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Bullet won't feed into chamber completely
- Thread starter Asap44
- Start date
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Well, there could be several reasons.
When you load cartridges into the magazine, are you loading it to capacity?
Are you new to semiautos? Just wondering.
Racking the slide should involve a "slingshot " effect, pull the slide back completely and release quickly. If you are riding the slide, keeping a hand on it, could cause this issue. Watch a few videos if you're unsure if you're doing it correctly.
Remember, that it has a slide lock not a slide release. Releasing the slide by the lever may not generate enough force to properly load a cartridge as the slide is not fully back and compressing the springs.
Did you try with only a few rounds in the magazine? Again, just troubleshooting.
When you load cartridges into the magazine, are you loading it to capacity?
Are you new to semiautos? Just wondering.
Racking the slide should involve a "slingshot " effect, pull the slide back completely and release quickly. If you are riding the slide, keeping a hand on it, could cause this issue. Watch a few videos if you're unsure if you're doing it correctly.
Remember, that it has a slide lock not a slide release. Releasing the slide by the lever may not generate enough force to properly load a cartridge as the slide is not fully back and compressing the springs.
Did you try with only a few rounds in the magazine? Again, just troubleshooting.
Danby
Member
Had similar issues with mine, would failure to feed every third round or so. Also erratically ejected casings.. do you notice the casings sometimes going upward, or out at different angles often? Sent mine back to S&W where it took about two months for repair (still don't have it).. believe it needed extractor replacement. Should have it back in about two weeks.
No I just bought the gun and I don't have the original paperwork so I can't send it off to smith and Wesson, also I have had multiple semiautos, but this just won't fully load, I'm thinking there's something wrong with the barrel or another part because it looks like the bullets won't fit or sumthing and they are all 40 shells, do u think a local gunstore or gunsmith would be able to help solve this problem
Danby
Member
I'm sure your local gunsmith can take a look at it. Probably something simple enough..
Disabled1
US Veteran
This is NOT exactly true! I have owned several S&W guns that I had not bought new, but from someone else and S&W honored the warranty on them. In fact, my SD9VE is my only current S&W that I did not buy new. My son sold it to me. I have sent it back to S&W twice, with no Q?'s asked.
When I buy a used S&W gun I go to their registration page on their website and fill out the registration. There are ONLY (2) really technical Q?'s they ask you, Date of purchase (If you write in the date you bought it used, theoretically you're not lying), and serial number. I think this helps with the warranty.
Fishinfool
Member
I would also recommend either having a local smith look at it, or asking S&W for a pre-paid shipping slip.
If loaded rounds are "stove piping" (pointing up between the breach face and the barrel) when fed from the magazine, I would guess a bad magazine, or possibly a bad extractor.
Slowly feed a round from the mag into the gun and watch. The rim of the round should slide under the extractor as it is feeding. If it does, but still stove pipes, probably the mag.
If the round is going into the chamber, but not seating all the way, then its a different issue, most likely bad ammo (reloads?).
Larry
If loaded rounds are "stove piping" (pointing up between the breach face and the barrel) when fed from the magazine, I would guess a bad magazine, or possibly a bad extractor.
Slowly feed a round from the mag into the gun and watch. The rim of the round should slide under the extractor as it is feeding. If it does, but still stove pipes, probably the mag.
If the round is going into the chamber, but not seating all the way, then its a different issue, most likely bad ammo (reloads?).
Larry
OP sounds like he has a Failure to Feed (FTF) issue. The rounds can be caught in the slide, and look like a "stovepipe," but its not because the slide caught them while being ejected, but because they did not feed into the chamber nose-first. The magazine is often the key variable in this process -- does it position the round properly to be picked up and move forward by the slide?
If the bullet is not positioned properly, or if the slide does not come forward with enough force, you can get the type of FTF that the OP mentioned.
Test #1 is to remove the barrel from the pistol and see if you can just drop a round in the chamber. It should just go "plunk" into the chamber, and then fall out freely when you turn the barrel upside down. If not, are you using the right caliber ammo? Is the ammo a bad batch? Is the chamber reamed too small? Check the feed ramp to make sure it is smooth and unobstructed -- some types of bullets (e.g., lead, or lead nose) can get "stuck" on the feed ramp if they are not "pointy" enough. Try a different type of ammo.
