Posted: 10/29/2004 1:55:00 AM EDT
| My wife and I bought his and hers SW99s (in 9mm) because we wanted to train on the same gun for possible CCP. I cleaned it as directed in the instruction book and found the slide was a little hard to open for take down. After reassembly I checked the function and it seemed to dry fire fine. I took the SW 99 to the NRA range and fired it by placing one round in the magazine and shot a bullseye at 30 feet. The gun was soft with little recoil. First time with a plastic gun and I was impressed. It holds well in your hand and points well too. However, the second round failed to extract and the rest on the next 13 rounds stove piped. I sent an email to SW to see if I needed to return it. I asked if they will cover the warranty and let me take it to my local gun smith who is one of the best in my area being recognised by many of the federal. agencies as the go to guy for problems. Any insight on this problem would be welcomed. Thanks |
| What ammo? Make sure you are using new, factory stuff of good quality. Are you sure you were not "limp wristing" the pistol? Not a flame, but a light pistol and a shooter unaccustomed to shooting an auto can do this pretty easily. Also try a different magazine in the gun and see if it still happens. That ought to get you started. (And S&W will fix it for you if it needs it, but can't say about letting you take it to your local guy.) |
| Good info. Thanks. I have a Browning Hi Power and put through about 3000 rds with only 3-4 stacks. My ammo for the SW99 is Winchester target ammo. I can try some +p+ in and see. I did notice that breaking down the gun is very difficult. The take down catch is difficult to work. Thanks for your help, it is appreciated. |
| I would think your ammo is OK, assuming you mean standard type 9mm FMJ hardball and not some sort of semiwadcutter bullet design, etc. The gun should not need +P+ to operate correctly, although it will not hurt it to fire the +P+ loads. I would definitely try a magazine from the other gun and see if that helps. Maybe also let someone else shoot it and see if they have the same issues? Have you fired the second gun, and if so did it work OK? |
| let me update on the problen. I called SW and the gunsmith said to try Federal 155gr as that was what they use at the factory and let him know. If the problem continues they will fedex a box to me for return and fix it. Today I went to the range and tried several types of ammo and the other gun too. I had one stack - and as luck would have - it in the next stall was a NRA certified instructor well known in the N.VA area who uses SW99s as his primary teaching gun. We talked and he looked it over. He said to tell SW it has a failure to extract problem as he got to see it. I shot about 150 rds and for the last 50 I used my wifes magazines. It worked well. I did have one failure to load as the mag was not all the way in. So cannot count that one as a problem. I also made sure today that the catch was tight too and maybe that corrected the last range visit problems. I do think the more you shoot it the better it works. Also, wonder if I over oiled it after the first cleaning? One problem with both guns is that i could not load hollow points. First one loaded but not any of the others in all the magazines. Maybe there is a breakin period. I plan on taking another 100 rds and both guns to the range Monday. All my ammo is name brand and not reloads. Lastly, I also shot my Hi power today and the hollow points that did not feed in the S99s fed no problem in the Browning. Will report back after my next range visit. Appreciate the comments and expertise you folks have. Thanks. |
|
Time for another update! well I have put through another 300 rds (150 each gun) and they work very well with the Hi cap mags SW sent me. The 10 rds mags work fine but not with JHP ammo as I get a FTF problem with the lower lip of the round catching on the feed ramp. Again the Hi caps work fine so far with JHP. The guns are a pleasure to shoot and the trigger is soft but trips very crisply. I find it helps stay on target and I am pleased with the ability to drill paper bullseyes. I am thinking that the original Winchester TARGET ammo was not very hot and may have been the cause of the original FTE problems. Since then I have used 5 types of standared ammo and all worked well. An interesting problem that has come up is the rear sight moves on my gun. I moved it back with my fingers and it was good to go. I think I will get some Trijicon sights and have my Gunsmith put them on. So unless I get more problems I see no reason to return it to the factory. Appreciate your responses and hope my experiences have been of use to you all. Thanks, |
|
You can install the Trijicon night sights yourself, the front sight is removable using the supplied allen wrench, but the night sight uses a small hex headed screw, (3/16) IIRC. I couldn't tighten it fully with a socket so I just used a brass punch to tap the edge of the hex head. It came lose on firing so I then used locktite (blue) and I has not moved. The rear site is just held in with a detent and is very easy to replace, you just have to be careful to not lose the detent and spring. The rear sight adjustment screw it reused on the night sights too, and it is LH threaded so right to losen. I got mine here they were about $87 shipped, it was the best price I found. Brian ETA: I'm glad you got your problems figured out, I really like mine and night sights rock. |
|
Yes, I ordered the P99 sights listed on that linked page, they are the same as a SW99 if you look at Trijicon's site they are the same part number. The really funny part of the whole thing was I was qouted a price of $120 + instalation at a gun smith in Spokane. They said the sights have to be fitted, I asked what kind of fit they need, ie interference spec and they said "real tight" needless to say I didn't go for them. Brian |