Fte sd9ve wth???

[Shawn13thomas]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new to this site, and brand new to forums also. Always found what info I wanted from other's questions. But, changed my mind on that recently. I'm 35 years old, never been into hunting or Firearms before, but at the age of 35, all of a sudden picked it up. Mainly due to loving hot rods and muscle cars, mechanical things all relate. Performance Vs function and all that. The only S&W I own, and was my first ever Firearms purchase is the sd9 ve. Loved it for the first 400-500 rounds, all of a sudden it fails to eject, even racking a loaded mag out by hand, sometimes "top hats" and fte. No ftf, no ftf, except when the other round is in the way. I've exclusively shot Winchester 9mm 115 grn white box through it. I was told to try shooting 124 grn, but imho, I bought this gun because it was supposed to be the "smith version of a Glock" and was supposed to eat anything. If I can't shoot at least the cheaper brass, non reloads through it. I'll sell it and get something else. I don't feel like spending a ton on special 124 rounds, as I can't find them near me at any decent price.. any help is appreciated

 

[S&W Rover]

There are a couple of things that could have gone wrong with the SD9VE. These pistols are not usually ammo sensitive. Assuming it is thoroughly clean and lubed, my first thought is that the extractor itself might be chipped, or the spring that operates it might have gone bad. Either is a quick repair at low cost, if you were to do it yourself...

But the best recommendation I can make without really having a good idea of what is wrong is this: Call S&W on monday and ask for a return authorization, which they will email to you. Give them a good explanation of the problem as you experience it. Then wrap it up and take it to FedEx (using their pre-paid label) and off it goes. In 2-3 weeks, they'll send it back to you -- fixed. For free. S&W has a great reputation for its customer service.

Other folks may have some ideas on things to try, without sending your pistol back.

 

[OKFC05]

When somebody asks me for help at the range with this sort of trouble, 90% of the time it is a cleaning or lubrication issue. I'd start by cleaning properly, including the magazines, NOT lubricating the magazines, lubricating ONLY where the manual says, with light lube.
Inspect extractor, ejector, mag for visible damage.
Be sure recoil spring assembly is not damaged and is installed correctly.
The white box ammo is not the most powerful, and anything that slows the slide, like heavy grease or your thumb, can cause the symptoms described.

 

[FLShutterbug55]

Are you shooting the plain 9mm 115-grain rounds or the 9mm NATO 115-grain rounds? If you are shooting 9mm NATO rounds, you are actually shooting +P rounds which the SD9VE should be able to handle though those rounds over time will cause premature wear. Retailers like Academy Sports often have the two next to each other on the shelf and they may be mixed together thanks to customers (or inattentive employees) not paying attention. BTW, you may be able to buy 124-grain ammunition for very close to the same price as 115-grain at places like Academy Sports...possibly even 147-grain!

 

[Steve912]

Winchester white box 115 grain...shouldn't be NATO 124 grain.

Shawn, can you remove the slide and post a pic of the ejector/sear area, from left side of the frame?

 

[Jim NNN]

As to what the problem is, I can't for sure say, but I do have some semi-auto pistols that will not run dry (unlubricated.) I can't say I have that issue with my Sigmas or SD40, but the guns that do have that trait are good quality - one is a Walther P1 and one I think is a CZ.

I definitely would not give up on that gun. I know it's frustrating, but when you bought your pistol, you bought factory support along with it - it wouldn't make sense to not take advantage of it. As others said, send it in. I had to send my Sigma back to the factory shortly after I bought it for an unrelated issue, and they sent it back and I've put over 2000 rounds through it since with no issue.

I just recently bought a Desert Eagle 1911 brand new, and it broke on it's first time out. It's a great quality pistol made in Israel that lists for close to $1000, so needless to say, I was bummed. But my previous experience taught me not give up on good guns, so it got fixed and I love it now. Getting rid of it would've been the WRONG thing to do. Best wishes.

 

[RGVshooter]

Just out of curiosity but during the 400-500 rounds fired thru the gun, has it been taken down & cleaned/lubed?

