Having some problems with new SW9E

[Razorback777]

I will be contacting S&W, but wanted to post regarding the problems experienced with my wife's SW9E to see if anyone has suggestions or comments. First and second times it went to the range, my wife took it alone and became quite upset about her new weapon which she thought she was about to take with her in a few days to qualify to carry for her job. The first time it had not been cleaned yet so I thought maybe it was gunked up from what is used when shipped new, so I cleaned it. Second time, after cleaning, she said it was worse. She put appx. 75 rounds through and said it jammed about every third round. I had no time to take it to the range myself before she left, so she took my son's XD-9 which she had fired the previous weekend and had experienced no problems. She had no problems with the XD-9 putting appx. 500 rounds through it during qualifying (no mal-functions). My other son and I took the 9E to the range while she was gone for a week qualifying and fired appx. 180 rounds. It fired fine for maybe about the first 20-30 rounds or so, then it began to experience problems. I let my son shoot most of the 180 or so rounds and I stood behind and to the right so I could tell him when I saw it jam. The following problems were experienced at least a few times each: feeding another round on top of the non-ejected spent round, or double-feeding two rounds (don't remember now which it was); catching spent rounds in the ejector port before they could clear (like one of the pictures I saw on this forum); and failing to lock the slide back when the weapon was empty. What I found was the following: when I field-stripped it when it began malfunctioning, I found the recoil spring and guide rod had moved up (like the picture in the owner's manual of what not to do when replacing it); it would be moved down if you're holding the weapon right side up in a firing position. I put it back down in place and we were able to fire maybe another 20 or so rounds I think before it began mal-functioning again (sometimes less). When I looked again, the recoil spring and guide rod had moved again, each time. What I failed to do was check it after it functioned correctly for several rounds (before a mal-function) to see if the spring/rod were still in the proper place. The back of the guide rod is also beginning to look a little ragged with only about 255 rounds fired through the pistol. Has anyone experienced this? Should I just ask S&W to send me a new recoil spring and guide rod and see what happens, should I buy a Wolff recoil spring and guide rod from Midway (if so what pounds would be best); or is the recoil spring and guide rod likely not the problem. I had thought the spring/rod might not have enough tension pounds, but after reading some posts here, it seems that my thinking was probably wrong and it might need less pounds. I've seen a few of the suggestions regarding problems with the operator and at least for my son and I, we do not shoot with our thumbs anywhere near the slide release lever; and I'm not limpwristing it. I haven't fired a lot of rounds through it myself and I'll likely go back this weekend by myself and see what happens; but it did mal-function on me some of the time, so I don't think it was just a problem with something my wife (or son) was doing. I may have some of the terminology, etc. wrong in my post. I apologize for the very long post and appreciate any thoughts and advice.

trm

 

[Razorback777]

I will be contacting S&W, but wanted to post regarding the problems experienced with my wife's SW9E to see if anyone has suggestions or comments. First and second times it went to the range, my wife took it alone and became quite upset about her new weapon which she thought she was about to take with her in a few days to qualify to carry for her job. The first time it had not been cleaned yet so I thought maybe it was gunked up from what is used when shipped new, so I cleaned it. Second time, after cleaning, she said it was worse. She put appx. 75 rounds through and said it jammed about every third round. I had no time to take it to the range myself before she left, so she took my son's XD-9 which she had fired the previous weekend and had experienced no problems. She had no problems with the XD-9 putting appx. 500 rounds through it during qualifying (no mal-functions). My other son and I took the 9E to the range while she was gone for a week qualifying and fired appx. 180 rounds. It fired fine for maybe about the first 20-30 rounds or so, then it began to experience problems. I let my son shoot most of the 180 or so rounds and I stood behind and to the right so I could tell him when I saw it jam. The following problems were experienced at least a few times each: feeding another round on top of the non-ejected spent round, or double-feeding two rounds (don't remember now which it was); catching spent rounds in the ejector port before they could clear (like one of the pictures I saw on this forum); and failing to lock the slide back when the weapon was empty. What I found was the following: when I field-stripped it when it began malfunctioning, I found the recoil spring and guide rod had moved up (like the picture in the owner's manual of what not to do when replacing it); it would be moved down if you're holding the weapon right side up in a firing position. I put it back down in place and we were able to fire maybe another 20 or so rounds I think before it began mal-functioning again (sometimes less). When I looked again, the recoil spring and guide rod had moved again, each time. What I failed to do was check it after it functioned correctly for several rounds (before a mal-function) to see if the spring/rod were still in the proper place. The back of the guide rod is also beginning to look a little ragged with only about 255 rounds fired through the pistol. Has anyone experienced this? Should I just ask S&W to send me a new recoil spring and guide rod and see what happens, should I buy a Wolff recoil spring and guide rod from Midway (if so what pounds would be best); or is the recoil spring and guide rod likely not the problem. I had thought the spring/rod might not have enough tension pounds, but after reading some posts here, it seems that my thinking was probably wrong and it might need less pounds. I've seen a few of the suggestions regarding problems with the operator and at least for my son and I, we do not shoot with our thumbs anywhere near the slide release lever; and I'm not limpwristing it. I haven't fired a lot of rounds through it myself and I'll likely go back this weekend by myself and see what happens; but it did mal-function on me some of the time, so I don't think it was just a problem with something my wife (or son) was doing. I may have some of the terminology, etc. wrong in my post. I apologize for the very long post and appreciate any thoughts and advice.

