M&P 9mm Pro Series 4.25" Ejection Problem

[modraker]

My new pistol has been flawless during its first 500 rounds with the exception of an annoying ejection problem. I am a right-handed shooter and the brass is ejecting into my right cheek/ear/shoulder area. Putting aside limp wristing as a possibility, could it be the ammo or the gun itself? I use CCI Blazer 115 gr.

 

[OKFC05]

Mine (same gun) did the same at first with my wimp barely 125 power factor 9mm range ammo, particularly with women shooters.
Since I intended it to be used by any and all with whatever ammo, I got an ISMI spring 1# lighter than stock and installed it (Brownells). Issue resolved.

First thing I would try is some other ammo.

Of course, it is possible that S&W needs to adjust the gun for you (extractor/ejector).

 

[modraker]

Thanks for the advice, OKFC05. I'll try different ammo first. I must admit though that the spring solution is really tempting because it goes for just $8.95.

 

[OldFencer]

Modraker I'm experience the same "brass rain" with my 9. I'm using 115 and don't think I'm limp wristing. I'd be curious to hear what a change in ammo has. Would appreciate a post-range post.

 

[modraker]

At long last, I made it to the range today. I shot 50 rounds of Remington UMC, 115 grains x 1145 fps (power factor = 131) and 50 rounds of Winchester USA, 115 grains x 1190 fps (power factor = 136). Both brands ejected at 4 o'clock and landed about 2 to 3 feet away. Not a single brass case hit me in the right cheek/neck area. So I have to say it's the CCI Blazer aluminum case that was giving me the problem. While they claim a power factor identical to the Remington UMC, their cases don't eject in the same pattern.

 

[Tactial9]

I'm having the same problem. I just pickup up a M&P 9mm and it was discharging into my chest and often hitting the top of my head. I know I wasn't limp wristing because 3 others shot the gun and had the same problem. I ran 180 rounds through it and the same problem occurred all day. I was using American Eagle 124 grain full metal jacket ammo. Any ideas on what could be causing this?

 

[BillR1]

My .40 5" Pro does this pretty regularly. (~20% of the time)
It did it with the stock recoil spring, and also does it with a 13# spring.
Open to suggestions...

 

[modraker]

I still have quite a few boxes of the CCI Blazer so I'll be going back to the range with them. Maybe my 9mm Pro 4.25" is starting to loosen up and that's why I had some success with the other ammo. I also ordered two Wolff springs (15 lb & 14 lb) and a guide rod which should be here in about two weeks. If this doesn't work, I'll have to decide whether to send the gun back to S&W, bite the bullet by using more expensive ammo or get rid of the gun.

 

[modraker]

Went to the Clark County Shooting Park yesterday and fired off 150 rounds of CCI Blazer (9mm 115gr aluminum case) using the 15 lb Wolff recoil spring. Whereas the factory 16 lb recoil spring was ejecting cases toward my right shoulder area, the weaker spring was now ejecting them toward my forehead. I had a couple go down my back. So much for the weaker spring solution. I am going back to the factory recoil spring next trip and I am going to try some CCI/Speer Lawman ammo.

 

[DustyDawg48]

Just for the sake of argument, is the ejection problem only occurring with aluminum cased ammo or with both aluminum and brass?

 

[modraker]

The ejection at 5 to 6 o'clock occurs only with the aluminum case CCI Blazer ammo. I've shot Winchester USA and Remingtion UMC brass case ammo and they have ejected at 4 o'clock albeit weakly.

 

[DustyDawg48]

It's been such a long time since I've shot anything other than my own reloads that I have a hard time remembering if I had any problems but I think ive heard of a few people complaining about shooting some and having that problem when using aluminum cased ammo. It shouldn't matter but maybe in your case you gun just doesn't like the aluminum stuff.

 

[modraker]

In researching the weak ejection issue of the M&P, I find that it is a fairly common problem among shooters who use the less expensive 9mm 115gr ammo with muzzle velocities hovering around 1150 fps. I should probably consider myself lucky that I'm only having a problem with the Blazer aluminum case.

 

[DustyDawg48]

I had great luck with Blazer brass but never shot their aluminum stuff in my 9mm, only in my .45. With the exception of just a few days ago when I got a couple of boxes of factory ammo in a trade deal I haven't shot factory 9 or .45 in years but what I have noticed is that several of the factory standard target rounds are weak or just flat out junk. I hate to say it but Winchester White Box is some of the worst I've seen shot in 9 and .380; some of it is incredibly dirty or just plain weak (love the brass though....)

there are several possibilities from your gun just has a personality and it doesn't like that type of ammo, to your grip needs work or the ejector just needs a tweak. Has anyone else shot it? If you have a shooting buddy have them run some and see what it does with a different shooter and/or different ammo; I think it's the aluminum cased stuff and it may just be your gun doesn't like them.

 

[modraker]

I think my gun just plain hates the aluminum cases. My son-in-law has shot it with the same results. I contacted S&W customer service for some advice and they said "send it to us and we'll take a look". Before I do that though, I think I'll give it a steady diet of Speer Lawman. If it likes that ammo, I'll just bite the bullet and buy the more expensive stuff. It's better to practice with hotter FMJ anyway.

 

[DustyDawg48]

When I have used factory target ammo I've had pretty good luck with Federal, might be worth a try to pick up a box to see if that doesn't help.

 

[modraker]

I've had partial success with Winchester USA and Remington UMC. So it wouldn't hurt to try Federal. I'll pick up a box and include it for my next target day. Thanks.

 

[DustyDawg48]

I've had partial success with Winchester USA and Remington UMC. So it wouldn't hurt to try Federal. I'll pick up a box and include it for my next target day. Thanks.

Good luck, I hope you get it worked out. If you do have to send it to Smith they will pay for shipping both ways and should take excellent care of you. Let us know how it goes!

 

[modraker]

14lb Wolff Recoil Spring Solves My Problem

The original 16lb recoil spring ejected empty cases into my right shoulder area. The replacement 15lb Wolff spring ejected the cases right into forehead or directly over my head.

Today, I shot 200 rounds of Blazer 9mm 115gr aluminum case with a Wolff 14lb recoil spring in my S&W M&P. Guess what? All but 2 cases ejected satisfactorily.

Now I'm wondering if I should keep the 14lb spring in my gun even while shooting defensive loads.