I recently purchased a SW m&P9 mm compact. The first time I fired it, I used 130 gr. Fiocchi ammo. I had a large number of light strikes. Changed ammo to WWB 115 gr. ammo. Shot another 125 rounds, with one light strike, which fired on the second attempt. The dealer said that the Fiocchi wasn't the best, hard primers, and the USA ammo would be much better. Is one dud a concern, should I send the pistol to SW for repairs? Am I doing something wrong. I have owned and shot handguns for 40 years, but.......
failure to fire
- Thread starter Mikaman
- Start date
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Unless the primers in the Fiocchi ammo were downright defective they should have gone off. The one dud in a box of WWB is one too many. I'd call S&W customer service and see what they say. Is the gun new? Any chance the striker spring is worn out or been changed out for some reason?
The first thing that comes to mind when I hear 'new gun, first time out, had some problems' is:
Did you clean and lubricate the gun before you shot it?
Lost Lake is right. Many of the guns are over lubed to protect them during shipment and storage. Clean and lube is also an excellent way to get acquainted with your new weapon. Also, checking the primer strike of the fired brass casing sent with the pistol may indicate a firing pin problem.
Do any of you folks think that it is "operator error" regarding my new pistol and its failure to fire? Perhaps I am too concerned, since I have read about failures to fire on many sites. I just want the pistol to be reliable and I expect no failures in ammo. That may not be realistic.
CrossRifles2008
Member
You bought a Smith. It should be reliable. You need to get back to that range.
Absolute zero FTF may be unrealistic, even wih quality factory ammo. However, you had WAY too many. Operator error? Not likely. If you had failures to eject or feed, then perhaps. Limp wristing can cause these but not FTF. Try again with some different ammo, but be sure the gun is really clean. Firing pin channel and chamber are he two areas I'd look at.
Moonman
Member
When you cleaned it, did you TOTALLY DISASSEMBLE to clean or just spray some stuff, brush and then wipe it off?
AR-Getsome
Member
I never clean any new rifle or handgun before i shoot it. I do inspect it. I never had any problems.
I field stripped the piece like the manual tells you to. I cleaned with Hoppe 9, did not take the striker out. I talked to the dealer today, he said he could replace the striker spring with a heavier one, what do you folks think?
CrossRifles2008
Member
Keep it out of the hands of the dealer. Shoot it again. If your having trouble still send it to Smith & Wesson.
Update
Took the MP back to the dealer and he did not like the feel of the trigger. We sent the weapon to Smith and Wesson for service. I can't depend on it when I need it. I know that the service department will make it right.
Took the MP back to the dealer and he did not like the feel of the trigger. We sent the weapon to Smith and Wesson for service. I can't depend on it when I need it. I know that the service department will make it right.
Well aren't you cool.
There was so much cosmoline packed in my last M&P22 I figured the packaging line gets paid by how many barrels they go through. I can't imagine the gun working if I fired it like that, it may have even damaged the gun it was so thick.
ALWAYS clean your new guns before firing....
AR-Getsome
Member
Well aren't you cool.
There was so much cosmoline packed in my last M&P22 I figured the packaging line gets paid by how many barrels they go through. I can't imagine the gun working if I fired it like that, it may have even damaged the gun it was so thick.
ALWAYS clean your new guns before firing....
ok dad....
. never have...never will...only after shooting them will i clean them. never had a problem even after shooting hundreds of rounds before cleaning a new gun.
Twoboxer
Member
That's a good run, sonok dad....
You've played the odds well. So if your next new purchase fails and spoils a day at the range, you're still ahead of the game.
I feel a little guilty, I have approached my new guns much the same as AR, I buy, I inspect and I shoot. The reason being is I have not seen heavy grease, oil or any other lube that looked excessive. I also believe that most all of my S&W guns are test fired, then directly packaged for sale. They are not cleaned, they are not lubed with anything for storage or shipping, they are fired and sold. I want to make sure before I mess with that gun, it functions correctly. I don't want to be one of the newbies that comes on this site complaining about S&W and their quality control going down the tubes because their new gun doesn't shoot or function correctly. (Not referring to the OP here) Because while learning about their new gun they screwed something up. I want to make sure my new gun functions correctly out of the box. That's me, that's my perception and my expectations. I'm not sure, but does it say in the factory manual for our guns, we must break down and clean before firing, I am referring to my M&P's... Once I've made my range trip and all works as advertized, I'm all over cleaning .... usually... although lately, I have been kinda lax in that area. What a surprise, they still continue to shoot and function...
I feel a little guilty, I have approached my new guns much the same as AR, I buy, I inspect and I shoot. The reason being is I have not seen heavy grease, oil or any other lube that looked excessive. I also believe that most all of my S&W guns are test fired, then directly packaged for sale. They are not cleaned, they are not lubed with anything for storage or shipping, they are fired and sold. I want to make sure before I mess with that gun, it functions correctly. I don't want to be one of the newbies that comes on this site complaining about S&W and their quality control going down the tubes because their new gun doesn't shoot or function correctly. (Not referring to the OP here) Because while learning about their new gun they screwed something up. I want to make sure my new gun functions correctly out of the box. That's me, that's my perception and my expectations. I'm not sure, but does it say in the factory manual for our guns, we must break down and clean before firing, I am referring to my M&P's... Once I've made my range trip and all works as advertized, I'm all over cleaning .... usually... although lately, I have been kinda lax in that area. What a surprise, they still continue to shoot and function...
Did you read your owners manual? For my M&P 22 on page 30 says" Before using your firearm for the first time, it shoud be cleaned. Your firearm was treated at the factory with either a preservative or oil to protect it against corrosion during shipping and storage." I think most manufactures now say to clean before shooting. I've seen some with some very thick grease in the bore's and if it has sat any time that grease gets dry and hard, not something I want to try and shoot out.
Good post bearman.
Excessive lube can damage a gun when the gun is fired. Guns stored after the barrel is oiled should always have a clean patch run through to remove excess oil before firing.
I'm not trying to pick on you AR, but I am concerned others more new to guns may read your comment and think it's okay to fire a new gun before cleaning it, and I am just letting them know it could be dangerous and/or cause malfunctions.
Happy shooting!
