Jamming issue while cocking

Jkr5p2

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Hi new to the forum and I am a first time gun owner and know a little about guns but I just recently purchased an SD40VE. I haven't had the pleasure yet of taking it to the range but have played around with it a ton practicing field stips and such. Recently I have noticed that when the magazine is loaded and I go to cock it the bullet gets stuck and doesnt allow the slide to full retract. This may be a dumb question but i know I've handled the bullets a bit while playing around with my gun. Do You need to lube the casings and such. I know they are likely dry form handling them and not sure if that's what's causing the cocking issue or if somthing else is going on. Thank for the help everyone.
 
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I guarantee you, you DO NOT need to lube the ammo. Clarify for us -- you load the magazine, insert it fully in to the pistol, draw the slide back as far as it will go -- and then what happens when you release the slide to go forward?
 
Welcome aboard and to the world of the gun club.

Please go out and purchase some "dummy rounds" for the next procedures --- for your safety of "no accidental discharge"(AD) and practice of not using live ammo.

When racking a slide, which is the term for this procedure, you hold the gun in one hand firmly and at comfortable level, with a locked arm to not move. You take other hand and pull back the slide with authority and release. Don't think about it, just do it. Let the gun do the thing in how it was built.

You also shouldn't use both hands/arms in a movement that looks like you're exercising in a back and forth motion.

Once you get comfortable with this move, it'll become very natural about where best to hold arm and hands for comfort and speed.

What I believe is happening for you is you're concentrating too much at a slow speed to make sure the round is extracted from the magazine and watching the round going into the chamber and it's hanging up on the ramp.

Anything different from what I've just described, then you need to take a picture to let us see what's happening, OR, take firearm back to dealer where bought, to have them see where the problem is and whether they/you need to return to S&W for corrections to make work under warranty.

Procedure to take gun to/into the gun store.

1: Make sure gun is unloaded/chamber is empty at home, before leaving out door. Check 2-3 times to be positive.

2: Go into gun store WITH OUT gun to let someone behind counter know you need to bring gun into store and that you're having trouble with your new gun and you need help/advice with it.

3: Let gun store employee TELL YOU how you're to bring gun into store and they know about it. Remember, they are armed, while you might not notice.

4: Hand gun to employee -- gun-butt first(barrel in your hand) or in it's gun box. They'll double check also that gun is unloaded/cleared for safety. If you have an extraction problem and there's a live round in chamber, then there's a whole other safety concern that needs addressed with handling measures.

5: Describe to them what problem(s) are. They'll usually have some dummy rounds to test with, or hand off gun to their gunsmith to check out(after filling out a form for legal temporary transfer, if takes more than a day). Don't leave without some form of receipt to show they have your gun.
 
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Wow - TriumphMan has it right.

The original poster, or anyone, should never experiment or practice with live rounds. I do use snapcaps in the house but even then treat the gun as if it could be loaded.

Once again, WOW!
 
Aside from live ammo what's happening is you're holding the slide. Pull back and let it go. As the slide hits the very back just let your hand continue going. The slide will automatically slam forward with enough energy to chamber the round and fully close.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
Aside from live ammo what's happening is you're holding the slide. Pull back and let it go. As the slide hits the very back just let your hand continue going. The slide will automatically slam forward with enough energy to chamber the round and fully close.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

ARIK is correct. To reinforce and clarify, we call this "sling shoting" the slide. Manually drawing back the slide and pushing it forward is not how the pistol was designed to be loaded.
Doing this can also damage the pistols extractor.
Being a new gun owner,you have a hard to resist curiosity and others who have mentioned this are correct.
Do not load live ammo until you are ready to shoot.
If your pistol will be loaded for home or personal defense, I strongly advise you to seek out a knowledgeable shooter or instructor to help you out.
Jim
 
Trying to cycle snap caps may not help you much. They aren't designed for that, and I know several people who had perfectly good new pistols but thought something was wrong when they tried to cycle with snap caps. If you reload, make up some "action-proving dummies", rounds loaded with no powder or primer. Lacking reloading capabilities, use live ammo, but scrupulously follow basic safety rules of keeping your finger off the trigger and keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
 
Once again- safety aside, I read the original post as not being able to fully rack the slide because he thinks bullets in the magazine are dragging on the slide as it is moving back. Is this the case?

As far as snap caps are concerned, they work just fine in my SD9VE but you do have to fully and smartly rack the slide because you are ejecting a full length item. (Same goes for clearing a loaded weapon)
 
Thanks everyone. Yes I know Its not the best idea to be using live ammo while practicing but to be clear I was doing so as safely as possible. That said I will pick up some dummy rounds for the future.

I thought for sure when I was having the issue I was pulling back the slide I would let it go completely but I suppose there is a chance I may have unknowingly held it a bit to slow it down. What would happen is the bullet would come up to the chamber but it would come in angles upward a bit so it would cause the slide to not be able to fully retract back into firing position. I'll try out the suggestions and post pictures and such if the issue continues. Thanks everyone for the help.
 
Thanks for the clarification. I, and maybe others, thought the jam/drag was occurring when you pulled the slide back.

Regarding snapcaps, I don't remember where I bought mine for 9mm but they are red, hard anodized aluminum and work fine, but do accumulate some nicks when used. It's clear that 9mm Luger rounds do have a slight advantage when going home because the cartridge is tapered.
 
No issue with jamming

Thanks again everyone. Picked up some dummy rounds and everyone was right I was just being a ***** with the slide. Pulling it all the way back and letting it slam closed is what it's supposed to do. Guess I was just trying to be to gentle with it. Gotta grab my nuts a bit more when I rack it that's all haha. Thanks again.
 
Thanks again everyone. Picked up some dummy rounds and everyone was right I was just being a ***** with the slide. Pulling it all the way back and letting it slam closed is what it's supposed to do. Guess I was just trying to be to gentle with it. Gotta grab my nuts a bit more when I rack it that's all haha. Thanks again.


Glad you found the firearm was working correctly. It happens with new owners and is a learning curve that everyone goes through.

Glad you got some dummy rounds also, as you never know and it's best not to learn the hard way.

Also, as a new gun owner, have you learned or know of the 4 gun safety rules? Worth memorizing for yourself and teaching others who want to learn gun shooting or ownership.
 
Thanks for the clarification. I, and maybe others, thought the jam/drag was occurring when you pulled the slide back.

Regarding snapcaps, I don't remember where I bought mine for 9mm but they are red, hard anodized aluminum and work fine, but do accumulate some nicks when used. It's clear that 9mm Luger rounds do have a slight advantage when going home because the cartridge is tapered.
Bought mine on Amazon and the work great. Do not get the plastic kind.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
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