I just bought my wife a a brand new LC9 and we've both noticed it doesn't always want to chamber a shell when racking slide. The shell get chambered only partially and the slide doesn't come all the way forward and the only way to fix it is to eject the shell completely, even when working the slide to get it to feed it doesn't budge. Any one else have this problem? Should i wait to put some rounds through it before contacting Ruger or having the ramp machined?
LC9 feed ramp issues?
- Thread starter DBelite05
- Start date
DBelite05 said:
Yes, 3 or 4 hundred rounds would be a good start. And try a variety of ammo brands too, make sure the problem isn't specific to ONE magazine, no limp-wristing, etc.
Welcome to the Forum!
exavid
Hunter
Loading the magazine with fewer rounds until it breaks in may help. Also I'm not clear from your post whether the problem is when firing or hand racking the pistol. If it's during hand racking it could be caused by not yanking the slide backward all the way or riding it forward with your hand.
No the problem is when hand racking, and you could say I "rack it like a red head step child" for lack of a better pun. but no limp wristing, no riding it forward i would suspect these issues if it only happened when my wife was racking the slide but it is happening to be as well. I make sure to give it a hard rack to the rear and let it loose so it rides forward on it own will. i worked with it a bit more last night, tried different ammo and still had some issues but far less than right out of the box i stripped it and made sure all part were well lubricated and just spent time racking full clips through the gun. I don't think it's going to be an issue after a few hundred more rounds i don't anticipate any problems. However, until I'm positive it's not an issue that would be detrimental in a life or death situation the wife will just have to carry another gun. Thanks for all the input and advice guys.
exavid
Hunter
One other possibility could be slightly bent or misshaped magazine lips not holding the top round at the right angle. I had a feed problem with another pistol and found the inside of the magazine gritty. After disassembling, cleaning and lubing the inside of the magazine the problem with the gun was gone. It sure would be easier to diagnose these kind of problems if Ruger would ship all guns with two magazines. I just got a SR22 and it came with two magazines. All the pistols I have from Ruger came with two magazines except the LCP and LC9.
first thing, i smooth and polish EVERY feedramp on EVERY gun i buy....it only helps, it doesn't hurt.
second thing, on my LC9, if i pull the slide all the way back and let it go, it will chamber the round perfectly and positively. if i "go easy" and ride the slide back into position, it will hang up right at the very end. the slide will push the round out of the mag, up the ramp, and into the chamber, but right at the last step it will hang up. at that point, all i have to do is tap the back of the slide with the palm of my hand and it closes (like a Forward assist on an AR). again, this is only when i go easy when releasing the slide. during live firing, it's like butter. 300+ rounds not one FTF for me, or any other malfunction. this is with remington, winchester FMJ's and Hornady HP's.
as a note: i have intalled the 18lb spring from Galloway and feel this mod is GREATLY under-appreciated. this tightened up the performance of my LC9 tremendously. the recoil is softer, the performance is 10x better, highly recommended!! it seems that yes, maybe ruger could have done better overall with the small details, but with a few mods and some TLC, this gun can be a beast!! in my case, it's reliable and i carry it everyday.
second thing, on my LC9, if i pull the slide all the way back and let it go, it will chamber the round perfectly and positively. if i "go easy" and ride the slide back into position, it will hang up right at the very end. the slide will push the round out of the mag, up the ramp, and into the chamber, but right at the last step it will hang up. at that point, all i have to do is tap the back of the slide with the palm of my hand and it closes (like a Forward assist on an AR). again, this is only when i go easy when releasing the slide. during live firing, it's like butter. 300+ rounds not one FTF for me, or any other malfunction. this is with remington, winchester FMJ's and Hornady HP's.
as a note: i have intalled the 18lb spring from Galloway and feel this mod is GREATLY under-appreciated. this tightened up the performance of my LC9 tremendously. the recoil is softer, the performance is 10x better, highly recommended!! it seems that yes, maybe ruger could have done better overall with the small details, but with a few mods and some TLC, this gun can be a beast!! in my case, it's reliable and i carry it everyday.
ryan9896 said:
Different gun I know just throwing in that my SR40c does the exact same thing and I've heard the SR9's as well. I doubt I'll polish the feed ramp any time soon, maybe one day. For now though a solid rack seats it perfectly every time.
I don't really see it as a problem but admit a polished ramp as far as I can tell from reading can only be a good or better thing.
exavid
Hunter
Riding the slide back with your hand or slowing its momentum when closing will prevent most autoloaders from going fully into battery. The most resistance to the recoil spring closing the action is when the slide is stripping a round from the magazine. The resistance is at its highest when the magazine is full and the follower spring is pressing the cartridge more tightly against the lips of the magazine. To rack any autoloader one should pull the slide all the way back and release it cleanly.