Test #2 is to check to make sure the slide is coming from all the way to the rear and with sufficient speed and force. I would do two things at this point: a. load the mags with 13-14 rounds, not the full 16 (which can cause the top round to be hard for the slide to pick up). b. clean and lube the pistol fully.
Then try it with the slide from its position behind the slide stop (aka slide release lever) or with a robust "sling shot" release of the slide from the full rear, and see if the slide picks up and moves the round into the chamber.
If not, check the other magazine! A magazine can be dirty, have a weak spring, have bent lips, etc. Any of those problems could cause the round to not be postured correctly for the slide to pick it up.
If you need to, call S&W, get a return label, and send it in. They will not require proof of purchase. They usually take 2-4 weeks; they may be a bit slower this time of year (they close the factory for two weeks each summer).
And let us know how you fix this problem! Good luck with it - it should work out!
If the bullet is not positioned properly, or if the slide does not come forward with enough force, you can get the type of FTF that the OP mentioned.
Test #1 is to remove the barrel from the pistol and see if you can just drop a round in the chamber. It should just go "plunk" into the chamber, and then fall out freely when you turn the barrel upside down. If not, are you using the right caliber ammo? Is the ammo a bad batch? Is the chamber reamed too small? Check the feed ramp to make sure it is smooth and unobstructed -- some types of bullets (e.g., lead, or lead nose) can get "stuck" on the feed ramp if they are not "pointy" enough. Try a different type of ammo.
Test #2 is to check to make sure the slide is coming from all the way to the rear and with sufficient speed and force. I would do two things at this point: a. load the mags with 13-14 rounds, not the full 16 (which can cause the top round to be hard for the slide to pick up). b. clean and lube the pistol fully.
Then try it with the slide from its position behind the slide stop (aka slide release lever) or with a robust "sling shot" release of the slide from the full rear, and see if the slide picks up and moves the round into the chamber.
If not, check the other magazine! A magazine can be dirty, have a weak spring, have bent lips, etc. Any of those problems could cause the round to not be postured correctly for the slide to pick it up.
If you need to, call S&W, get a return label, and send it in. They will not require proof of purchase. They usually take 2-4 weeks; they may be a bit slower this time of year (they close the factory for two weeks each summer).
And let us know how you fix this problem! Good luck with it - it should work out!
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I don't think you need to buy a new barrel -- even if you could find one on the web!
Just call S&W and tell them the problem you are having, and they will send you a prepaid return UPS label to send the pistol back to the factory.
They will repair or replace parts as necessary and return it to you. Usually they do this for free under the warranty.
If there is some reason they think the owner should pay -- such as negligence or improper operation -- they will still repair it (or replace parts) at a very reasonable price.
Just call S&W and tell them the problem you are having, and they will send you a prepaid return UPS label to send the pistol back to the factory.
They will repair or replace parts as necessary and return it to you. Usually they do this for free under the warranty.
If there is some reason they think the owner should pay -- such as negligence or improper operation -- they will still repair it (or replace parts) at a very reasonable price.
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Here's one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/663849839
I'm sure Numrich has them, too. Lotta Sigmas and parts out there. I believe Sigma barrels are interchangeable between eras of guns, but double check on that before buying another barrel.
Is the barrel cracked or something? Did you take it to a gunsmith, or a gun store that works on guns a little?
OP - Please post pictures if you can!
Danby
Member
Any update or photos?
Three posts, all on the day of joining the forum... about a problem. And then no follow-up on how the problem was resolved! Asap44, let's hear from you on how you fixed the problem! Did you send it back to S&W, or did you buy a barrel?
Try loading the ammo into a magazine,instead of a "clip".
BTW, have you tried different ammo? If ammo won't fit into the barrel, I always suspect an out-of-spec round. But if an entire box won't fit in the chamber (as the OP seemed to be saying), then I suspect an out-of-spec chamber/barrel, or one that has mistakenly been stamped "9mm" (which I wouldn't have thought likely). I would assume the gunsmith he saw, would've tried some other ammo, so if he's recommending a barrel replacement, then it probably is an out-of-spec or just a mis-marked barrel.
There's also the remote possibilty that the previous owner juggled the barrels between an SD40 and SD9.
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