Shot New 9VE - Some Problems

[Tinkerman]

I shot my brand spanking new SW9VE this afternoon. Feels great in my hands and the accuracy is great as well - no complaints in those departments. Even the hard trigger pull did not bother me at all.

However, I was getting some loading failures. This usually happens when I load 2 or 3 rounds in the mag. Or, if I load all 16 rounds in the mag, I get the loading failures in the last 2 or 3 rounds. This happens with both mags that came with the gun. Also, the slide did not lock open after the last round.

I wiped down the gun of all the factory lube, but did not have time to oil the rails and other parts before going to the range Silly me! I was using Remington USC 115 gr rounds, by the way.

So, I think there are a few contributing factors:

1) it's a new gun and everthing is still tight / rough
2) I did not lube the rails and other parts
3) I need to work on my grip
4) the 115 gr rounds are too light

Any ideas?

 

[Knightrider03m]

How many rounds have you put though it? For the 1st 200-300 rounds I had mag problems. Don't worry about the ammo that you use, the sigma don't mine the 115 gr

 

[leejack]

Welcome to the club!

Here's my suggestion:

First, clean and lube as per the manual. The sigma is not an oil hog, so lube lightly. In my humble opinion, a clean and lube should always be done on a new gun before it's fired.

Next, load your mags now to capacity (yes you can get all 16 rounds in).Leave the mags fully loaded until your next range trip and you'll be fine.

Several members have reported teathing bugs with new mags, but it usually clears up in short order.

I shoot 115 gr all the time at the range; the sigma does like it.

Best wishes and keep us posted,

Lee

 

[chessail 77]

Clean it....lube it as stated above and shoot the "L" out of it and you'll be fine ...these darn things love to be shot ......like a fine wine they get better with age..

 

[OKFC05]

All new pistols and magazines should be cleaned before being shot for the first time. Not doing that is the #1 cause of initial failures.

I say that a lot at the range....

 

[CajunBass]

I'd also try some different ammo. Nothing at all wrong with Remington UMC ammo, I shoot it a lot, but all ammo has some variation at the factory. You may have gotten a box that was loaded on the light side of spec and combined with a tight new gun and magazine, might cause the problem.

The first box of ammo I fired through mine was a box of my own reloads that I knew I had loaded on the "light" side. Almost every one of them jammed. Factory ammo has worked just fine as did some later reloads that I loaded hotter.

 

[Peckerwood702]

When I purchased my gun I asked the "expert" behind the counter if i should clean my gun before I shot it and he told me no. But I knew better than that.

 

[Knightrider03m]

When I purchased my gun I asked the "expert" behind the counter if i should clean my gun before I shot it and he told me no. But I knew better than that.

That is why I don't ask gun counter people about guns lol

 

[Tinkerman]

Thanks for the all suggestions. I only shot a box (50 rounds) through it so far, so it's not even close to broken in. I'll shoot the hell out of it and I'm sure it'll loosen up.

I've had a 1911, CZ75, Ruger P90 and other handguns, but this feels the best in my hands and looks the most sleek. It's also the easiest to field strip. I'm liking it!

 

[hybridsquirrel]

Hmm, you shouldve at least cleaned and lubed it to start. I only lubed the rails and immediately went to shoot off some rounds. I had problems through the first box only, after that it loosened up real nicely. After 200 rounds it felt pristine. Even the trigger worked its way out a little.

 

[FourEyez]

Clean it, shoot it, clean it, send it to S&W with a letter that says what your first post said, only add in something about a heavy trigger pull too.

What your explaing happend to me and I'm sure its not what you wanted to hear but it has been AMAZING gun since it returned to me.


Just my $00.02

iiii

 

[Tinkerman]

Here's an update on my 9mm Sigma......

Just shot it again at the range (only my 2nd time out with this gun). Since my first trip to the range, I stripped, cleaned and lubed it. Also, I dry fired it several hundred times and slid the slide back and forth several hundred times also. Cleaned and lubed just before heading to the range. The trigger pull seems a lot lighter and is quite smooth now.

First mag filled to 15 rounds. Not a single FTF (failure to feed)problem. The slide did not lock back on the last shot, though.

Second mag filled to 15 rounds. FTF in the last 2 or 3 rounds. I cleared it and it was fine. Slide did not lock back on the last round.

Third load (in mag #1) filled to 15 rounds. No problems except for slide not locking back on the last shot.

Fourth load (in mag #2). Filled to 5 rounds. No problems except for slide not locking back on the last shot.

So, I am much happier. I think with a few more slide racking back and forth, things will loosen up even more and I will see the slide locking back after the last shot.

I really like the looks and feel of this cheap gun!

 

[FourEyez]

No dude...sorry...same thing happened to me. The last round in the mag should ALWAYS lock your slide in the open position.

This is a serious issue for what your tool was designed to do. This is the exact same thing that happen to me. I sent it back and S&W agreed with me. They replaced the block assembly.

Understand, this is my first hand gun...I was a little miffed at first..but since it has come back I have had NO ISSUES, no FTF, no non-locks.

Do yourself a favor, send it back. It will shock you when you get it back. I mean, after all...why not use the warrenty you paid for?

Good luck.

iiii

 

[Cornhusker]

I had a mag that wouldn't lock the slide, but the other 3 worked fine.
I took the spring out and stretched it just a bit, put it back together and it worked fine.

 

[Sleddog30]

I've only had a no lock back problem once. It was when I had less than 100 rounds thru it. I've shot another 700+ rounds with no other lock back problems. I clean my mags (complete disassembly) every 200 rounds or so.

Good idea on mag spring Cornhusker.

 

[blastfact]

Take the mags down. Clean them out and inspect the follower. Put mags back together. Slap them in the pistol >>> empty and pull the slide back. It should lock back. If it does not lock back. Look and see if the mag follower is in place and all the way up. If so see if the slide lock tang is being pushed up by the mag follower. Or are the two not mating up. If they are mating up. Then check to see if the slide lock lever is truly free and moves easy. It's a very simple mechanical action.

If the main trigger block/group is bad or not set in the frame square you should be able to see it very clearly. if the slide lock lever does not go up and down easy. Look to see if the back of the thumb pad is rubbing against the frame. If all of that is clear and square. Take a punch and move the trigger group pin no more than 1/16th of a inch each way. The spring for the slide hold back lever could be jammed up. When one breaks down or resets the trigger group the pin holding it in has a very hard spot as your driving the pin back in. This hard spot is happens in the area of drive as the lever and its spring are setting in right. In shipping and handling the pin could have moved out of set then reset but not right.

If all fails,,, send it back to S&W.

 

[Thunderhawk88]

All new pistols and magazines should be cleaned before being shot for the first time. Not doing that is the #1 cause of initial failures.

I say that a lot at the range....

+1000. Had a friend over tonight with his brand-spankng new 9VE so I could show him how to break it down and clean it. We'll take it to the range next week so he can fire it in.
Never take a new pistol out without cleaning it first.