handguns hundreds of thousands of rounds, and I'm not holding the gun wrong or interfering with the action of the slide, or "limp-wristing" or "flinching" or anything else.
The gun has had nothing through it but factory premium standard 9mm fodder, lately nothing but Gold Dot 124gr JHP.
Pretty disappointing.

My reason for going to the trouble to get a Rohrbaugh (and it took some doing to come by one) was as a backup or "last ditch" gun, and unless it's THOROUGHLY, COMPLETELY reliable, it simply won't serve in this capacity for me.
I didn't buy it as a toy or just to have "something different". If mine is a lemon, then it either needs fixin' or replacement.

If I can't get satisfaction on this, I'll carry my 340PD again instead. At least with it I know I have 5 shots, guaranteed, of .38 Special 135gr Gold Dot +P JHP.

[theirishguard]

Again I feel your pain!
However, we need to be objective in looking at this. Only a few guns are having problems and I feel the RBros will take care of these and fix them.
I have sold quite a number of these R9s and no problems.
Tom

[Michigunner]

I'm only at 62 rounds and already wonder what the future will bring.

I'm concerned that we have spent so much money and have to deal with this uncertainty.  My plan was to get the best available and be done with it.

Is it time to recall certain guns with serial numbers having reliability problems and material failures?

I recognize that Mr. Rohrbaugh is an honorable man who will guarantee his product.

[theirishguard]

Bill, please don't jump off the cliff on this.
     Don't over react, your gun has no problems.
     Lets not pre judge this!
Tom

[theirishguard]

Chris, what is your take on this and cracked slides?
Tom

[SAWBONES]

It seems like a fair number of owners have shot their guns very little. Still, if you've had nothing but perfect function, why worry?

Unfortunately, my concern is that I've had nothing but problems even though I've shot over 200 rounds and keep shooting the little dingus, hoping the problems will go away! At this point I feel I need a definitive solution, whether it's a thoroughgoing refurbishment, a new gun, or failing that, to just give up and ask for a refund.

[Michigunner]

Tom, I've been fortunate to have no problems during 62 rounds.  Like you, I believe only a small number of guns have failed, and the product is a stunning success.

Still, considering the cost, I think they all should be near perfect.

I would feel better to know if defects are limited to a certain range of serial numbers.  

[Chuck_S]

R93x will fly out tonight and be in Deer Park in the morning.  I've been trained by Gunsite instructors (and dozens of NCOS!) so I know it's not me.  First day's shooting was uneventful.  This pistol is too difficult to fieldstrip to work on, and the FedEx charge is reasonable since it's all under 2-1/2 pounds in the box.

-- Chuck

[R9SCarry]

Tom - well re cracked slide aspect - I have posted quite a bit of my thoughts in the thread on same. --

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=R9S;action=display;num=1128349316

I consider this a metallurgical problem and not an inherent design fault.

The failures tho - you know this is a tricky one.  Hardest of all is to see so many pups that behave well and then we have a significant number of cases where it seems reliability is compromized.  And yes, this is a concern for sure.  I cannot as yet satisfy myself as to an explanation - much theorizing but no hard answers.  I said to someone here a while back - wish to blazes I could see and try first hand, any troublesome guns.  Not because I'd have any easy answer necessarily but just to experience the troubles and to try and deduce what is going on.

As ever with semi's mag's are critical - angle of presentation of rounds is vital.  And yet - since some earlier mag' issues when my guns came out - I had felt that mag's were now very much consistent and sorted out.

Without the ''troublemakers'' in hand to shoot - I am still very much in a vacuum, I must admit.

[Brenden]

I do know that if there is a problem-Rohrbaugh will take care of it!!

I just talked to Karl yesterday and this is a person that cares about the people that are using his product!!

I feel for everyone that is having a problem,of one kind or another,but please know that this pup of ours will stay the course..

I would not carry it to protect my wife and kids, if I did not feel this way!!

I do know that I carry daily with a pup,and that I own more than 2..

Wish the best for all my fellow pup owners..

[Michigunner]

Very well said, Brenden.