The Rohrbaugh Forum
Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: BillinPittsburgh on June 01, 2006, 10:43:20 PM
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After quite some time of hanging out here, I just ordered an R9s "stealth" from Tom Watson's "Irish Guard Firearms." This forum has been quite a resource in deciding to do so, and will likely be even more so a few months from now.
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Bill, glad to hear you ordered the Stealth model.
Please tell about your experiences when receive it.
I'm very interested, too.
Bill
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Nice going Bill on the Stealth. I'm going to wait to see how it tests out - no hurry given I already have two R9s. If it is a remarkable improvement I may consider it. It does look nice.
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All feedback - as ever - is welcome ;)
Gotta remember tho IIRC - it's Bill in Philly now ain't it! ;D
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Is the stealth actually shipping yet?
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Congratulations, Bill!
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jarcher, I am told it will be Oct- Nov before they will ship the Stealth. Tom
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Welcome.
Did you order the R9 or the R9s?
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I too am looking at making a "stealth" my first Rohrbaugh. Let us know when you hear more about it.
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I spoke with Tom today, and he expects to have my R9s Stealth next week. It will be tested with various ammo very shortly thereafter.
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What are the big differences with the stealth model, color and grip?
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Well
I'm in the same boat!! New to the foum and a new pup.
I just got the pup from Tom Watson's "Irish Guard Firearms." on thursday. Thanks Tom, He's a good guy!!
I took it to the range today and put 50 rds throught it. Absolutely Flawless!!! No miss feeds no stove pipes nothing.!!
My only complaint is not realy a complaint. It is more of a flaw on my part. After the first 12 rds were shot slow with sights, I was pleased with the groups that I got right out of the box. So I tried the next 6 rapid fire double taps with just pointing at the target. Well the first 2 were on paper. Then the next 2 rds the little pup tried to bite back!! Thanks to the slighly rounded corners of the slide I only got a set of red welts on my hand. LOL I got lucky no blood!! I wont do any more double taps without inproving my grip with the pup.
I can say that 50 rnds is about the limit for me with this gun in one session.
But I have to end this report with a simple word "PERFECT"
Bryce
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Excellent news & congrats! Did you pick up a Stealth or std. R-9?
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Congrats on the new aquisitions guys.I love my pup as all of you do.Happy shooting! ;D
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IDM got a R9s. Anyone that wants to get a Stealth quickly PM me, as I have some coming in the next week or so.
Tom
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Tom called today to tell me that my R9 Stealth has shipped. So, all going well, I will have shot it by the end of the week.
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Welcome back, Tom.
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Tom is not quite out of the hospital, but is keeping in contact with his customers and getting them their guns despite his being there.
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Bill:
That's great news about Tom! I'm also glad to hear that you are about to take possession of your new "Stealth" model R9 and look forward to your first range report.
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Picked up my R9 Stealth today.
Unfortunately, the only 9mm JHP the store/range had was Federal 135 gr. personal defense and Cor-Bon DPX. Knowing that the Federal was nothing like any of the recommended ammo, I figured I would give it a try and maybe get lucky.
No luck. It jammed on at least 40% of the rounds. So, I am now in the process of looking for 115 gr. Winchester Silvertips.
Many of my jams occurred with the round at a high upward angle, which were cleared simply by retracting the slide and releasing it. I really think stronger magazine springs - at least 10% - would help eliminate these jams by getting the round up in front of the returning slide a bit quicker. I will guess that stronger magazine springs could really improve the selection of workable ammo.
However, I did have one occasion when the round released from the feed lips prematurely, and the slide attempted to feed two rounds. This resulted in a jam that wedged the magazine down and back, preventing me from removing it using the magazine release. I had to pry the offending round out with a screwdriver and then release the magazine. I think this is a serious disadvantage with the heel magazine release as compared to a frame-mounted push-button.