RICHGCOOP
Single-Sixer
I all ways hone my new guns before I ever shoot them. It takes out the brake in time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9urvFnOnjl0
RICHGCOOP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9urvFnOnjl0
RICHGCOOP
justcallmedoc
Bearcat
Got my lc9 a couple weeks ago.. I've put about 200 runds thru it so far, No Issues.. Going out next week to try some different federal fmj and try out some Hornady 90252 9mm Luger 115 Grain JHP/XTP..
later,
doc
later,
doc
justcallmedoc
Bearcat
Both ammos worked flawless..justcallmedoc said:
CET2012
Bearcat
I've shot all kinds of ammo through my LC9 and have not experienced this.
One thing you can do when you are trying to adjust for an issue like this with feed ramp polishing, mag lip adjustment etc is get some dummy 9 mm rounds and work the slide by hand.
You should be able to feel when you are getting it smoother.
Disassembly would be a good way to start. You're going to need to do it eventually anyway for cleaning and maybe you can see where the hang up is on yours?
One thing you can do when you are trying to adjust for an issue like this with feed ramp polishing, mag lip adjustment etc is get some dummy 9 mm rounds and work the slide by hand.
You should be able to feel when you are getting it smoother.
Disassembly would be a good way to start. You're going to need to do it eventually anyway for cleaning and maybe you can see where the hang up is on yours?
lotsasawdust
Bearcat
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Messages
- 1
Hi All, I don't mean to hijack this post but I having the same problem with a small twist. My rounds are getting stuck at the edge of the feed ramp when hand racking the slide. Unless I do it really hard the round gets stuck. I have to pull back several times to clear it. HP's and RN both do it.
Thanks and sorry
Rick
Thanks and sorry
Rick
CET2012
Bearcat
You might try looking at the magazine lips. If the round isn't positioned at the right angle, more or less 45 to 55 degrees then you might try carefully bending the magazine lips slightly open with pliers to allow the round to be in the optimum feed angle. To see if your adjustment worked fill the magazine with a full 7 rounds and then thumb out the cartridges one by one to see if they all have the right angle. If they all sit at the correct angle when they are at the top then you have probably fixed the issue.
I doubt there would be any other reason for it to fail to feed but I am not a gunsmith and so I can't promise you that the magazine feed angle is the issue. It's what I would try in your position.
Remember to bend the mag lips only slightly; just enough to let the top rounds pointing up to the feed tray. If you bend it too far they will either pop out too fast or they won't stay in the magazine.
Good luck!
I doubt there would be any other reason for it to fail to feed but I am not a gunsmith and so I can't promise you that the magazine feed angle is the issue. It's what I would try in your position.
Remember to bend the mag lips only slightly; just enough to let the top rounds pointing up to the feed tray. If you bend it too far they will either pop out too fast or they won't stay in the magazine.
Good luck!
A couple of hints. First, the next time the barrel is out hold it muzzle down and drop rounds into and out of the chamber. Smooth or not? Look at the mouth of the chamber and see if there's a little chamfer...should be. Second, being able to slingshot the slide is important but during the first 2 or 3 hundred rounds of break in use the slide release, (no, it won't hurt it) later work on the slingshot. Can't do that on SRs but it works nice on the LC9. Don't know if this really helps the situation you are in but I shortened the cam on the loaded round indicator...still high enough to see but less getting in the way.
CET2012
Bearcat
@George P, I like your idea of shortening the cam on the loaded round indicator. if I have mine loaded with safety on it catches just a bit on the loaded round indicator on my favorite holster. if I take it down by about 40% the indicator still works and won't grab on my holster.
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Bronco89
Bearcat
I just purchased my SR40 about two months ago, Brand New. Mine does the same thing. I only have 150 rounds through mine though. Shoots great, never a FTF.
I did try something.
I put the slide back, in lock position. Then put the mag in, and let it rip! 9 out of 10 times, it is fine. If I hand rack it, it does it 50% of the time. And I know how to rack.
I also did this:
"Don't do this unless you know exactly what your doing"!!!!!
I found a small burr on my feed ramp. Which did not make me happy!!!!
I filed it slightly and polished. It helped. But do "NOT" do that unless you are really aware of what you are doing!
I am currently carrying my Springfield XD45, until I am feeling better about this SR.
I did try something.
I put the slide back, in lock position. Then put the mag in, and let it rip! 9 out of 10 times, it is fine. If I hand rack it, it does it 50% of the time. And I know how to rack.
I also did this:
"Don't do this unless you know exactly what your doing"!!!!!
I found a small burr on my feed ramp. Which did not make me happy!!!!
I filed it slightly and polished. It helped. But do "NOT" do that unless you are really aware of what you are doing!
I am currently carrying my Springfield XD45, until I am feeling better about this SR.
Cheesewhiz
Hunter
This thing went off the tracks in about post 5. I beat the crap out of every misbehaving pistol I have with a 2# ball peen and then pour gas on it and set it on fire. I reload, so I have gunpowder and I pile that on after the flames go down and then fire that off just to make sure. I have no eyebrows but if my gun isn't working right it will be punished. I mean, if I can't fix it with a dremmel and a file, I'll bring out the big guns, those are broken also.
I remember Rev asking me how many used guns that I could have possibly seen that had been hacked up by their previous owners. Rev, I give you this.
I remember Rev asking me how many used guns that I could have possibly seen that had been hacked up by their previous owners. Rev, I give you this.
