Ejection Direction

My new SD9VE ejects casings back in my face. Is this normal? Something I can adjust? Or send in to S&W?

No, it's not normal or correct. I'm no expert gunsmith, but from what I've read, the usual cause for this is the extractor needing to be adjusted. Me, I'd call S&W and have them send me a shipping label...let them fix it and test it with their ammo.

Good luck!

Not normal. S&W will fix it for you.

As a SD9VE user myself, I noticed this at the range. Funny enough, yesterday I went to the range and shot about 50 rounds and I got home late, jumped in the shower, then realized I needed to take my dog out so I put on the shorts I wore earlier. I put my hand in my pocket and actually found 2 casings in there from where they had managed to hitch a ride with me.

Back on track, is this happening at a range or when you are shooting on open land? Shooting out in the open, this never occurs for me. Shooting at the range, this happens quite a bit but I actually tracked the casing a few times while I was shooting and saw how it would end up hitting me in the head. When my cases eject, on a range, they eject high and to the right, which then hits the side walls that split lanes between each other, then (since the casing has forward magnitude of force in the upward direction upon impact of the wall) when it hits the wall, it still travels upwards and opposite direction (right to left) due to ricochet and ends up hitting my head.

Now, sorry to use basic physics to explain, but I have found that your issue is purely because of the speed the casing is ejected from the gun and hitting the wall of the shooting lane. If this is happening on open land, well that is a completely different issue altogether and I have no insight to help you other than to say: Call Smith and just ask them if they have heard of anyone else having this issue. If they have, ask them what they have had people do to fix the issue. It may turn out to be something as easy as a piece being loose or not put together correctly when you field stripped it and cleaned it. If they say to send it to them but they say you are subject to be charged, have them send you the forms and whatnot to do that but go to a local gunsmith and have them look at it. Most gunsmiths will diagnose a problem free of charge (at least in my encounters).

One more thing you can do, obviously do this in a safe place: load a magazine full and load the gun. Then cycle all the cartridges out yourself (just keep pulling the slide back 16 times) and notice the way they are all ejected. If they are going to the right, then when they are ejected after being fired, they are going to travel the same path but much faster. If they are going backwards (towards your rear sight) while you are manually ejecting cartridges... That's where you know there is definitely a mechanical problem. Also, try this with two magazines. Although they are meant to load new rounds, the mouth of the magazine could be pushing on the round in the chamber and altering the ejection path. Much less likely to be the problem but this would cover all of your bases.

Hope my lengthy response helps in some shape of form.

jpendergrass1 said:

...is this happening at a range or when you are shooting on open land? Shooting out in the open, this never occurs for me. Shooting at the range, this happens quite a bit but I actually tracked the casing a few times while I was shooting and saw how it would end up hitting me in the head. When my cases eject, on a range, they eject high and to the right, which then hits the side walls that split lanes between each other, then (since the casing has forward magnitude of force in the upward direction upon impact of the wall) when it hits the wall, it still travels upwards and opposite direction (right to left) due to ricochet and ends up hitting my head.

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That's a very good point...

jpendergrass1 said:

One more thing you can do, obviously do this in a safe place: load a magazine full and load the gun. Then cycle all the cartridges out yourself (just keep pulling the slide back 16 times) and notice the way they are all ejected.

Click to expand...

I'd recommend snap caps for this...rather than live rounds. They usually come in packs of 5 or so, but they are cheap and handy to have for dry firing, malfunction drills, etc. Much better than live rounds!

GKC said:

That's a very good point...





I'd recommend snap caps for this...rather than live rounds. They usually come in packs of 5 or so, but they are cheap and handy to have for dry firing, malfunction drills, etc. Much better than live rounds!

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I cannot believe I did not even think of snap caps... Yes, pretty cheap, about $17 at Academy Sports for a pack of 5 (granted they have them in stock). They are good to have to practice as well, even though modern semi's are able to be dry fired, if there is a way to put less stress on the integrity of the gun, it should be done.

It could be the ammo, you could try diff. stuff.

Weak ammo will do what your describing.


Make sure you're not limp wristing the gun.

Is the casing hitting the ejection port, any brass markings there ?

You could try keeping the slide in the rear position for a week or so also, help's breaking in recoil spring.

3

First time I was out side shooting when I noticed the rearward ejection so there was no bouncing off the wall. They were just coming straight back at my head. I was using 4 different types of ammo and didn't notice if it was ammo related. I'll try to pay closer attention to these details. Thanks for the tips. If the direction doesn't change after the breaking period, I'll give S&W a call. I have full confidence they will make it right.

It isn't you or the ammo.

it's the pistol.

They aren't supposed to do that, but from the posts on this forum it seems they frequently do.

kwalityguy said:

First time I was out side shooting when I noticed the rearward ejection so there was no bouncing off the wall.

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I venture to guess that your extractor needs to be adjusted...but S&W will take care of it.