I bought a DW valor commander in 9mm and I'm having issues with it.  My self defense ammo (147g HST and GD) works in it fine.  Range ammo does not.  I've tried WWB 115, Speer FMJ 115 and 125, Aguila 125, blazer brass 115 and 125.  It's not the mags - I've tried 20ish mags including factory DW, factory SA, Wilson and McCormick.  All those mag/ammo combos work 100% in my Springfield RO.  What's happening is that the fired case isn't extracting from the barrel and the slide is trying to pick up another round behind it (although it doesn't make it all the way to the rim on the new round).  Jams it up real nice.  It happens every shot with this ammo.

Extractor tension is ok and it works fine with heavier SD ammo.  I get the feeling that the chamber is too tight or the recoil spring is too stiff for the weaker loads and they don't have enough power to cycle the slide properly. But why is the extractor letting go of the fired round in the barrel? Possible a chamber that's too tight (match chamber)?

I only have about 250 rds through it.  Should I put another 500 through it and see if it breaks in better before sending it back to DW or should I just send it back now?

What do y'all think?

Just wait for the DW fanboys to show up

I believe you are on the right track with the recoil spring being to heavy. I have seen tight chambers in DWs before tho. But usually they won't chamber all the way not FTE. To check the chamber plunk test a box of the rounds that you are having the issue with. But I would try a lighter recoil spring atleast until the gun is broken in they are cheap and good way to rule it out. If that doesn't work send it back.

I would suspect the chamber given what I have heard in the past. It has never happened to mine though.

I think a pistol that cost that much money should run perfectly out of the box.

My feelings exactly..... but I do know 9mm 1911s can be tricky, especially commander or shorter length.  I'll give DW a chance to make it work before passing judgement

Turn the dw into a safe queen & simply use the springfield ro that runs flawlessly.

Send back to DW and make them fix it. I love my DWs but, they occasionally error on the side of too tight with barrel fittong.

Send it back to DW and have them fix it.

I have two DW 9mm Specialist Commanders and they have both been flawless.

I'm not picking on DW either it's an industry wide issue IMO to many "higher end" guns get delivered that don't run.


Horrible advise guns are meant to be shot.

I have the same gun and it does the exact samething but just with WWB ammo.  Runs fine with everything thing else I have put through it so far.

In my experience, many high-end guns run inconsistently with 115 grain ammo.

LOL

The DW's are very nice tho

I had the same FTE issues with my new 9mm Valor Commander, and I mailed it back to Dan Wesson this week.  The breach face on mine seemed too wide, as it will not hold a loaded round flush against the breach face with the slide off.  I really like how the gun shoots, so I hope they can solve it.  We'll see what they find...

Just sent mine off today.  ill let you know what comes of it.

I just heard from Dan Wesson, and they tuned the extractor today.  I'm excited to get it back!

I have been having the exact same issue with my Dan Wesson Guardian.  The same issue where the shell stays in the barrel, the slide goes back and tries to pick up a fresh round but jams.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_5_49/176325_Dan-Wesson-Guardian-9mm-issues.html

tag for DW's response

Initially they told me I was probably limp wristing it, and was using the wrong oil.  I had multiple people shoot the gun, the same problem continued over and over.  I purchased the recommended oil, FP-10, didn't make any difference.  I hope they fix it on their first try, I have wasted 1100 rounds through the gun chocking all the way.  I also bought different types of mags.  I also tried many varieties of 9mm.

Quick update - DW Received the gun on 6/9/17.  Got an email this morning that the work was complete.  Here is a description of the work:  

I didnt clean it before sending it back to DW after my last range session so i get why they said that.  It had the issues when it was completely clean and heavily lubed as well.

It should be on its way back to me in 24 hours.  So far im impressed with the turn around time.  I'll update this thread when i get it back and get to run it through its paces.

If being dirty caused the chamber to need reaming and extractor tensioned none of my guns would work

Let us know how she runs after you get her back.

chamber reamed and polished. Throat & ramp polished

Don't know how much you know about semi-auto bbl's/chambers/throats. But that work is HUGE!!! Fitting a new bbl is 1 thing, re-cutting the chamber and throating the bbl and polishing everything says they have no idea what a no-go gauge is.

A picture of a cz 9mm bbl that isn't throated. Note the lead shaved off of the bullets in the end of the chamber.


What a springfield ro (9mm) bbl looks like. The ro bbl's have highly polished long throats and polished feed ramp.


You want your dw bbl to look like the ro bbl pictured above

Mine came back from DW with the same work.  Tuned extractor, reamed the chamber, and polished the feed ramp.  It passes the loaded round under the extractor test now, and I shot 200 trouble free rounds through it this weekend.

Great customer service from Dan Wesson!

I love how gun makers talk out of both sides of their mouth sometimes.

Marketing: "This state-of-the art tactical handgun was designed to function in extreme environments"
Customer Service: "Don't let it get dirty"