The Rohrbaugh Forum
Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: 2slow on January 21, 2012, 04:26:11 PM
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Just picked up my new R9 Stealth this week. Got to the range today and had multiple failure to fires. The firing pin was just barely denting the primer. Ammo was Federal 115gr FMJ for practice and had Speer Gold Dot 115 gr for carry. Neither one worked very well. The first clip went off without a hitch. After that It would only fire about 3 out of 4 shots. I'll be calling Rohrbaugh Monday. Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this.
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The Gold Dots are the ammo of choice for many here because the pistol is ammo sensitive. Some possible causes of your issue:
1. Limp wristing the pistol...need a firm grip (start with two hand grip to be sure)
2. Did you clean and lube the pistol before taking it to the range? These pistols like to be clean and lubed (but don't overdo it!) and usually are not ready to fire "out of the box".
3. Be sure the grip screws are tight, especially on the right side lest you have failures to feed/fire. They can
become loose easily (there are threads on this forum dealing with this. I use locktite blue.
4. Tolerances are very tight in this pistol, which issue lends itself to the following:
a) If the pistol becomes hot from heavy continuous use, it can have some issues. That did not seem to be
the problem in your case.
b) With initial firing, there is sometimes some wear on the rails with aluminum shavings getting into the
works. Take it down, clean and lube it, then try it again using the Gold Dots initially as the best choice
for this particular weapon.
If that doesn't work, call Rohrbaugh and Maria will be very helpful.
Welcome to the forum...a great bunch of guys here with a wealth of knowledge.
John
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2slow. Welcome to the Forum; John has said it well; hope you get the problem resolved. Again, welcome.
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Welcome to the forum 2slow. BackupR9 has given you some good advice I hope you get everything figured out.
-Ryan
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Break in problems are not uncommon.......ammo.....lube.....grip....screws.....shavings...it all works out fine :)
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You're right, Jack; some issues appear to occur in the first 100-200 rounds and then things smooth out.
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I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with backup9r. The OP reports light primer strikes and numerous failures to fire. Of the items mentioned by backup9r the only one of those that could cause light primer strikes is #3. While limp wristing, improper lubrication, and break in will all cause malfunctions, none of those will result in primers that are barely dented. It the right grip screws aren't tight the sear trigger bar can/will slip off the hammer before the hammer is fully retracted, and that will cause light primer strikes and ignition failures. Other than that, the next most likely cause would be ammo, but the OP has already tried two different types of ammo, both of which many R9 owners have had good reliability with. So, if tightening the right hand grip screws doesn't solve the problem then I'd suggest a return to the factory.
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I'm not an expert by any means, but I have noticed bits and pieces of debris in the firing pin opening after firing. This corresponds to noticing what appear to be flattened primers. My theory is that softer primers may more easily flow into the firing pin opening when fired, and get partially trimmed during ejection.
Federal ammunition is historically noted for "soft" primers. Did you happen to fired the Federal prior to having these problems?
Take a look at your firing pin hole in the breechface. Any debris there? Take a punch and push forward on the rear of the firing pin (where the hammer strikes) and look at the now exposed portion of the firing pin. Any debris there?
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Agree with moonshine...my post was more in the nature of general comments on problems that us newbies seem to encounter and potential causes. Still would clean it, fire it again using previous ammo and perhaps a new box also. If the problem persists send it back for repair. The good news is: Rohrbaugh takes care of its own...your pistol will get great care if you have to send it back and will work when it returns.
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Thanks for the replies. I did clean it before I went to the range. The grip screws are tight. Could find no problem during post range cleaning. I've got a Sig 40 cal, a Sig 9mm, and a Bersa 380 and never had one single failure to fire with maybe 2000 rounds between them, so its frustrating when I spent over a grand for this and it is unusable. I love the thing, but if it is not 100% reliable it I have no use for it. I'll be calling Rohrbaugh tomorow.
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2slow,
I can sympathize with what you are saying. I had a PM40 I just sold because I had issues with it and I did not trust it. The R9 is not a typical production gun. I am sure that once you get it back from the factory you will become confident in its ability to function reliably.
Hang in there you will find that you come to love it once your faith is restored.
Robar233
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Agree with Robar--you will love and trust it when your confidence is restored.
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Keep the faith, 2slow! :)
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I love the thing, but if it is not 100% reliable it I have no use for it. I'll be calling Rohrbaugh tomorrow.
Though not totally unheard of, light strikes (and failure to fire as a result) are relatively uncommon and when they do occur seem to be well resolved by a trip back to the mother ship; Rohrbaugh is nothing if not both willing and skillful at diagnosing and fixing problems such as this.
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Having been a member here for two years, a frequent reader for six earlier months, and the owner of one such pistol I still think that R9's failing to function right out of the box is a far to common occurence.
Just my opinion.
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Having been a member here for two years, a frequent reader for six earlier months, and the owner of one such pistol I still think that R9's failing to function right out of the box is a far to common occurence.
MRC I tend to agree...based on my reading of threads here there seem to be more initial problems than should occur with a pistol of this quality/expense. Perhaps a policy of firing at least 2 magazines and cleaning/lubricating at the factory would solve this problem. Seecamp pistols come ready to fire..not sure but I thought they had been fired multiple times before shipment to assure function?
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Shipping it back to Rohrbaugh tomorrow. I'll let you know the results.
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Having been a member here for two years, a frequent reader for six earlier months, and the owner of one such pistol I still think that R9's failing to function right out of the box is a far to common occurence.
Just my opinion.
MRC:
You seem to be repeatedly expressing some discontent with your R9. Would you like to sell it? If so, what would be your reserve price? If you want to sell and have a reserve in mind, can you post a photograph of the piece?
