Problems

[Jmoorewar]

Got a new sd9ve for the wife.i went to try it out for first time today and it was having multiple ftf issues.the bullet was almost standing straight up and getting stuck in the slide and when I did finish a mag it didn't lock the slide back.i know I don't limp wrist so this is a MAJOR concern.send back to smith or what?anyone else have this problem?also after shooting it the slide now feels very rough when I rack it.

 

[GKC]

You said this was a new gun, right? The common causes of FTF malfunctions, other than limp wristing, are: magazines, needs to be cleaned, or ammo related. It could also be due to some rough spots on the feed ramp, breech face, or a burr on the extractor.

I'd start by cleaning and lubing the gun. While doing that, inspect the feed ramp, extractor, and breech face. Check your magazines and make sure they are in clean and dry. Make sure the followers and springs move up and down without kinking or binding. Make sure your recoil spring assembly is working correctly, and not binding or kinking. Assemble the pistol, and see if the grittiness or roughness when racking the slide is gone.

If the pistol seems to be in working order, use some good quality FMJ ammo for test firing. (I also like to load new magazines to capacity and let them sit loaded for about a week before the initial firing.) If you still are having FTF malfunctions, ask someone else to try shooting the gun...these guns have a heavier trigger than other pistols, and it could be affecting your grip. When you are shooting the gun, make sure your thumb isn't hitting the slide release.

If none of this helps, I'd call S&W. There may be other suggestions that others here can give you to try...before you call S&W.

Good luck!

 

[Pisgah]

GKC covers the mechanical aspects pretty well, but "I know I don't limp-wrist" is a phrase I hear often from shooters having problems with a new pistol, especially those whose previous experience has been with revolvers or slick-running 1911s that will practically cycle if you look at them and make a wish.

Not saying it is your problem, but next time try increasing your grip tightness almost to the point of absurdity, and concentrate on keeping your wrist rigid. If pistol function improves, you'll know that limp-wristing is at least part of the problem. If things stay the same, a trip back to S&W may be in order.

 

[Bozz10mm]

What brand of ammo are you using? Low power ammo can cause stove piping like that. Also, make sure your thumb, or some other appendage, isn't touching the slide and hampering it's movement.

 

[11e40]

have you tried a different magazine ? or loaded only five rounds in the current magazine to see if will function correctly ? hth.

 

[11e40]

also are you seating the magazine all the way ? some magazines will not seat properly when new & loaded to capacity. maybe why the slide does not lock correctly. hth.

 

[Jmoorewar]

I tried all of these suggestions yesterday when it first happened.its just very odd that when I first got it I took apart cleaned and lubed like I do with every gun I get new or used and the slide went back smooth as butter but now that I've shot it and had the mulitple ftf it's hard and gritty when I rack it,even after last night when I re cleaned and lubed it.checked the spring it looks ok to me other than that I have no clue whats wrong.oh yea I use wwb or federal 115grn fmj for target shooting.looks like I'm e-mailing smith to ship It back.dont want t wait,that is the only part I hate.

 

[GKC]

I tried all of these suggestions yesterday when it first happened.its just very odd that when I first got it I took apart cleaned and lubed like I do with every gun I get new or used and the slide went back smooth as butter but now that I've shot it and had the mulitple ftf it's hard and gritty when I rack it,even after last night when I re cleaned and lubed it.checked the spring it looks ok to me other than that I have no clue whats wrong.oh yea I use wwb or federal 115grn fmj for target shooting.looks like I'm e-mailing smith to ship It back.dont want t wait,that is the only part I hate.

Hmmm. The hard or gritty when racking sounds like it has to be either an issue with the recoil spring assembly, or some sort of burr on the slide rails or frame rails. The only other thing I can think of is perhaps the take down lever is binding somehow. If there was an issue with the barrel passing through the slide, it looks like you could see that with a visual inspection. I can't think of anything else that would make it gritty now, if you've cleaned and lubed it...but then, I don't know everything by a long shot.

Suggestion: call S&W rather than e-mail. They seem to respond better to calls than e-mails.

 

[GKC]

Another question: are all the frame pins in place? Are the frame inserts sitting in proper alignment?

Here is a video actually of the Apex spring kit install, but it shows how all the parts should be in place.

SD/Sigma Kit install - YouTube

 

[Jmoorewar]

Hmmm. The hard or gritty when racking sounds like it has to be either an issue with the recoil spring assembly, or some sort of burr on the slide rails or frame rails. The only other thing I can think of is perhaps the take down lever is binding somehow. If there was an issue with the barrel passing through the slide, it looks like you could see that with a visual inspection. I can't think of anything else that would make it gritty now, if you've cleaned and lubed it...but then, I don't know everything by a long shot.

Suggestion: call S&W rather than e-mail. They seem to respond better to calls than e-mails.

yea I thought the guide rod had cracked and was kinking up when I pulled back but it looks fine to me.i need to look closer for any burrs but if there is any its small because I did look along the slide rails and didn't see anything.

 

[GKC]

Very puzzling. Please do post the details of what you find out...I'm very curious to know what the problem is!

Good luck!

 

[Jmoorewar]

Will do.gunna call tommrow and see about shipping it.may take it to the gunsmith first and see if he can tell me anything and if it's something small that won't cost an arm and leg to fix I'd rather do that and not have to ship it off.he may just tell me what he thinks and let me do it and not charge.one way or another I will get it running right.this is the first pistol I've had issues with.maybe got a lemon and if so I hope smith will make it right

 

[GKC]

I hope smith will make it right

S&W will. They warrant new pistols to the original owner for life, and they have one of the best CS records in the business (not perfect, but no one is.) They also pay for shipping both ways, which is really good since it costs so darn much to ship a handgun.

 

[Jmoorewar]

S&W will. They warrant new pistols to the original owner for life, and they have one of the best CS records in the business (not perfect, but no one is.) They also pay for shipping both ways, which is really good since it costs so darn much to ship a handgun.

Do I need to send in the warrenty card first?

 

[GKC]

Do I need to send in the warrenty card first?

No...it's not required. I do complete the warranty registration for all my new S&Ws, but I do it online. Like I said, it's not required (most of it's marketing info, and I only fill out the required fields.)

 

[Jmoorewar]

Problem solved.There cheap enough I bought another and am going to send other to get fixed then sell one.Damn you discover credit card making me buy stuff lol

 

[Onthespot]

Problem solved.There cheap enough I bought another and am going to send other to get fixed then sell one.Damn you discover credit card making me buy stuff lol

Yeah you can't bet the price with a stick. Let us know how the new one goes. Hope well for you.

 

[GKC]

Problem solved.There cheap enough I bought another and am going to send other to get fixed then sell one.Damn you discover credit card making me buy stuff lol

So...you bought a new gun, and you're going to send the other gun in to get it fixed, and then sell one? Is that right?

I'm still interested to know what the problem was.

 

[ragedpanda336]

hey I am having issues with my SDVE .40 it won't load in any ammo it jams half way through in the loading ramp

 

[Jmoorewar]

So...you bought a new gun, and you're going to send the other gun in to get it fixed, and then sell one? Is that right?

I'm still interested to know what the problem was.

I'll let everyone know what the verdict ends up being when it's all taken care of.