Failure to feed with a new SD40

[johnt671]

I'm the new owner of this hand gun and the only thing I done to it was clean and lube it, installed the extended slide lock lever, and worked the slide by hand to break it in a little. Today I decided to check the magazines out to make sure they were good to go. The first mag failed to feed five rounds on the first try two on the second try, and none on the third try so I called it good. The second mag had the same number of failures the first and second tries. so I lightly used a fine grit sand paper to polish the underside of the lips on the mag. this reduced the miss feeds to two, so I quit at that. The feeds were all the same with the rounds feeding partway up but staying at an angle a little under half way into the chamber. I guess the slide might move a little fast in a live fire, but I would like some opinions on this.

Another thing I noticed is that the slide is off center to the receiver, with the gap on the right side of the muzzle greater then the left side. what do you think? Thanks.

 

[ADP3]

Your slide probably isn't off-center on the frame but the dust cover portion of the frame does have more of a gap on the left side (as you look down the sights) than the right. I have never seen a SD that is not like this. Maybe it's how the frame releases from the mold. I'm not sure. I've heated the dust cover with a hair dryer a bit (Don't over do it) and pushed the dust cover over a bit to true it to the slide. All three of my SD9VE's have the gap. You'd think S&W would address it after all of these years.

As far as your Feed Failures, shooting the pistol is the only way to truly see if there's a real problem. Some bullet configurations feed better than others. .40's are pickier about bullet profiles than 9mm's and .45's in my experience.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[SamMeow]

A general rule of thumb is to fully load your new mags and let them sit for about a week.

As stated, you can not get an honest opinion on feed, ejection or anything without the pistol actually being fired as intended.
Now, if it happens at the range then that’s another story.

 

[johnt671]

Thanks for the info. I was shopping on line for ammo, and found a couple of pictures of the hand gun and they looked like mine. I feel better now.

 

[Carl Bill]

I've had a new SD40VE for 7 months now and have the same problem. The rounds will feed half way into the chamber then go no farther. I have tried 5 different brands of ammo along with different grain bullets and bullet designs. Only thing I see is that one brand or style may have 1 jam per 100 shots or like several weeks ago 2 jams in 38 shots. When I fully load the mags the slide becomes very hard to rack back and leaves a big dig mark on the first shell casing. I've shot 700+ in this pistol, so I would say it should be broke in. Talked to S&W and sent the gun back on the 14th. Will let you know what they find or say.

 

[johnt671]

This was the second post I did in this forum, and after I posted it I started reading through the forum to learn more good reliable piece.

I haven't fired mine yet because I've been sick since I bought it, and the nearest range I can find online is 50 miles from me. Plus I haven't been able to get up to apply for a CCP due to being sick. I've been reading through the PA open carry law and the way I see it, as soon as I get in the car with an open carry it becomes a concealed carry. I'm hoping to apply Monday for the CCP, the only day they do it in this area.

 

[Jim NNN]

Sorry to hear about your illness, John. Hope you feel better.

I very much agree with ADP3 about .40's being pickier about bullet design, but that's just my experience, too. Some other folks say they don't have an issue. I'd say it's likely that the truncated design of the .40 has something to do with maybe a little less reliability with the .40. My Ruger SR9c will eat any ammo all day, but my matching SR40c doesn't seem to like Winchester White Box ammo. Works great with other ammo, however.

Having said that, my .40 Sigma has no issues. If this is the first .40 you've owned, could it be a limp wrist or firmness of grip issue? I'd pose the same question to Carl Bill since he has similar problems with different brands of ammo.

 

[johnt671]

I could be limp wristing it. I still haven't had a chance to fire it. I went last Monday for the CCP, and after waiting 45 minutes found out I needed a money order to pay the fee. So I'm getting up early tomorrow to try again.

I'm bouncing back from the health problems, thanks. Now to get the permit so I can get to the range. Thanks for the input.

 

[johnt671]

I finally got my CCP card today. Now to get my butt to a range.