trm

 

[SAwrecker]

I have had a SW40V for about 12 years, and alot of rounds through it. I have had a few of the problems you are talking about. At about 300 rounds I noticed the guide rod was deforming at the ens that rests against the barrel lug and ordered a hew one and the fail to feed stopped for a few hundred rounds then started again. I polished the feed ramp and it has run fine since. I did just notice the guide rod is starting to deform again. it has lasted years and a lot of rounds for the replacement. I am thinking of getting a SS rod from somewhere and that should be the end of it. being yours is new I would contact S&W they are very helpful.

 

[speedshooter]

i have a SW40VE did the trigger thing on it and replaced the guide rod from Wolfs gunsprings, polished the feed ramp have about 600-700 rds through it without a problem! Wolfs has 'bout everything you need

 

[MK]

The only thing I could add is to make sure the
guide rod is actually sitting on the barrel
lug correctly when you assemble it.
It's possible for it to be on the wrong lug,
and will not be sitting parallel with the
slide. There is a series of steps on the barrel
lug, and you want it to be on the lower one.
Not all the way flat on the lowest surface of
the barrel, but the next tiny step up.
It's possible to install the rod on the next
higher step, which is incorrect, and if you
look at the rod vs the slide, it will have a
slight incline towards the back, and will not
be perfectly parallel with the slide.
It should be resting on the next lower small
step, which is the lowest one, but still not
on the flat barrel surface.
When it's properly installed, the rod will be
perfectly parallel with the slide, looking from
the side, and you will see a small gap between
the back end of the rod, and the first step
on the barrel lug. If it's too high and on the
first step, the rod will be too loose, and not
parallel with the slide, and there will be no
gap behind the rod and barrel lug.
To put it on correctly, you have to use some
pressure to force the spring forward a bit so
it will fit. I use the end of my thumb..
This may well not be the problem, but thought
I would mention it just in case.

 

[mr.72]

not related to a 9E but with our 9VE the first box of ammo (Monarch, from Academy, cheap stuff) it tended to do the same kind of things you describe. FTF, slide didn't lock back when empty, etc. Then when we switched to the white box Winchester all things were perfect without a single failure of any kind for about 300 rounds. The winchester is noticeably hotter.

I guess this gun is picky about ammo.

I didn't notice the guide rod moving at all.

 

[Razorback777]

Thanks everyone. I do put the guide rod on the lower step and it keeps moving up during firing; not all the way up to the higher step, just up between the two. It is too loose to stay on the higher one even if I put it there, since there is no pressure on it at that point. Also, I did use primarily Winchester white box, but tried maybe 25 rounds of Remington 115gr just to see if it would function better, but it still mal-functioned. I'll take it back to the range this weekend and try it with just me firing it, then I'll let S&W have a try at it.

 

[MrApathy]

sounds as if the mainspring may be shot and the magazine springs.

 

[RedHouse]

I own two Sigmas, a 9VE and a 40VE. The guide rod on both pistols will not stay on the lower(smallest)step of the barrel lug. It moves up to next one as soon as the slide is operated once.

 

[jttmon]

I took my SW9E to the range and it missfired about 20 rds out of 150. The rd would chamber and click - no fire. I tapped and racked and click - no fire. I shipped it to S&W and after waiting two weeks I received it back with a statement that it needed cleaning. I don't understand how cleaning would affect how the firing pin hits the cap in the rd. Does anyone know if when you clean the SW9E do you remove the firing pin for cleaning?

 

[fridayxiii]

I picked up my SW9VE approx. 10 days ago, and last weekend was my first time @ the range w/it. I put 460 rounds through it w/zero problems. No FTF or FTE.

I was shooting mostly Winchester White Box (300), a bit of Blazer (100), and 60 of assorted JHP. I gave mine a light cleaning before shooting, and a thorough cleaning after. I field strip mine, cleaning the barrel, inside of the slide & anything else looking dirty that I can get to w/the tools of the cleaning kit.

 

[gmchenry]

Once assembled, the back of the recoil spring guide rod sits in a pocket in the frame. The barrel moves back away from the guide rod on recoil. The spring only is held against the barrel for reassembly.

The pistol sounds like it is having extraction problems, but that wouldn't have anything to do with the slide not locking open after the last round. It could be that you have a bad magazine. I would label the mags to see if the problems are following a specific mag or is it happening with all of your mags.

If your new gun isn't reliable, contact S&W and have them send you a return tag so they can fix it.