 

[micocyco]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new to this site, and brand new to forums also. Always found what info I wanted from other's questions. But, changed my mind on that recently. I'm 35 years old, never been into hunting or Firearms before, but at the age of 35, all of a sudden picked it up. Mainly due to loving hot rods and muscle cars, mechanical things all relate. Performance Vs function and all that. The only S&W I own, and was my first ever Firearms purchase is the sd9 ve. Loved it for the first 400-500 rounds, all of a sudden it fails to eject, even racking a loaded mag out by hand, sometimes "top hats" and fte. No ftf, no ftf, except when the other round is in the way. I've exclusively shot Winchester 9mm 115 grn white box through it. I was told to try shooting 124 grn, but imho, I bought this gun because it was supposed to be the "smith version of a Glock" and was supposed to eat anything. If I can't shoot at least the cheaper brass, non reloads through it. I'll sell it and get something else. I don't feel like spending a ton on special 124 rounds, as I can't find them near me at any decent price.. any help is appreciated

Have someone else shoot the pistol.

 

[Carl Bill]

Yes Smith-Wesson stands behind their gun, but don't count on the 2 to 3 week turn around. Sent mu SD40VE back on Nov. 14th and when I checked on it yesterday they hadn't started working on it yet. Plus this is the second return for this pistol and the first time repair wasn't any quicker than this time. Hope they can take care of your problem.

 

[jbtrucker]

My supervisors new SD9VE wouldn't cycle Winchester very well, I don't know how it does now.

 

[Shawn13thomas]

Yes, I cleaned after every session of shooting, normally between 100 -200 rounds, the mags have caused me problems, one in particular, the detent that hits the slide lock is lower than the other, and doesn't actuate the slide lock. On top of that, I can plainly see where the ammo is scarring the feed ramp, which I think is why it fte. Maybe wrong, like I said, I'm new, but am mechanically inclined.love the pistol, just want it to shoot whatever I put through it. I know some pistols like different ammo's, but if that's the case with this one, it will sit iny safe, and I'll buy something else to carry. The ejector is spotless! Even pulled it and the spring for inspection, still looks factory new. My guess is the feed ramp and Winchester ammo. It feeds better when I GLOB lube on the feed ramp, but hate doing that, makes it dirtier after every shooting session

 

[Shawn13thomas]

I actually bought this pistol for the specific purpose of shooting A LOT! Told the shop I wanted something I could shoot cheap brass through every weekend. It's a range gun for me. Though with the trigger, wish I'd have gotten the m&p for 40 bucks more, don't mind the 8lbs, just hate the LENGTH. Especially compared to my SA mil spec. Though, I know, a striker is never going to shoot like that, and it shouldn't for carry. I really want to polish the feed ramp, because I'm 80 percent sue that's my problem, but don't want to void the warranty. Also, don't want to send it back, because they will replace the barrel, and in another 4-600 rounds, I'm scared I'll be in the same place. Thank you to all of you trying to help. I know I can be pretty negative

 

[Shawn13thomas]

I ran into a couple at the range today, having the same problems as I am with their sd9ve. Didn't get a chance to ask what rounds they were using. Starting to look like a common problem. Told them to over lubricate the feed ramp, because that seems to be a temporary fix for mine, so far....

 

[hoc9sw]

Don't lube the feed ramp. Perhaps a bit of polishing will help. Use some Flitz on a clean rag, just finger pressure.

But you will find that most pistols don't like at least one type of ammo, and yes, I've sold more than one for that reason.

You may need to disassemble and clean (do not lube) the magazines. The followers may be gummed up.

 

[Shawn13thomas]

No, I'm not limp wristing, my life long gun fanatic friend had the same problem

 

[Shawn13thomas]

I cleaned and lubed both mags, one still won't lock the slide, weak spring, I'd guess. I'd love to polish the ramp, but don't want to void warranty. Every part inside this pistol is immaculate. I've taken it apart again since the problem started, to remove the apex trigger and spring kit, and return it to stock. And, no, that wasn't causing the problem. Continued with the stock trigger and springs.

 

[Shawn13thomas]

Like I said, the only time it "acts right" is when I GLOB on the oil on the feed ramp. To me, that narrows it to that particular area. But again, I'm new, but mechanically inclined if there is something I'm overlooking, I'd appreciate the advice

 

[Skeptic 9c]

If the feed ramp is being abraded it sounds like an improper heat treat. Back to S&W! Please.
Geoff
Who has much inexpensive 9mm though his SW9VE with no erosion of the feed ramp.

 

[Steve912]

Feed ramp is not causing your failures to eject.

 

[msjdgman]

Yeah, I'm a little confused here trying to wrap my head around how a feed ramp issue is affecting ejection. I certainly wouldn't lube the feed ramp for anything either. I'm inclined to think there is an issue with the extractor or the ejector if the cases are being extracted but fail to eject properly.