Posted: 11/30/2010 3:11:00 PM EDT
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I've got a 9c and I've posted in the S&W forum but have had low post counts.
The issue is that it won't chamber HP's reliably. The round count is around 1000 and feeds FMJ without any problems. What is happening is the nose of the bullet is striking the feed ramp and it takes some time before the slide spring pulls the round into the chamber. This occurs regardless if I drop the slide release or slingshot. If I lightly push on the slide, it'll chamber without issue. Being my carry piece, I cannot have issues like this. Does anyone know why I'm having this problem? The ramp is polished with no burrs so that is not the issue. Edit: I like the pistol but I'm tempted to get an XD because of this. |
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Strip it down. Use your finger to feel the feed ramp for any slight burs. Polish the feed ramp with a Dremel felt wheel. Got more than one mag, right? Does it happen with both/all? Make sure the mag isn't sitting too low in the grip. As a last resort, call S&W. Good luck. |
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Quoted: Yep. The feed ramp is nice and shiny with no burrs. It's almost like the feed ramp is too steep and the flat corner if the HP is having alot of resistance when trying to chamber. Either the ramp is too steep or the mags aren't sitting high enough in the frame. |
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If your pistol is feeding ball ammunition without problem. It speaks to the fact your issue is with the brand of hollow point your using. Have done several threads on this very issue. Not every brand of hollow point is made to run in every feed set up. It's likely an OAL.or bullet ogive issue. Without pictures or knowing brand of bullet. I can only guess, that said. Try a shorter oal hollow point with a non-nickel plate case. Its not a feed ramp issue. I'm fairly sure of that. Try switching brands. If that doesn't solve your problem it's most likely an extractor issue requiring S&W to correct. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
I've tried Winchester, Speer and Federal and have had the same issues. From memory, OAL on the FMJ was around 1.150 and the OAL on the HP's was around 1.110. Defensive cases like Federal and Hornady are two that come to mind that have measurably thicker case rims. Case heads and webbing are stronger and case wall thicker. Winchester Nickel plate brass is also thicker because of plating. That explained. You've tried three different types of self defense ammunition. Smith & Wesson will issue a call tag. 800-331-0852, ext. 2904 -or- 413-781-8300, ext. 2905. When calling for call tag explain your issue with SD Ammunition. Explain what brands you've tried and failure experienced. I would also include a letter shipped inside your factory gun case on top of pistol. Include your daytime phone number. |
| Call S&W and ask for them to send you a call tag for shipping on thier dime . Send it in to them with all the mags and a letter telleing them what the problem is . They will resolve your problem ,simple as that . Do not alter the pistol in any way or you may void your warenteen . |
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I contacted S&W and since I'm not the original owner, I have to pay the shipping and for any repairs.
I was also working with it more today and found a "unique" issue. With the barrel pointing down, it's very hard to chamber. When the barrel is horizontal, it chambers but gets hung up. With the barrel pointed up, it chambers fine. This goes back to the feed ramp but it seems more like the barrel isn't fully tilting which is causing the issue. |
| There should be up and down movement when your pistol isn't in full battery. I can explain by saying your case rims are locking into extractor groove. Send it to Smith & Wesson. Your problem isn't something you should fix. Pay the shipping and be done with it. |
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Quoted:
I contacted S&W and since I'm not the original owner, I have to pay the shipping and for any repairs. I was also working with it more today and found a "unique" issue. With the barrel pointing down, it's very hard to chamber. When the barrel is horizontal, it chambers but gets hung up. With the barrel pointed up, it chambers fine. This goes back to the feed ramp but it seems more like the barrel isn't fully tilting which is causing the issue. Try again. They have never asked me if I was the orig owner the 2 times I sent gun back. Just tell them your problem and ask for a call tag |
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Quoted:
I contacted S&W and since I'm not the original owner, I have to pay the shipping and for any repairs. I was also working with it more today and found a "unique" issue. With the barrel pointing down, it's very hard to chamber. When the barrel is horizontal, it chambers but gets hung up. With the barrel pointed up, it chambers fine. This goes back to the feed ramp but it seems more like the barrel isn't fully tilting which is causing the issue. That sucks. I wouldn't pay for repairs on a gun that they screwed up. Clearly the original owner wasnt in there tinkering with the feed ramp in order to make it feed FMJ only and nothing else... |
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Quoted:
I had also sent an email to which the reply was that they were sent a shipping label out to me. I guess it all depends on who you talk to. Hopefully, they'll be able to fit it. I really like it but it bothers me since this is a CCW piece. If sent with letter as earlier outlined it will be sent back CCW ready. S&W went above and beyond on a .22lr pistol I bought used a few years back. Just can't say enough good about that experience. |
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Quoted:
I contacted S&W and since I'm not the original owner, I have to pay the shipping and for any repairs. I was also working with it more today and found a "unique" issue. With the barrel pointing down, it's very hard to chamber. When the barrel is horizontal, it chambers but gets hung up. With the barrel pointed up, it chambers fine. This goes back to the feed ramp but it seems more like the barrel isn't fully tilting which is causing the issue. how do they know your not the original owner? |
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all you mention is sticky chambering when hand feeding the first round into the chamber - you are fully releasing the slide and not riding it forward correct?
also how does it function after that? I've seen guns that chamber the first hand cycled round with some difficult but feed flawlessly with firing- let us know how it works actually shooting magazines of hollow points thru the gun- that is the only way to tell in any gun if it going to work with your chosen hollow point. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Yep. The feed ramp is nice and shiny with no burrs. It's almost like the feed ramp is too steep and the flat corner if the HP is having alot of resistance when trying to chamber. Either the ramp is too steep or the mags aren't sitting high enough in the frame. ^^that M&Ps are intended to feed HPs. If yours doesn't, S&W did it wrong. I'd call them and get it made right. |
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Quoted:
all you mention is sticky chambering when hand feeding the first round into the chamber - you are fully releasing the slide and not riding it forward correct? also how does it function after that? I've seen guns that chamber the first hand cycled round with some difficult but feed flawlessly with firing- let us know how it works actually shooting magazines of hollow points thru the gun- that is the only way to tell in any gun if it going to work with your chosen hollow point. All rounds do this. You can actually feel the hesitation of the slide going back into battery when firing. |
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Well, I've been able to get it running reliably again.
I've always been very meticulous about cleaning my firearms and this is no different. At the end of each cleaning session, I always lube the wear points. Out of boredom today, I hosed everything down again and this time tried it dry (no lube or oil). I ran better but still wasn't perfect. So, this time instead of gun oil or grease, I wiped down the rails with CLP and also swabbed the feed ramp. This time, it functioned flawlessly. So, this brings up a different possibility that the recoil spring is worn. The tolerances are pretty loose on the 9c as is but if going from a medium oil to a very light oil seemingly corrected the issue, then it could mean that the recoil spring doesn't have enough strength to start pulling the HP up the ramp in anything but ideal conditions. |
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Update:
S&W kept screwing me around so I ordered a new recoil spring from Midway. It took 3 days to get here and there is an immediate improvement. You can actually feel the difference in the weight of the spring and it is now chambering HP flawlessly, from dropping the slide release to slingshotting. I'm not that happy with S&W customer service but who cares. I solved the problem and its functioning again the way it should. |