Help! Duty ammo won't function!

[DanRod_LA]

My department recently switched to Speer Gold Dot G2 147 Grn. 9mm. Previously we used Winchester Ranger-T 147 Grn. 9mm. While trying out the new ammo in my 1.0 Pro Series 5 inch, I noticed that when I rack the slide during a reload (mag exchange) some rounds would get caught on the edge of the feed ramp. It happened twice in two boxes of ammo. I didn't think too much of if and loaded the rest of my magazines with the new ammo.

When I got home and attempted to load the gun after cleaning. The round again got caught on the feed ramp. I had to lock the slide to the rear, remove the magazine then try another round. I tried to hand cycle the rest of the magazine. I know its not not a great representation of how the gun should function but you should be able to rack any round into a gun without issue. About every other round failed to chamber. I tried a another magazine and fresh box of ammo. Same issue. I then replaced the recoil spring figuring a weak spring was the cause. Same issue.

The next day I took a trip to the deparment armorer and had them look at the gun. They have seen the issue with the new ammo and long slide M&P's. Seems the 4.25 barrel has no issue and most 5 inch'ers as well. Only a few 5 inch gun will have it and recommended I send it back to the factory as they had no remedy for the issue.

I called S&W and explained the issue. They had me send the gun back and I received it back within a week. I tried to load the gun and surprise, same issue. The work order stated the barrel feed ramp was polished as well as the mouth to the chamber. Neither seemed to solve the issue.

Has anyone else had this issue or know if there is a remedy? My Pro series is one of my best shooting gun and I'd hate to get rid of it, alt ought I've lost all confidence in carrying it again. I've been carrying my 4506-1 as my duty gun and, of course, it has no such issues been picky with ammo. I've also tried the ammo in my 2.0 Compact 4 inch using the same magazines and Glock 17 with no issues.

I've attached some photos documenting the issue:

 

[Okie21]

I had the same exact problem with a 5" Pro I bought used. HST's were hitting the bottom of the feed ramp. I, too sent it back to S&W. They returned it with a new barrel (that's what the paperwork said). I've put 1000 rounds thru it since with no problems. I shot all kinds of ball and JHP ammo.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[DanRod_LA]

I had the same exact problem with a 5" Pro I bought used. HST's were hitting the bottom of the feed ramp. I, too sent it back to S&W. They returned it with a new barrel (that's what the paperwork said). I've put 1000 rounds thru it since with no problems. I shot all kinds of ball and JHP ammo.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

I may have to have them do that then. Glad to see there is a fix. Many thanks!

 

[Okie21]

I may have to have them do that then. Glad to see there is a fix. Many thanks!

Hope they fix it

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

My first thought was try a new barrel and/or mags.

 

[Rastoff]

Thanks for posting pics. So many don't.

It does look like the HP is getting caught on the bottom of the feed ramp. A new barrel might be necessary.

It also looks like that Speer round is very long. Do you have any of the Winchester rounds left? Any chance you could post a pic of the two rounds side by side?

 

[Bobafett]

I had a similar problem with my 1st Glock, a m17

it was a bad mag catch. Magazines didn't sit high enough.

What's the OAL on those rounds? I haven't got ANY 147 gr yet for my M&P

 

[andyo5]

In my experience, the nose of the round should be tipped upwards when it hits the ramp. In your photos it is not. Possibly the magazine is releasing the back of the round too early, or else the round is too short to function properly in your gun.

 

[colt_saa]

I called S&W and explained the issue. They had me send the gun back and I received it back within a week. I tried to load the gun and surprise, same issue. The work order stated the barrel feed ramp was polished as well as the mouth to the chamber. Neither seemed to solve the issue.

I am willing to bet that you did not include a box or two of the ammunition that was giving you the failures

Just as your firearm worked fine with your previous duty load, it probably worked fine with whatever test ammunition the factory uses

They need to be able to test the firearm under the same conditions as the failure

 

[mscampbell2734]

I had a similar problem with my 1st Glock, a m17

it was a bad mag catch. Magazines didn't sit high enough.

What's the OAL on those rounds? I haven't got ANY 147 gr yet for my M&P

This is my guess as well.

Try this. IN A SAFE DIRECTION insert a mag, press the mag against a hard surface and hold it there. Rack the slide. If the weapon feeds then you've found the issue. Some guns are just on the edge of production tolerances and when the stars and moons align just right they will not work with certain loads.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I will tell you that I had the same problem with my fiance's HK VP 9 . If the rounds aren't long enough , it jams . It would run fine on ammo longer than 1.150. I reload , so I just make sure the length is correct and then there's no problems . You might want to check the length of your current ammo . Maybe longer is better . That's where my Ruger P89 comes in . It feeds everything I load it with , no problems , whether long or short OAL , no matter . It's the only 9mm I own . Regards, Paul

 

[dla]

My guess would've been twofold: (1) the magazine springs are a bit weak. (2) You're riding the slide.

Cycles fine when you fire it cause the slide is moving fast.

 

[swsig]

One additional possibility: The top rounds were not fully seated to the rear of the magazine, and protruded forward far enough to catch on the feed ramp. This can be a problem with the Shield 45, which has limited room in the magazine well. Shield 45 owners have learned to make sure their rounds are fully and firmly seated to the rear of their magazines.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

Duty ammo having issues w a duty weapon.....???
yup - thats a problem.

I've never been in LE , but I would request swapping out both the ammo and the weapon w something that works...prior to your next shift

 

[Doug M.]

The pistol will work differently when shot than when hand cycled; it is subtle, but there.

How many rounds of the new ammo have you shot? Any problems when shooting? When transitioning, 500 rounds is the recommended function test; I now most don't do that, but should.

 

[WR Moore]

It appears that the lower edge of the hollow point cavity may be catching on the bottom of the feed ramp. You might try removing the slide, pulling the barrel and with a loaded magazine in place, place the barrel in it's feed position on the locking block and check the fit of round to ramp. Compare the size of the cavity to the previous ammo if you can.

Replacing the magazine catch is cheap and possibly worth trying. I see you already tried replacing the recoil spring assembly. BTW, the 9 mm magazine follower should be black.

The OAL of the Gold Dot 124 gr JHP is 1.120 inches. You might want to check OAL to see what it measures. Experimenting with OAL might be interesting. It'd be a pain to seat the bullet deeper in your issue ammo but might be worth it.

 

[triaxle]

It is the G/2 ammo , not the gun that 147 seems long and has that plastic down in the hollow point , its the ammo .

 

[DanRod_LA]

Hey guys thanks for the responses. I’ve tried some of the tests here but no avail. Sending the gun next week to the factory. Luckily my 4506 has no issues with our duty ammo. Interesting thought on the mag catch though. I can see how that would cause an issue with the magazine sitting too low. And it’ll explain why my 2.0 doesn’t have the issue with its re designed mag catch

 

[Muss Muggins]

Does it feed when you shoot it?

 

[Bobafett]

I was going to suggest tuning the feed lips on your mags till I reread the original post.

Same mags work trouble free in the 2 other M&Ps then I guess its the barrel's feed ramp geometry. An old fashioned ramp job would be my suggestion of a cure, but it would be something S&W would have to do so as not to void your guns warranty. (edit: I don't know what the minimum/maximum dimensions allowed are for the feed ramp)

I have the same brands of ammo that you're using but different weights, weird right?. My calipers read 1.11 on the gold dots and 1.08 on the rangers (and the silver tips)