LC9s - bad extractor?

I was curious, so I just checked the extractor on my new, unfired LC9s Pro. It's tight on a case. Took some pressure to even put the round up under it. Couldn't shake it out (was a loaded round, not an empty case).
 
That's a good sign! Maybe they recognized the problem and fixed it on the Pros?

FWIW I ate lunch with a friend today who has an LC9. He wanted me to check his gun. His extractor was okay...not like the iron grip you see in a Glock or a para, but it would hold an empty with mild shaking of the slide. I noticed that the loaded chamber indicator on the LC9 seemed to help hold the shell where the extractor didn't have to move far to get a grip on it. I'm thinking the LC9 may be okay because of that...but when they dropped the loaded chamber indicator on the LC9s they didn't change the extractor and didn't realize how much it relied on the loaded chamber indicator keeping the shell from "dancing" on the way out of the chamber...it's a theory, anyway.

I am going to talk to the lady at Ruger again after they've had a chance to look at my gun. If she can describe exactly what they've done to fix this issue I MIGHT accept a repair or replacement with newer LC9s...but she's got to be able to convince me they really know what caused the problem and that they did something specific to fix it.

I've already got a Glock 26 on order and I will probably make that my primary carry gun regardless what happens with Ruger, but on days that I have to tuck in I sure would like something more trim like the LC9s!
 
Any update on what they did to repair yours? My S doesnt grip the case very well. I took it apart and cleaned then dry lubed it and it works smoother but still doesnt really grip the case. Think mine might have to go back as long as they actually fix the issue. The holes on mine look to be aligned right but hard to tell with my poor close vision.

On a related note, trying to get the spring and plunger back in properly is an exercise in frustration.
 
Gizmo42 said:
Any update on what they did to repair yours? My S doesnt grip the case very well. I took it apart and cleaned then dry lubed it and it works smoother but still doesnt really grip the case. Think mine might have to go back as long as they actually fix the issue. The holes on mine look to be aligned right but hard to tell with my poor close vision.

On a related note, trying to get the spring and plunger back in properly is an exercise in frustration.
I assume you are addressing me since I started the thread. They didn't fix mine, they took it back and offered my money back, a new "updated" LC9s (and I don't know exactly what that is supposed to mean other than that the woman at Ruger mentioned they'd made some improvement on the gun "based on feedback similar to yours"), or a different model of Ruger. I chose to get a 3" SP-101 revolver and it arrived at my LGS yesterday. DA trigger pull is a bit rough on it but some shims and a little stoning will clean that up so I'm pretty happy with it barring terrible accuracy or something once I get a chance to take it to the range.

If you field strip your LC9s and put an empty case under the extractor (as in my picture) it should be held at least tightly enough that you can move the slide around at different angles without the case falling out. And this should be the case without manually pushing the extractor against the case.

If the extractor doesn't hold at least that well, send it back to Ruger as it is pretty likely that you'll experience horizontal FTEs when shooting under stress (gun at an angle, wrist a little limp, rapid-firing etc.) even though the gun shoots flawlessly slow firing with a good hold.

I really did like the LC9s...in a few years, assuming that they are still in production, I may even try one again if it seems that they've really worked out the issues by then. But, I've had my one experiment with being an "early adopter" of a CCW. :)

John
 
I guess I got lucky. My case is nice and tight under the extractor and a vigorous shaking does not move it. Serial number 327 -207Xx.
 
kbm6893 said:
I guess I got lucky. My case is nice and tight under the extractor and a vigorous shaking does not move it. Serial number 327 -207Xx.
Excellent! I would recommend adding the "case check" to your cleaning routine just for peace of mind, but I suspect that they had a bad run of slides, maybe. Hopefully those will eventually all get worked out.
 
Mine is 327-235xx and I'm having this problem big time. The extractor barely grabs the case and I'm getting one or two jams out of every 100 rounds. I just sent a repair request to Ruger about this problem. It's also been back for the magazine dropping problem.
 
Wow, those pictures made me sick so I had to check my LC9 pistols. I field striped to insert a case as you did in the photo. Both of the LC9 pistols hold the 9mm case rim firmly under extractor tension. The case won't come out even shaking or hitting the slide with my hand. The best way to get the case out is to tilt it out as if it were being ejected. As for your LC9s, looks like they flubbed up when they retooled for the striker system. They came out really fast to compete with the Shield and then they had to come out with the "Pro" model to compete too. Ruger is really developing a bad reputation for shoddy work recently.
 
@MountainWalker - that is my guess too. I would have thought all that stuff was done on CNC machines but maybe somebody messed up the programming and they made a batch of bad slides or something. It's a shame because it really was a nice pistol...well...once I polished the salmon ladder until it resembled a feed ramp, anyway. :)

If your extractor is holding nice and snug like that you probably won't have any of the extraction issues. Test all your mags from full to empty with your defensive ammo and you'll probably be okay.

John
 
I know this is an old thread but problems still exist. What's that old saying "Insanity is doing the the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome". Well I have a new EC9S and the extractor does not flex. I can push it outward and it does not pop back inward. I have a new spring, plunger and extractor coming. They say there is a new style plunger. We will see. And I haven't even shot it yet.
 
:lol:

I feel your pain but finally got the hint. Heck I even owned an LC9s which by the way pinched my trigger finger.

A man at Ruger told me on the phone I'd get used to that.

Both got traded for a G43 that works great.
 
I just don't get it. How can Ruger or any manufacturer for that matter have the same problem over and over and not rectify it? This thread is from 2015 and you mean to tell me they still haven't got the extractor function fixed? If they test fire them, as they say they do, can't the tech just see if the dam extractor sticks? Or the guy assembling the slide. Hey bozo just push on the extractor to see if it works. It makes one think, rightly or wrongly, that they don't care. Let's just send the guns out there and let's see how many we can slip by the jerks. Heck, it's not just guns. Look at the Takata air bag debacle. They knew their air bags were bad and people got maimed and killed.
 
I'm a slow learner and finally set my standards a bit higher for semi auto hand guns. Ya get what you pay for and with a $300 polymer gun ..... that ain't much.

Love my Ruger MKII's and 1911's but not-so-much on the others.

Other semi's I have now include Glock, Sig, Walther (PP and PPK) and Colt.
 
Yeah, but I've seen high end guns with problems that shouldn't be. Not for the dough you're dishing out.
 

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