Help with sr9c - FTF

[Blizzard]

I have about 500 rounds thru my SR9C. Seems that about 15% of my rounds do not fire on the first try. Usually if I rack slide it will fire the second time. The gun is clean and the slide is oiled. Can anyone tell me what the problem might be?

I have no problems with my SR9 with the same ammo.

 

[satman2300]

I am by no means an expert. My trouble was just the opposite, the SR9c has had no issues, but the SR9 had plenty of FTF’s. I just got the SR9 back from Ruger and they replaced the slide, striker and the striker cover.

I think it must be related to the spring tension in the striker. The new one snaps forward as you do disassembly, the old one did not.

One thing for sure, Ruger service is great, so don’t hesitate to send it back if you have and issue.

 

[BiG MiKE86]

Just curious if you cleaned the striker and tunnel? I had sorta the same problem til I cleaned that area and it now works like a dream

 

[sibby]

I had the same problem with my SR9C after only 150 rounds through it. I removed the striker and could not believe how much metal debris was in the striker canal. There was a pile of metal shavings in there! I cleaned it all out by spraying rem oil through it. I hope to get to the range this weekend to see if that has fixed the problem. I will be very surprised if did not fix the problem.

 

[Blizzard]

Thanks for the replies.

I have cleaned in the striker area, but I have not removed the striker. I am not sure how to do that. I did change the trigger bar on my SR9, so I am reasonably handy.

(Edit) Ok, I just found it on the Ruger site videos. I now have the whole striker area disassembled and it is full of grit. I will clean and lubricate and report back after I next go to the range.

 

[satman2300]

.... I removed the striker and could not believe how much metal debris was in the striker canal. There was a pile of metal shavings in there!......

I noticed that in both guns, was shocked to see metal shavings, we used a Qtip to clean it out. Now saying that, the SR9c had that stuff in there, but it never failed to perform. The SR9 also had it but it gave me a bunch of light strikes. We clean them out after each outing, 1000 or so rounds in the full size, 700 in the "c"

To the OP, the FTF, were they actually light strikes on the primer?

 

[SR9 Shooter]

I've seen people clean their slide with dishsoap and water and not make sure all the water was out which caused rusting issues and that affected the feeding and firing. -just a thought. Either way disassemble the slide and make sure everything's kosher.

 

[RUGERFAN357]

I have had no issues with my SR9 or SR9c. (I don't have the SR9 anymore). But I will keep it in mind and next time I clean it, I will check the striker area and see what I find. Thanks for the info.

Bill

 

[sibby]

Satman2300,
Doyou find that the metal devbris is re-occuring everytime you head to the range or has it improved with use?

Also, I see that you are in Texas and a Bearcat. What part of Texas are you in now?

 

[Blizzard]

I went to the range this AM after the full cleaning of the firing pin. 1st 2 rounds FTF. After that 80 rounds without a problem. I don't know why the 1st two were a problem, but it seems fine now.

Yes, any FTF's were light taps.

 

[satman2300]

Satman2300,
Doyou find that the metal devbris is re-occuring everytime you head to the range or has it improved with use?

Also, I see that you are in Texas and a Bearcat. What part of Texas are you in now?

Yes actually we have noticed the metal shavings each time we have cleaned them. Last time I even made the mistake to grab the end of the Qtip to see if it really was metal and Yes, tweezers were then needed.

I have not taken the SR9 out sense it's return from Ruger. I will next week sometime and report back.

I am in the DFW area.

 

[Sonnytoo]

I put 250 rounds thru my SR9c before I started to get light strikes. Call Ruger.
My gun just got back from Service. They put in a new striker assembly, the main part is a longer striker spring. It appears to have fixed my light strikes.
Please note: the problem is NOT ammo, at least not Win White Box or Federal.
I have previous posts concerning this if you look them up. My SR9c has been a big problem, although I believe it is now reliable.
Sonnytoo

 

[Blizzard]

I spoke to customer service yesterday and the women there suggested that I return the gun for evaluation. She emailed me a UPS next day shipping form.

I will let you know what happens.

 

[Scott]

those metal shavings in the striker channel that ya'll are talking about - mine does that, but it looks like it's pretty much all brass shavings so I'm not too worries about it - are you seeing the same? If it's more than just brass, something in the gun is losing metal - that could be a problem eventually, right? Just curious.

 

[satman2300]

copy of my post on "SR9 off for Repair":

Ok my son and I literally just got back from the range. The SR9 ate up just over 100 rounds and she worked just like it’s suppose to. Even ran some Brown Bear through just to test. I haven’t had a chance to clean it so don’t know about the internals yet.

Ironically, there was guy next to us also with a SR9 and SR9c. He was having FTF’s – Light Strikes on his “c”.

Before I fired the SR9 we took the slide off and I showed him how the striker snaps forward on the repaired unit as soon as you press down on the two buttons. His full size was working fine.

