First problem

[Joe Cool]

So I own a SW9VE. I bought it brand new and I've only been out with it a few times. It is my first gun and I love it.

On to the problem. Last night I was doing so dry fire exercises to work on my form and muscle memory and to help smooth the trigger. I've done it plenty of times and have never had any issues before.

After about three or so minutes of it I pulled the slide back and it was a little more difficult to pull back than usual. The top part of the barrel that says "9MM" is slightly rubbing against the part of the slide that it sits next when I pull the slide back. The slide DOES go back, but the metal on metal makes a slight clicking noise and is starting to wear that upper corner of the barrel. It's like the barrel doesn't want to go down as easily. It did not do this before at all.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

[mikeruns]

I would just put a little lube on there and not worry too much. Wear marks here are normal and if dry it will drag. It will break in a little more and drag less as you go.
Best, Mike

 

[spricks]

Yep, that's normal wear. The M&P's have the same wear mark...not to worry at all.
spricks

 

[Joe Cool]

I thought of that and thoroughly lubed up the barrel and put a conservative amount on the little metal guides. Still the same issue. I didn't have this problem before last night, though. Could any part be broken or worn? The gun makes no strange noises aside from the metal on metal sound as a brief click when I pull the slide to the point where the barrel goes down.

 

[StuperDan]

I suppose you tried field stripping and re assembly to be sure that everything is in the right spot. ie the spring on the barrel is in the right notch.

 

[PDL]

As they said, the wear is normal. As far as the noise, I'd suspect you're hearing the sear reset. Naturally you don't hear it when you're shooting the gun. But there is a definite click when the slide is retracted about 1/4". And that is the sear reset.

 

[Joe Cool]

I suppose you tried field stripping and re assembly to be sure that everything is in the right spot. ie the spring on the barrel is in the right notch.

I have field stripped it. I will include some pictures of it assembled, keeping in mind that it is having this issue setup as is pictured.

As they said, the wear is normal. As far as the noise, I'd suspect you're hearing the sear reset. Naturally you don't hear it when you're shooting the gun. But there is a definite click when the slide is retracted about 1/4". And that is the sear reset.

Does this sear reset also cause the trigger to slightly retract and then go back to it's neutral position? It seems as if that is where the issue in question is, right before the barrel clicks down there is resistance and the trigger snaps into and out of place.

Is this wear normal/acceptable? Could it cause any kind of issues?

Appropriately centered?

Correct notch?

This is the aforementioned wear.

The entire barrel's placement, correct?

 

[backwoodzboy]

I think mine has a little wear next to the chamber or 9mm. Like the gentleman said earlier, you can always field strip and check things out again, maybe it is a burr from the normal break in.

 

[PDL]

Yup,
From all apperances you have the normal top of the barrel wear, your recoil spring is on the ridge/notch closest to the barrel and yes the trigger does retract and snap back when the sear reset is happening.

And you don't want to over amp the lubrication, sigmas like it dry. A drop on each of the 4 metal guides on the frame, and a drop in the wear spot on top of the barrel.

 

[HspncElvis]

Yikes!! Never had a problem with my SW9VE. 1400 rounds and still going strong!

 

[KyWstJoe]

I have 20'some hundred thru mine and my recoil rod has zero wear on the end. Your's seems to be chewed up some. My barrel has the wear spot (about1/4"X3/8") that they all get but I have zero wear all the way across the edge. Your's appears to be kind of roughed up some. My wife's has about 800 down the pipe and also doesn't have wear to the extent your's has.

 

[Joe Cool]

Alright so what do I do exactly?

 

[PDL]

I took a closer look at my Sigma, using magnifiers so I could better compare to what you've shown in your pics. You didn't mention what you were shooting out of it. You know just the basics, bullet weight, factory or roll your own, +P or not.

Your guide rod does look a bit chewed up, but under magnification mine does too. Hard to tell if its as much as yours, but it's not the smooth piece of plastic it once was.

