Frame wear--anything to be concerned about?

[tyler2you]

Hi everyone,

I picked up my new R9S on Friday (Serial R68x).  First thing I did when I got it home was to disassemble, clean, and grease it up.  I took it out to the range the following Sunday and put about 130 rounds through it (mix of WWB, Fed 105 gr EFMJ, Rem 124 gr GS, and some 124 gr Gold Dots).  Only problem I had at the range was one failure to fire with a very light primer strike on the GS.  Second pull set it off.

When I got home and started cleaning it, I noticed the anodizing on the frame where the barrel rides was worn away.  The area feels kind of rough as well.

My question is, is this something to be concerned about, or is it normal?  Thanks.

[Michigunner]

tyler, welcome to the forum.  I hope you enjoy the new R9.

I seem to recall someone saying aluminum wear is to be expected because steel is harder than aluminum.

I think many of the forum members believe it will be OK after they heard comments from the factory.

Nice picture.  I wish mine were that good.

Bill

[tyler2you]

Thanks Michigunner--I'll keep shooting it and not stress out about the loss of a little anodization.

Tyler

[Richard S]

Tyler:

Welcome to the Forum.

Don't worry about the slight degree of wear.  Just keep the pistol clean and lubricated.  The tolerances are minimal.

[tracker]

Not that it is relevant to anything but 130 rounds on a
range visit is a lot for one gun. I do that with 4 or 5 guns;
but, we are all different in our tolerances.

[Michigunner]

Tyler, you are super-human to shoot the little dickens 130 rounds during one outing.  

[Aglifter]

the wear looks exactly the same as mine

[R9SCarry]

Tyler (welcome BTW, I am sure I have not yet had a chance to say that) - I wish I had the thread link to hand but - this cropped up some while ago - maybe a search will find that for you.

Suffice to say it is both normal and acceptable.... and it is self limiting.  I agree it appears concerning when first seen but my take has always been - dissimilar metals - tight tolerances - and then the vigorous actions of barrel on unlock and lock.  This is just enough to contact these areas and produce slight marring.

Once that has occurred - let's call it ''bedding in'' - it cannot go further in theory.

[Iorndealer]

R9sCarry,

Good to learn that rail ware is negliable and of no concern.  Also 130 rounds in a single session is also comforting news!

[tyler2you]

Yeah, I wanted to get at least a hundred rounds through it for break-in purposes and to get comfortable with the relability.

Between loading magazines, the long trigger pull, and recoil; my hand was shaking like a leaf after about 75 rounds.  I had to start shooting over barricade to keep it on target.  I guess I'm a glutton.  

Breaking in my Kahr PM-40 was worse however.  I put 200 rounds through it in one session.  Not to mention the large chunk of flesh I lost when my left hand got a little too high on the frame.

I think I will try the Silvertips on my next outing.  Thanks for the advice everyone.

[SAWBONES]

The wear you pictured is less than on my R-9S, with about 220 rounds through it.

[sslater]

I just got back from the range.  After 310 rounds my frame looks about like yours.  In fact, mine looked like yours at 100 rounds.  I'd say mine has stabilized just as Karl Rohrbaugh said it would.  The frame in the "abraded" area is now smooth, where at 100 rounds I could feel roughness with my thumbnail.  

[tyler2you]

Glad to see it's normal wear.  At least I haven't had any reliability problems.  I'm just enjoying staring at this beautiful weapon.

[DTM_39]

Tyler welcome and enjoy!!!

[theirishguard]

tyler, welcome to the forum
Tom