P345 ejecting round

[Nevada]

So I'm shooting this morning in the desert when a case ejects and lands in the truck bed. A pretty solid thunk, so I look at it. It is an unfired round that ejected when the gun cycled. I had this same problem with my P90, which is why I got rid of it. The gun ejected the spent case (in the opposit direction) and put a fresh round in the chamber. But inbetween it also ejcted the unfired round. Ruger never got the P90 fixed, and this only happened once today with today being the first time out of a couple hundred rounds shot from the gun since bought. Anybody else have this happen or know why it happens? The ammo was FMJ 230gr reloads, the first I've used. The previous loads were 230gr lead reloads. Ruger 45s are the only guns this has happened in.

 

[gb6491]

Couple of questions:
What's the round count when this happens? (Last two?)
Are you using 8 or 7 round magazines?
Are any of the magazines from the P90 that was giving you problems?
Regards,
Greg

 

[Nevada]

It was the second to last round in the eight round stock mag. In my P90 it got so bad it was every other round. I only have the two stock P345 mags and a Wilson combat mag. It was one of the stock mags that was in the gun when the round was ejected. I had been loading five rounds per mag to give them all a work out, letting the gun cool between every two mags by shooting my mosin-nagant rifle. It only happened once with the P345 and I don't have any P90 mags.

The P90 came back from Ruger an absolute laser in accuracy, but essentialy a four shot pistol due to live round ejection, I cleaned it and traded it in on a CZ97 45 acp.

 

[gb6491]

That metal follower in the 8 round magazine could be the problem.
It's known to damage the frame in P90s and losing the last live round is not unheard of. To avoid having either of these happen in my P90, I run the factory seven round magazines. If you want to keep the round capability check out this thread: Ejection of last loaded round - P90 8-round mags
Info pertinent to the above link: http://rugerforum.net/ruger-pistols/27040-better-follower-my-p90-p345-8rd-magazines.html
Regards,
Greg

 

[Donaldjr1969]

That metal follower in the 8 round magazine could be the problem.
It's known to damage the frame in P90s and losing the last live round is not unheard of. To avoid having either of these happen in my P90, I run the factory seven round magazines. If you want to keep the round capability check out this thread: Ejection of last loaded round - P90 8-round mags
Info pertinent to the above link: http://rugerforum.net/ruger-pistols/27040-better-follower-my-p90-p345-8rd-magazines.html
Regards,
Greg

Is this a guaranteed problem that will happen? Or is it a maybe? My P90 I purchased back in May came with the 8 round magazines. Is this something I have to be concerned about? If so, any telltale signs to look for if the peening is occurring?

 

[Nevada]

The round ejection problem happened in my P90 with 7 round P90 mags. I think I'll just get the plastic followers and see if they keep this from happening, although I'm hoping this is just a fluke and my bad luck to have two Rugers that toss ammo. If it doesn't stop I'll get a 1911.

 

[gb6491]

Is this a guaranteed problem that will happen? Or is it a maybe? My P90 I purchased back in May came with the 8 round magazines. Is this something I have to be concerned about? If so, any telltale signs to look for if the peening is occurring?

Personally, I think it's a "sooner or later" thing with the "Devel/McCormick" follower in the OEM magazine. The problem is that the this style follower can be pushed forward out of the magazine tube (photo). The slide can drive it forward with enough force to gouge an alloy frame (the same thing can happen on alloy frame 1911s). "Devel/McCormick" followers have a protrusion on their underside that engages the spring so as to prevent them moving forward, but this method is not always reliable in holding the follower in the magazine. The solution is to use a follower that has a skirt/tab on its forward end that prevents it from leaving the magazine during normal operation.
Here are links to some photos that show where the damage occurs:
http://rugerforum.net/ruger-pistols/25128-p90-magazines.html#post285939
http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/Norseman_01/?action=view&current=P90_Feed_Ramp.jpg
Regards,
Greg

 

[gb6491]

The round ejection problem happened in my P90 with 7 round P90 mags. I think I'll just get the plastic followers and see if they keep this from happening, although I'm hoping this is just a fluke and my bad luck to have two Rugers that toss ammo. If it doesn't stop I'll get a 1911.

Weak springs can also contribute to this.
This can happen in 1911 as well; it's the reason that JMB put a dimple on the follower of 1911 magazines: http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=11580
Regards,
Greg

 

[kstoneking]

Nevada, since this problem was with two different guns, using reloaded ammuniton, have you considered that it might be the ammo? Perhaps the rounds could be slightly out of spec, ie. over all length, or some other issue. Did the ejection problem happen with your P90 using factory ammo also or only with the reloads? It might be worth your while to try factory ammo in your P345 and see what pans out. It'd be nice if it were simply an ammo problem.

Good luck sir.

Kenny

 

[Nevada]

I used mostly factory ammo with the P90. I was just getting started reloading then. I don't recall which I was using when it started happening, but it was reloads when I got it back from Ruger.
I have considered that it might be the reloads, but it only happened, this once, in the P345 with jacketed rounds. I will get some WWB and give them a try.
I don't mind seven round mags, they are easier to load. At least the Wilson is.
RE the Wilson: I've cut a new mag catch slot in the Wilson to try it in the Ruger. Rugers mags are just a hair bigger all around then 1911 mags, so the guide in the grip works to keep the Wilson mag in place. It is a seven round plastic follwer type.
I appreciate the comments. Thanks