We both spoke about the metal shavings in the striker tunnel, still not to sure what is up with that, and my Good experience with Ruger Service. I’ll bet his “c” is off for a factory visit.

Both guns performed flawlessly, very happy camper

Update:
Ok, we tore them down and cleaned them up. The repaired SR9’s striker tunnel did have a bit of grit in it, but not near as bad as before. I wish the “c” had the same striker spring. My son had some trouble putting the sticker cover back on because you have to press the striker in and the release pin also to get it on.

 

[Blizzard]

As posted above, I did return my SR9C to Ruger.

I also cleaned the fiiring pin and canal on my SR9 with which I was also experiencing light strike FTF's. When I took out the firing pin I did not find any metal, but the pin seemed to have a greasy substance on it. I rinsed channel and pin with cleaner, blew them out with compressed air and lightly oiled them.

I put about 60 rounds thru it on Friday and it worked flawlessly.

 

[sibby]

I took my SR9C out for the second time today. My first time out, I put 150 rounds through it and had about 10 light strikes. After the first trip out, I stripped it down and found a ton of metal debris in the firing pin canal. I re-assembled and headed to the range again today. I put 200 rounds through it and had two light strikes. After each light strike, I reloaded the same bullet and fired it without issue. Two light strikes is still two many but it seems to be getting better after 350 rounds. I will clean it tonight and give it another try before sending it in to Ruger. The gun is absolutely dead on and after 350 rounds the slide is losening up nicely.

 

[Blizzard]

Ruger will ask you to send it back.

 

[Sonnytoo]

I got my SR9c back from Ruger Service. To fix light primer hits, they replaced the striker assembly, including a longer striker spring which I believe is the main fix.
Last wkend, I shot it about 260 times. Flawless.
All my ammo was WWB and FED. My original light hits were with WWB.
Just call Service. They are good folks. Tell 'em light primer hits with good ammo and they will help you out.
Sonnytoo

 

[sibby]

Did the new spring make the trigger pull any stiffer?

 

[Gizmo42]

After reading this I took mine apart and looked in the striker chamber. Has about 250 rds through it and there were a few little brass shavings in it. I never had any light hits but I just bought it about a week ago and it might have the longer spring already in it. Not sure when it was actually made.

 

[Blizzard]

I received my SR9C back from Ruger in less than a week. I was surprised that they didn't notify me that it was on its way back. Lucky i was home, UPS requires a signature.

The note from Ruger said: "After repair pistol was function fired - 40 rounds without malfunction.
STRIKER ASSEMBLY Replaced
STRIKER COVER Replaced"

I will report back after I go to the range.

Amazing customer service !!

 

[satman2300]

That was fast, do us a favor and strip it down and see what that striker feels like and if it is different going back together. Mine (SR9) was noticeably different than before, more tension.

I am sure it will be fine now, go have fun and report back.

 

[Blizzard]

I have put about 150 rounds thru my SR9C since I got it back from Ruger.

No problems at all !!!

 

[Turbobuddha]

I noticed that, I think it was Fiocchi ammo, has really hard primers. My older SR9 eats it up but my compact is pretty consistant on the light strikes. The striker spring feels much lighter and that was my issue. Plus all the cleaning.

 

[haroldg48]

Thanks for the replies.

I have cleaned in the striker area, but I have not removed the striker. I am not sure how to do that. I did change the trigger bar on my SR9, so I am reasonably handy.

(Edit) Ok, I just found it on the Ruger site videos. I now have the whole striker area disassembled and it is full of grit. I will clean and lubricate and report back after I next go to the range.

I found that same thing. Good news: the Ruger videos are great! What they don't mention is: Don't put the magazine disconnect back in :? Guess they want us to all be safe!

 

[rex3live]

Hey guys, went to the site and i cant find the videos where you can clean the striking pin and all good stuff....can you link the video thingy thanks!!!

 

[john16443]

Hey guys, went to the site and i cant find the videos where you can clean the striking pin and all good stuff....can you link the video thingy thanks!!!

Rex - You'll find a whole series of videos at the top of the Ruger Semiauto Pistols page - titled Sticky: SR9 How-To (Multiple Inside) Updated 4/5/09 W/ Videos!


The link to the SR9 videos for disassembly, cleaning and reassembly are located here:
http://www.ruger.com/resources/videos.html#

Go to the Tech Tips tab, there's stuff for many Ruger guns.

 

[rex3live]

Thank you sir!!!!

 

[john16443]

No problem, we all gotta learn where to go for information, and the easier it is, the better. Josh's videos and other posts in that sticky really helped a newbie like me. Even I was easily able to drop in a Ghost Ultimate and use the cloth Dremel pads to polish all the contact pieces he highlights. It made a noticeable difference.