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Having been a member here for two years, a frequent reader for six earlier months, and the owner of one such pistol I still think that R9's failing to function right out of the box is a far to common occurence.
Just my opinion.
MRC:
You seem to be repeatedly expressing some discontent with your R9. Would you like to sell it? If so, what would be your reserve price? If you want to sell and have a reserve in mind, can you post a photograph of the piece?
http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=5998.0
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Having been a member here for two years, a frequent reader for six earlier months, and the owner of one such pistol I still think that R9's failing to function right out of the box is a far to common occurence.
Just my opinion.
MRC:
You seem to be repeatedly expressing some discontent with your R9. Would you like to sell it? If so, what would be your reserve price? If you want to sell and have a reserve in mind, can you post a photograph of the piece?
http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=5998.0
Well, I'll be dipped in "Holy Water." I thought there might be something up for grabs.
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MRC:
Let's take this negotiation off of the public forum. PM being sent.
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Richard
The present R9 that I have has functioned flawlessly if you look back into my posts. I do have problems with the Rohrbaugh stance on certain things concerning their pistols, but they have chosen not to comment which is their prerogative. Please contact me by email. I live in Iowa per your question in the PM.
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Same issue here
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Welcome, Andy; what is the specific issue?
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I must say that I've had some issues with my Covert, but Karl has treated me very well and has taken a personal interest in my problem which should be corrected in a day or two. My first R9, which I regret selling to afford the Covert, functioned flawlessly out of the box. My Covert's problem was, according to Karl, one of two that they have seen (out of 6000) that had an out of spec firing pin retainer, and frankly I'm not sure whether that may have occurred during the Covert upgrade at WC.
1. Re: chatter marks in the barrel-should make no difference. This is a close range defensive weapon, not a target pistol.
2. Re: grip screws...either tighten at the range after 50 rounds and when you clean it later, or go to John's screws and don't over-tighten.
3. Re: FTF/FTF: grip tightly. Keep screws tight. Don't overheat the pistol. Keep it clean and properly lubricated. Use correct ammo and test each box before using for carry. If that doesn't work, call Maria.
Just sayin'
John
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Karl R says
" 1. Re: chatter marks in the barrel-should make no difference. This is a close range defensive weapon, not a target pistol."
I diasgree which I hope we are allowed to do that here. My Gunsmith builds guns good enough to win the master calss at camp Perry about five years for him. He also takes consignment guns from good customers to sell in his Pawnshop. He guarentees any gun he sells and he would not take in my Rohrbaugh until it was rebarrelled. I said the the company's stance is it is OK. He laughed and gave me his suggestion
"Put it on the internet and dump it on some a__hole with too much money"
I guess the barrel is not good enough for my $1100.00 Gold Cup but fine for my $1200.00 R9.
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Karl R says
" 1. Re: chatter marks in the barrel-should make no difference. This is a close range defensive weapon, not a target pistol."
I diasgree which I hope we are allowed to do that here. My Gunsmith builds guns good enough to win the master calss at camp Perry about five years for him. He also takes consignment guns from good customers to sell in his Pawnshop. He guarentees any gun he sells and he would not take in my Rohrbaugh until it was rebarrelled. I said the the company's stance is it is OK. He laughed and gave me his suggestion
"Put it on the internet and dump it on some a__hole with too much money"
I guess the barrel is not good enough for my $1100.00 Gold Cup but fine for my $1200.00 R9.
MRC:
Is the R9 about which your gunsmith suggested that you "Put it on the internet and dump it on some a__hole with too much money" the same R9 you have listed for sale in the Classifieds?
http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=5998.0
I ask only because I note that you there state:
It is too good of a pistol to sit in the safe. It has aprroximately 200 rounds through it and has been 100% reliable as far as firing and feeding. It has the smoothest and lightest trigger pull of any DAO hammer-fired pistol I have ever shot. I have tried 6 different brands of JHP, self defense ammo with no failures.
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Richard
Yes it is. It is a good gun as far as R9's go. You expressed interest in buying it as I remember and you quickly "Lawyered" your way out of an offer when I told you about the barrel condition.
I am an honest man and I have had lots of inquiries about this gun and I have been up front with them on what the barrel looks like. So far no offers.
Looks like it is mine to keep unless that ___________ with too much money shows up.
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MRC:
To the contrary, it was not the barrel condition but the price. My local dealer simply offered a better price than yours for an R9 I wanted as a family gift. No "lawyering" was required.
I wish you success in selling that R9.
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MRC:
To the contrary, it was not the barrel condition but the price. My local dealer simply offered a better price than yours for an R9 I wanted as a family gift. No "lawyering" was required.
I wish you success in selling that R9.
WOW!!!!!!.............nice to be in your family.......... :o
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As much as I would like to have you in the family, Jack, both daughters are happily married. 8)
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As much as I would like to have you in the family, Jack, both daughters are happily married. 8)
Roger that........... :'(
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Richard you could adopt me. 8) ;D
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Richard you could adopt me. 8) ;D
My Last Will and Testament is getting pretty much diluted as it is. You might be disappointed. ;)
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Richard,
I'm not looking for any freebies after your'e gone, just some good liquor now and being able to shoot some of your fine guns. ;D ;D Maybe an occasional trip to Critter Creek. 8)
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Richard,
I'm not looking for any freebies after your'e gone, just some good liquor now and being able to shoot some of your fine guns. ;D ;D Maybe an occasional trip to Critter Creek. 8)
You can get that anytime without all the legal complications of adoption. 8)
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Richard,
I'm not looking for any freebies after your'e gone, just some good liquor now and being able to shoot some of your fine guns. ;D ;D Maybe an occasional trip to Critter Creek. 8)
You can get that anytime without all the legal complications of adoption. 8)
Richard I'm honored.