Cheesewhiz
Hunter
Rev, I saw a unfired Pyhton 2" barrel (very rare) at a gun shop the other day, timing was off, cylinder swiveled in the frame and every screw was buggered with crappy bone grips installed. I almost cried.
CET2012
Bearcat
Wow, Cheese, you punish your guns that don't work right? Isnt that like punishing yourself since you bought them?
I like the guns I currently have because they didn't cost a fortune but I know they are midrange quality at best. I always tune them up so that they work properly. Since I am a life long mechanic and machine operator, who has worked on everything from multi million dollar factory machines to trucks, forklifts, cars, houses, lawnmowers, washing machines, sewing machines and guns, I haven't found a gun yet I could not fix. If I could choose a career all over again I'd go learn to be a gunsmith because I love doing it. I hope to get an upgrade and buy or trade for an S&W or a Kimber at some point in the future.
ANYWAY - back to the LC9 feedramp issue; this little gun comes apart nicely and then you can see each component. I polished my feed ramp, magazine lips, the entire barrel and anything else I could find that looked rough. After shooting well over 2000 rounds my LC9 has never malfunctioned in any way and I've shot all kinds of ammo including the very crappy Tulammo that I could never get to work in any other semi autos I have had.
I love this little gun because it's small and thin but there is nothing small and thin about the way it shoots.
I like the guns I currently have because they didn't cost a fortune but I know they are midrange quality at best. I always tune them up so that they work properly. Since I am a life long mechanic and machine operator, who has worked on everything from multi million dollar factory machines to trucks, forklifts, cars, houses, lawnmowers, washing machines, sewing machines and guns, I haven't found a gun yet I could not fix. If I could choose a career all over again I'd go learn to be a gunsmith because I love doing it. I hope to get an upgrade and buy or trade for an S&W or a Kimber at some point in the future.
ANYWAY - back to the LC9 feedramp issue; this little gun comes apart nicely and then you can see each component. I polished my feed ramp, magazine lips, the entire barrel and anything else I could find that looked rough. After shooting well over 2000 rounds my LC9 has never malfunctioned in any way and I've shot all kinds of ammo including the very crappy Tulammo that I could never get to work in any other semi autos I have had.
I love this little gun because it's small and thin but there is nothing small and thin about the way it shoots.
Cheesewhiz
Hunter
CET2012 said:
Actually, I was kidding a bit there.
Polishing a feed ramp really needs to be done with some care. Probably the best way is to take a nice soft cotton cloth and some Flitz and with your finger polish it. I know this takes some time but you won't damage things this way and you can get it looking and feeling pretty nice this way.
For a ramp that needs a little more than some hand polishing, a proper diameter wooden dowel, one that has the same radius as the feed ramp, used with some very light sand paper/emery cloth/crocus cloth wrapped around it. You will need to follow the angle of the ramp and not roll it into the chamber transition using up and down movements only. You can finsh this with a Flitz treatment.
That transition from the top of the feed ramp into the chamber should really never be messed with, you would be surprised how little material is actually in that area. Just a little of metal removed from this area is dangerous.
Using a dremmel tool even with a polishing barrel on it will take more metal off than should be in an instant, faster than you can believe but you should really believe me.
When it comes to changing out springs in a pistol, you have to consider a few things. Most engineers call out a weight of spring based on a window of ammunition capability, fit, form and function.
A main spring (hammer) with just a pound less than stock will make the trigger pull lighter on some guns and in DA mode on most but it may and probably will make that gun have light strikes with ammos that have harder primers.
Recoil springs have a lot to do with the timing of the gun and it's reliability. A weaker than stock spring will help with weaker loads such as target loads or cheap bulk ammo such as Federal Champion. It can also solve a limp wristing shooter's self induced issues, it's better to learn to hold and fire a pistol properly and not fix bad technique with a spring change.
...and it can make a slide slow to return to battery and a strong mag spring may slow it even more, causing timing and feeding issues.
A stronger than stock spring will get that slide back in battery quickly but can cause the gun to gag when feeding or ejecting a spent case, this is really an issue with smaller pistols.
Springs should never be stretched or cut, they will fail at some point.
Engineers get paid a lot to design pistols, you get paid nothing to screw your's up.
bada61265
Single-Sixer
mine came with the feed ramp a little rough, was also blued. so wasnt polished at the factory. rounds would drag on the ramp fed off the clip by hand. i polished it out to a mirror finish and feel no drag feeding the rounds in slow by hand and havent had any issues with close to 500 rounds threw it. all hollow points. IMO all feed ramps should come polished. as Rcu316 points out ammo can be at issue though imo a polished ramp should feed about anything. A few hundred rounds isnt going to polish the ramp.
exavid
Hunter
My LC9's ramp wasn't polished either when I got it but I routinely polish those parts in all pistols I get. I use a bit of polishing compound with a felt buffing bit in a Dremel tool for the job. Even if the gun performs well a bit of sprucing up in that area can't hurt. My LC9, and LCP function as they should with plated and jacketed round, flat, hollow point bullets as well as hard cast lead.
