Just a quick update. Was out at the ranch all weekend and did quite a bit of shooting. I put about 200 rounds through my SD9VE. The slide didn't lock back after the last round one single time. I fed it lots of different ammo. Lawman, WWB, Fiocchi, Blazer Brass, and Remington UMC. 124gr and 115gr. Guess I'll have to send it back to Smith. Other than that, I'm loving this gun.
New SD9VE issues
- Thread starter khoward
- Start date
copterdrvr
Member
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- Jul 31, 2013
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Are you absolutely positive that you're NOT hitting the slide release with your thumb/finger? Just sayin'.....
Badquaker
Member
Did you look to see if the mag follower is making contact with the slide stop?
Badquaker
Member
Correct
If the slide locks back with an empty mag, when hand operated, you have eliminated one cause.
Now pull the slide all the way back and release it. If the stop catches the slide, then something in the recoil motion is over power the stop. Lock the slide back and take a picture of the stop/notch area for us to see.
Have you cleaned it? Some guns require the recoil spring to be installed in a specific direction.
If the slide locks back with an empty mag, when hand operated, you have eliminated one cause.
Now pull the slide all the way back and release it. If the stop catches the slide, then something in the recoil motion is over power the stop. Lock the slide back and take a picture of the stop/notch area for us to see.
Have you cleaned it? Some guns require the recoil spring to be installed in a specific direction.
If I pull the slide back and release it the stop does catch the slide. I have cleaned and lubed it and put the recoil spring back in correctly. Could it be that the recoil spring just needs more breaking in?
Here's a couple pics. Taken with my phone so the quality isn't the best. If you need pics of other areas please let me know.
Here's a couple pics. Taken with my phone so the quality isn't the best. If you need pics of other areas please let me know.
Badquaker
Member
So the slide lock functions correctly under hand power, but fails while firing.
1.The slide is not traveling fully to the rear due to under powered rounds (doubtful) or a bind (you should be able to feel it when you work the slide by hand).
2.The lock is disengaging during the recoil cycle. Inertia, thumbing, or the leading edge of the lock is angled poorly are all possibilities.
Take a pic from the side with the slide locked back.
1.The slide is not traveling fully to the rear due to under powered rounds (doubtful) or a bind (you should be able to feel it when you work the slide by hand).
2.The lock is disengaging during the recoil cycle. Inertia, thumbing, or the leading edge of the lock is angled poorly are all possibilities.
Take a pic from the side with the slide locked back.
armallard
Member
I've shot all different types of ammo including Monarch out of mine without any problems.
copterdrvr
Member
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Guys, I don't have access to my SD9VE right now but looking at the second picture does it look like the slide release sticks out kinda far on the tail end of it?
It almost looks like it's bent outwards alittle bit...
It almost looks like it's bent outwards alittle bit...
brchambersjr
US Veteran
I noticed the same thing...looks like an adjustment might correct the problem, or a new slide release.
Mine did the same thing. After about a 100-200rds it went away so i'm guessing it was the break in period. Now its one of my best pistols with the Apex Spring Kit and Trigger installed.
Slide lock
Wow, good observation, that's more than "a little bit".
Did it come from the factory that way?
Wow, good observation, that's more than "a little bit".
Did it come from the factory that way?
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Within the first 200 rounds, my slide failed to lock open twice AND locked open on mags with rounds still in the magazine !! This was with Perfecta ammo, 115 FMJ. Now, after almost 3,000 rounds, it runs fine w/ every-thing. I HAVE caught my RH thumb rubbing the slide stop and must make sure it isn't close when I'm firing. This is a technique issue and I'm not very worried about it. I've heard about several ammo related issues on this forum, it does pay to try as many brands of ammo as possible !! Hope your issue get's resolved, the SD9VE is a great pistol.
Vandalct
Member
I've had the slide not lock open only twice and it was not the gun, the magazine or the ammo. It was pure operator error. I had my thumb on the slide release. I've fed it every piece of **** ammo I can find and it simply works. The SD9VE has been super reliable, even with underpowered cartridges. Any errors have been 100% on me.
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Ofc.JL
Member
Could be thumb fouling of the slide stop. The SW and SD series of pistols do have a very long and large slide stop lever and I have at times caught my thumb on it. I had a buddy that could not stop doing the thumb on the slide stop problem. He liked his SW9(this was several years ago, mind you), and we corrected it by trimming the lever down to a shorter size. Worked good for him, but I do not recommend that trick to everybody. Also, dis-assemble you mags and clean them out good. Make sure your magazine springs are orientated correctly in the mag body upon re-assembly. I have seen new factory mag springs that have been put in wrong and that caused a fail to feed and fail to lock open problem that drove the owner of that particular pistol crazy, until we found it and corrected it. Just thought I would mention it.
Try better ammo, and watch your thumbs, see if that doesn't fix it.
Good luck and stay safe.
Try better ammo, and watch your thumbs, see if that doesn't fix it.
Good luck and stay safe.
BigAl512
Member
Hello All,
From What I can see and From My experience , The SD9 Has a lot of Stamped steel Parts, and Indeed it looks Bent , easy fix though, simple tweak, I Have about 400 rounds so far in Mine no issues with Ammo, and have done some tricks to Smooth everything out , See SD & Sigma Upgrades, BigAl512, for trigger enhancements, Shoots Unbelievable now , Had to Adjust the rear sight was over too far to Left from the Factory, These Guns are built rather ............ inexpensive and do not have a lot of moving Parts, But can be made to shoot really well, Have just done a sear pivot smoothing and striker face Smoothing , Crisper and quick, and Less pull, will find out tomorrow with Scale
From What I can see and From My experience , The SD9 Has a lot of Stamped steel Parts, and Indeed it looks Bent , easy fix though, simple tweak, I Have about 400 rounds so far in Mine no issues with Ammo, and have done some tricks to Smooth everything out , See SD & Sigma Upgrades, BigAl512, for trigger enhancements, Shoots Unbelievable now , Had to Adjust the rear sight was over too far to Left from the Factory, These Guns are built rather ............ inexpensive and do not have a lot of moving Parts, But can be made to shoot really well, Have just done a sear pivot smoothing and striker face Smoothing , Crisper and quick, and Less pull, will find out tomorrow with Scale