 

[Gunsnwater]

This was the second post I did in this forum, and after I posted it I started reading through the forum to learn more good reliable piece.

I haven't fired mine yet because I've been sick since I bought it, and the nearest range I can find online is 50 miles from me. Plus I haven't been able to get up to apply for a CCP due to being sick. I've been reading through the PA open carry law and the way I see it, as soon as I get in the car with an open carry it becomes a concealed carry. I'm hoping to apply Monday for the CCP, the only day they do it in this area.

We have LTCF in Pa. Your correct open carry ends on or in any conveyance. Horse, law mower, bike, car, anything. Also no open carry or transport without license during state of emergency. LTCF will make your life easier. Check out pafoa forum for our state gun laws. Every state is different.

 

[johnt671]

Thanks for the information. I did check out the PA open carry law, which is how I chose to wait before taking the piece anywhere to shot. You backed up what I thought, and I'm glad I didn't take it out anywhere.

I been saying CCP because that's what everyone around here was calling it, but the id is an LTCF, so I'm now legal. I will go in and read up on the law more now that I have the card.

 

[Carl Bill]

Sorry to hear about your illness, John. Hope you feel better.

I very much agree with ADP3 about .40's being pickier about bullet design, but that's just my experience, too. Some other folks say they don't have an issue. I'd say it's likely that the truncated design of the .40 has something to do with maybe a little less reliability with the .40. My Ruger SR9c will eat any ammo all day, but my matching SR40c doesn't seem to like Winchester White Box ammo. Works great with other ammo, however.

Having said that, my .40 Sigma has no issues. If this is the first .40 you've owned, could it be a limp wrist or firmness of grip issue? I'd pose the same question to Carl Bill since he has similar problems with different brands of ammo.

Don't believe I'm limp wristing this SD40VE. I use a firm 2 handed grip with the left hand held tight against the side of the grip and frame. I'm 70 and have been shooting since I was 8. Have a 1985 9mm 92F Beretta that shoots anything it is fed. Called Smith-Wesson yesterday and they said they polished the chamber and were getting it ready to ship back. Will let folks know how it works when I get it to the range.

 

[Jim NNN]

Best wishes on the repaired gun, Carl. You probably just needed a little of what S&W did to your gun. I still have a CZ 40P that's extremely picky as to ammo, but I can't get rid of it because it feels so good in my hand and is accurate. I think .40's are just a little temperamental.

 

[oneounceload]

I could be limp wristing it. I still haven't had a chance to fire it. I went last Monday for the CCP, and after waiting 45 minutes found out I needed a money order to pay the fee. So I'm getting up early tomorrow to try again.

I'm bouncing back from the health problems, thanks. Now to get the permit so I can get to the range. Thanks for the input.

Why do you need a permit to just go to a range and shoot?
Put the unloaded gun in a case or bag and go to the range.

 

[johnt671]

From what I've been able to find, by reading the PA open carry and this was was backed up by a member on this site. As soon as the weapon went into a car it became a concealed carry no matter of how it was carried. The odds of getting caught carrying it in a case in the trunk of a car are slim, but I have a history of bad luck. I'd have to drive on a highway to get to a range, and with my luck I'd get rear ended by a tractor trailer which would pop the trunk open and the case would fly out of the trunk, and I'd wake up handcuffed to the bed. I learned a long time not to push my luck.

 

[Carl Bill]

Got my SD40VE back after 36 days from S&W. Feed ramp and chamber has been polished and they said they De-burred the slide. Didn't see any bad spots on slide to start with. Good news it works great now. I was beginning to lose faith in S&W hope this pistol keeps working as smooth as it does now. Time will tell I guess. Good luck to the OP with yours.

 

[RUT]

>>I could be limp wristing it<<

Hey, Marines don't limp wrist!

 

[johnt671]

Carl Bill, thanks for the update. That was pretty quick.

RUT, I was just being polite to to the poster on the limp wrist.