As for the barrel wear, the squarish rub is very much the same. The front edge on yours does look rough and worn. Mine looks polished, or worn if you will also. I'm not using as high a magnification as you are. And I may have put more rounds down the tube, so that don't mean much.

I checked out the leading edge of the hole in the slide on mine and it was a bit rough, so I just lightly cleaned that up a bit with a couple of hits from an emory board.

You said you've only be out a few times. About how many rounds have you shot thru it so far.
I'm not sure your 'problems' won't go away when your gun is broken in. The factory finished parts rub and wear and 'break in'. In the mean time, the wear patterns and rubs are fresh and sharp.

You might check and clean up the leading edge of the hole. I mean to clean the edge inside the slide, parallel to the barrel, not perpendicular.

But the noise you were orriginally asking about was the sear reset right? So that will always be there.

Also, when you're dry firing, you only have to retract the slide till you do hear the click.

You always have the option to send it back to S&W of course.

 

[Joe Cool]

PDL, thank you very much for looking so deeply into things.

I have only used factory ammo recommended to me by a reputable local shooting range.

I assume the guide rod wear is due to my inexperience at field stripping and re-assembly. But I don't imagine it could affect function?

The squarish rub on the gun is not my concern as that rub has been there as long as I've had the gun. The rough front edge is the concern and a result of this new found difficulty with retracting the slide. Perhaps it will polish itself with time? But the concern is that right to the point before the barrel drops down there seems to be more resistance than before, causing this wear. I lubed the barrel to death. Set, reset, and reset the spring and barrel again and again and I can't get the issue to go away.

I will grab an emory cloth and go over the entire affected areas as well as a thorough cleaning and lubrication of the gun as soon as I get home after work, see if maybe I missed something last time.

The sear reset is what I was hearing when the trigger pulls itself back. But I believe that the barrel hitting the slide is also making a clicking noise. But for some reason I did not notice it as much before. I think this is perhaps both the sear reset and the issue I'm having with the barrel happen at almost exactly the same time.

One more thing. If you field strip and turn the slide upside down are you able to push your recoil spring down just a little bit? Mine doesn't stay down after it's reassembled and if I field strip it immediately after putting it back on I will be able to click the recoil spring back down a very small amount. Not sure if this is normal or may/may not have any negative effects?

Also, I've put probably 300 rounds through the gun in the few months I've owned it.

What does the warranty include/cover and how would I go about processing things? I've heard that they're absolutely fantastic about things and they will send back your gun in nearly new condition free of cost. Are these things true?

 

[PDL]

Just a quick answer on the recoil rod. I think I did the same when I was first assembling and dis-assembling the gun. That barrel lug has a sharp edge and I think I may have roughed up the end of my guide rod on it.

On the other question about the rod popping up from the barrel. If you look, there is a very small ledge at the base of the barrel lug. Most likely there to keep the guide and spring from actually rubbing on the barrel. So yes, if you set the rod on the barrel, it does snap back up above that little ledge.

And go gently with that emory cloth. I'd suspect that as the gun gets fired more, the rough edge will polish out. Don't do the cut out itself. Just the under(inside) of the slide parallel to the barrel.
From what I've read here the wear on the square spot will stop after x number of rounds as well.

 

[StuperDan]

Appropriately centered?


Correct notch?


The entire barrel's placement, correct?

Looks right to me

 

["JJ"]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Joe! I do think the guys have steered you right! Just keep an eye on it next time at the range. Get a couple of hundred more rounds through it & see how it performs. If at any time it does not function correctly or you don't feel confident it can do what you purchased it for, call Smith & Wesson! They have the best customer service in the industry. They will take care of thier products! Usually if the gun is functioning but just has a "quirk" such as yours, they will suggest reaching the "industry standard" break in of 500 rounds. I am in no way a gun smith, just offering my opinion. Good luck budy!