Anybody know anything? Is the 0L making it different that a standard Smith/Walther 99?
Anybody have any experience with them and what they are worth used?

The biggest difference is how the striker is fired. A SW99 has a decocker system that allows the pistol to act like a traditional da/sa. The 990L is setup more like a Glock, with a short double action trigger. This may or not be a problem for you, depending on how you feel about double action trigger pulls, then switching to single action. I prefer my SW99 for its firing system.
As for price, I probably wouldn't pay over $600 for even a perfect example. Plastic guns just aren't worth the same money to me as the third gens are. $400 to $550 is about what I would expect to pay for a nice example, less for a heavily used model.

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J.D. Roy

ok, well I traded for a compact one today. it looks like new, and is all black, has a case, and a couple of mags.
I Traded a used keltec p3at and a few boxes of 380 ammo, so I think I did Ok.
It does have the shortest trigger stroke I have seen. Feels like a single action.
A couple of questions, how many backstraps did they come with originally, I have
two, am I missing one?
I changed out the rounder backstrap for a thinner one and like it better.
Also does the gun have a last shot hold open feature?

Mine doesn't appear to which is strange for a 9mm.

Overall looks like a well made gun, sort of mini glock looking gun. But very well made frame, springs look super heavy duty, everything looks heavy duty on the gun.

The compact only comes with 2 backstraps and yes it should lock open on the last shot. Does it lock open with an empty magazine if you cycle it manually?

No, it doesn't stay open with an empty mag, that is what concerns me.
You can see on the picture the mag doesn't sit exactly flush, but it seems to load bullets fine( I have not shot it), the mag doesn't move around any once loaded.
What could be the problem if you know?

Tried both mags, neither mag will hold the slide open, and the springs seem ok in both, I don't think the gun was used much at all.

If your magazine springs are weak the slide won't lock back. Find a new magazine or new magazine springs and your problem will most likely be fixed. If that doesn't fix it call S&W, they have great customer service.

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J.D. Roy

I just tried my 99C. The magazine fit is the same as yours with a slight gap below the grip. When racking the slide with an empty magazine the slide must go ALL THE WAY to the rear for it to latch. It takes a pretty good push to get it back far enough. I have never had a problem with it latching back when shooting it. I would wait until you have a chance to shoot it before assuming a problem.

ok, I tried slamming it all the way to the rear, did not work no matter the force. Maybe it does need a bullet fired.
I never seen one where the magazine follower didn't activate it, but maybe that is the case with this pistol.
Guess I will take your advice and wait to shoot it before sending it back to Smith.

As they say in the NFL "Upon further review". I tried another magazine in my 99c and it locked back much easier. I also tried my Walther P99 (full size) and it was also easy as were the Walther mags in the 99c. The Walther followers are different than the S&W followers, both in shape and color. The Walther followers are black and the S&W white. I know the .40 cal mags have had 4 different followers but am not aware of any variations in the 9mm.

The 990L has the same action as the Walther P99QA model, with the exception that S&W eliminated the small decocking button on the top left of the slide so that the action would not be accidentally decocked, since getting the action "ready" again requires that the slide be pulled back 1/4 of an inch or so.

The SW99 has the same action as the Walther P99.

Looks to me like the floorplate finger extension is interfereing with the magazine fully seating.

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Mama, take this badge offa me

Well it's probably going back to Smith, I can't get the thing to hold open and it looks like it has some tiny rust spots on the rear slide anyway.

Anyone know if the mags that came with the gun were both flat bases, or did the gun come with one flat and one with the curved finger extension like the one in the photo?
That's what I have now, one flat based, one with the finger extension.

My 99C came with one of each.

thanks railbender, that's what I thought. So the gun I have doesn't have any funky mags or mag extensions added. Everything is stock.

It just won't hold the slide open and is rusting.
Just great.
I have looked at it up and down and nothing is stopping the mag followers from pushing up the lever. In fact they do it quite well with the slide off. Put the slide back on and sometimes the slide will hold open, most of the time it won't.
Now, it could be just tired magazine springs, but I don't think so, unless it's got some ****** springs, the gun is only 4 years old, and both mags going weak at the same time?

It wouldn't surprise me if it's bad springs, the gun seems flaky. What a piece of junk finish as well.
I think I will pass on the melonite treatments from now on, and just get stainless, which can be buffed out. Seems if they get a discolored pre-rust spot to melonite,forget it, it's staying.
I am Disappointed in my newest Smith. I like the trigger, that's about it.
I like my Sigma better.
If only I could put the 99OL trigger on the Sigma... hmmmm...
Hey, then I would have a M&P!

I have a SW99OL and it is a dream. Sorry you've had problems, and I hope they're corrected by now.

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