First Range day with M&P 9c 3.6

[rangemeister]

I usually have an indifference with striker fired guns as I have never been able to shoot one, bar my Sig P365. I wanted an M&P 9c 3.6 for some reason and finally found one.

I made it to the range this afternoon and normally do not judge accuracy until I know the gun actually functions properly for a few hundred rounds. Well, today I veered from that strategy and after 165 rounds of mixed 115 gr FMJ and JHP, I was pleased well enough to try this guns accuracy.

Wow, I am really pleased now. I had absolutely no malfunctions after the 170 rds, but, the recoil spring DID work it's way off the guide rod. Guess I will call SW. They need to fix this. Not certain what would happen if the spring worked it's way off the rod and got caught between the rod and frame. Hmmm....

I did have a flyer but am pleased what these old eyes did at this distance.

 

[Rastoff]

The spring can't come off the guide rod while in the gun. The slide won't allow it.

 

[rangemeister]

The spring can't come off the guide rod while in the gun. The slide won't allow it.

Maybe so, but the spring should not escape the guide rod. Called SW and she said the part should not do that so they are sending another. Hope this one works. Have read in other posts on this forum some are having the same issue.

 

[Bozz10mm]

Have read in other posts on this forum some are having the same issue.

I had that issue with my Shield 45 when it was new. Ain't no getting it put back together again either. They sent me a new one that has worked fine for the last 1k rounds.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Not certain what would happen if the spring worked it's way off the rod and got caught between the rod and frame. Hmmm....

The spring worked itself free of the RSA seat on my 9mm Shield 1.0. while shooting on the range. Jammed the slide tight. The RSO took it to the range gunsmith shop, where the smith got it apart in 15 minutes. He then spent half an hour reworking the RSA and got it to function until the replacement arrived four months later (RSA shortage at that time).

 

[Rastoff]

Maybe so, but the spring should not escape the guide rod.

Yes, I agree. The RSA is supposed to be a captured spring and as such should not come off the rod.

But I was speaking to this:

Not certain what would happen if the spring worked it's way off the rod and got caught between the rod and frame. Hmmm....

Just trying to allay your concerns about malfunction. What you suggest in this sentence will not happen.

S&W will replace the RSA for you, but you can still use your gun without concern while waiting for the replacement.

 

[Stu Honea]

Yes, I agree. The RSA is supposed to be a captured spring and as such should not come off the rod.

But I was speaking to this:Just trying to allay your concerns about malfunction. What you suggest in this sentence will not happen.

S&W will replace the RSA for you, but you can still use your gun without concern while waiting for the replacement.

Totally agree with this. No trouble with mine on my 3.6 so far but I've considered just ordering one and paying for it to have a spare on hand since there may be some issues with these.

 

[rangemeister]

I don't know if anything is for sure. I had a Kanr PM45 spring come loose and the front coil of the recoil spring curled around the outside of the front of the frame. I had just finished my range session and like bigwheelzip rec'd assistance to diagnose problem. Is it possible for the spring to split? And if so what sort of problems would that cause? Others have posted this occurrence on the M&P. Trust me, I am not wanting to stir it up, just thinking out loud. Thanks

 

[Flyingfool]

Going to the range for 1st trip with my 3.6 in less than an hour!

Hope to put at least 100 or more through it and my shield.

I will be sure to keep an eye on the rsa spring.

Sure seems like a washer like rhe opposite end of the spring would solve this problem. But what do I know??

 

[Rastoff]

1911s and many other handguns have had non-captured recoil springs for over 100 years and none of them have a problem. The only value to having a captured spring is easy of disassembly.

Once it's in the gun, the "captured" part of the RSA is irrelevant.

 

[rangemeister]

Going to the range for 1st trip with my 3.6 in less than an hour!

Hope to put at least 100 or more through it and my shield.

I will be sure to keep an eye on the rsa spring.

Sure seems like a washer like rhe opposite end of the spring would solve this problem. But what do I know??

Like a couple of others I read about on this forum, around 150, but who knows? Smith knows they have a problem, just fix it already. I ask their CS rep if she was sending me the same item to replace and she said yes, and hoped it worked out ok????

 

[Songcatcher]

Is the 3.6" a 9C? I assumes it was an M 2.0?

 

[ScottS]

1911s and many other handguns have had non-captured recoil springs for over 100 years and none of them have a problem. The only value to having a captured spring is easy of disassembly.

Once it's in the gun, the "captured" part of the RSA is irrelevant.

Perhaps a 1911 is not the best analogy, as it was designed to have a non-captured recoil spring. In that, I mean it's designed to be reassembled with a non-captured spring.


Having been there, done that on a 2.0 Compact that decided to "convert" itself into a non-captured spring, I can tell you it's a stone b1tch to get the RSA back into the gun with the spring half-way off the end of the guide rod. Once it's in, you're good to go, as you said. But I worked seemingly forever to get that spring compressed down, held in place, and then get that little guide rod lined up. Ugh.

 

[rangemeister]

Is the 3.6" a 9C? I assumes it was an M 2.0?

Yes, the 3.6 is in 9mm and the 2.0 version. Most accurate striker fired pistol beyond 10 yds I have ever fired.

 

[Flyingfool]

Well my first time to the range with my 3.6 9c and it went great.

Got about 150 rounds through it. Mostly Blazer 115 FMJ, but also ran some 124 grain HST and some Hornady critical defense. Zero malfunctions. Including a few 5 round bursts as fast as I could pull the trigger.

Got back home and the RSA appears perfectly normal so far!

It shot great groups and I do like the feel better than my shield.

The only problem was my groups are low and left. But, I also shoot my shield low and left. So clearly it is my grip and/or trigger control and not the gun!

I REALLY like this gun!!!!

I NEED to get a holster for it and start to carry it as soon as I put more rounds down range and test out more SD ammo for the combo I will carry.

 

[Rastoff]

Having been there, done that on a 2.0 Compact that decided to "convert" itself into a non-captured spring, I can tell you it's a stone b1tch to get the RSA back into the gun with the spring half-way off the end of the guide rod.

I believe you.

Once it's in, you're good to go,...

This was my one and only point. The OP was concerned that the gun would malfunction, it won't.

Glocks have a plastic guide rod. I actually saw a guy launch his guide rod out the front of the gun when the guide rod failed; the gun continued to work fine.

As I said before, S&W will replace it for free, and they should. The captured spring is the difference between a simple assembly and a test of your contortion abilities.