The trigger stopped working after 38 rounds. A quick inspection revealed that the right grip panel had loosened. Because I didn't have an Allen wrench that would fit, that ended my shooting session. Once I got home, I removed the grip panel, put the sear trigger bar spring back in place, and re-installed the grip panel. Trigger function returned to normal. The fix is simple, but I am a little surprised that a $1,100 pistol would come from the factory without the loctite applied if only 38 rounds will loosen it up enough to put the gun out of action.
Knowing what I do about this gun, I have high hopes for it. The trigger was absolutely beautiful for a DAO with repeat strike capability. The sights, while small, are a very good compromise between shootability and snag-free draw, and are surprisingly well regulated for a pocket gun. The grip is comfortable for a gun that size, and recoil is more pleasant than that of my North American Arms .380 despite the extra weight of the .380. The grip/spring issue can, as has been reported on this forum, be cured with a bit of loctite, which I have here.
Without the information I have learned from this forum, however, a shooting session like the one today would make me ready to tell Rohrbaugh to take back their POS and give me my money back.
At this point, I am hopeful that the gun will work better once it is loaded with the recommended ammo. I knew when I bought the gun that ammo sensitivity is an issue, as it is any time a gun pushes the size and weight limits of a given caliber like this one does. However, I do need 100% reliability with at least one readily available JHP before I carry it.
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Bill - thx for the report. Sorry to hear you had some early issues - and hopefully ammo choice will solve that. The gun does have a very fast cyclic rate and I think at times the slide can get ahead of the mag' delivery. Be sure the follower is dead smooth all thru its travel, as it should be.
The screw deal - well, with the earlier slightly softer screws, they went from Loctite to no Loctite, because of the screws being hard to get undone without marring. New screws are in now of harder material but these because they have a bit less ''grip'' are it seems worthy of low strength thread locking again. The need for such small screws has been quite a headache I think all along.
The new ones most certainly will tend to loosen altho I am not concerned on that. I always have an Allen wrench at the range and anyways - shooting sessions are not that often these days with the pup. I am 100% confident that a cinched up screw set will most readily survive a magful plus, ''in extremis'' - and that is my only concern even if the loosening can seem irritating.
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I finally got my hands on an R9s, serial 1225.
I bought it from Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City, OH. They're a great bunch of folks.
I haven't been out to shoot it yet. I've just ordered some Militec and plan on treating the gun prior to firing. I have a fresh box of WWB 115 grain JHP to try out. From what I've read, this load works in the pup particularly well.
I'll let you all know how it goes.
Derek
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Derek,
Good Luck and definately keep us posted.
Mike
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The 115 gr. Silvertips arrived today. Hopefully I'll have better luck this weekend.
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It will be better, not perfect. The Rohrbaugh seems to need a break-in period.
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Derek, Take care and have fun with your new pup.
Tom
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Had my second trip to the range today. Frankly, I am really hoping I didn't make a $1,100 mistake.
I cleaned the gun thoroughly before going, and properly lubed the gun according to the instructions. I loctited the right side grip screws in place. I brought the recommended ammo - Winchester 115 gr. Silvertips. I had all six of my magazines with me, and tested all of them. So, there should be no reason why this gun shouldn't work, right?
Wrong.
I shot 100 rounds, and experienced at least 44 jams. I had no less than 2 jams per magazine.
At least 7-8 of the jams happened with the round that should have gone into the chamber oriented perfectly vertically. Another 7-8 happened with the round that should have gone into the chamber releasing from the feed lips too early, with the slide trying to push two rounds into the chamber. I had to clear these by pulling the slide back, reaching in with a finger, and prying out the top round. Towards the end, I was getting to the point where I was pleasantly surprised when the gun worked.
I suppose I could try a different ammo, but both types of ammo I used were standard pressure JHP's with relatively rounded bullet profiles.
From what I saw, these are not ammo problems. These are either gun problems or magazine problems. Most likely, they are problems with the design of the magazine.
Today totally confirmed my earlier impressions that the magazine spring is too weak to get the cartridge in front of the rapidly moving slide, as confirmed by the vertical cartridges. It also leads me to suspect that the feed lips are too short, as shown by the too-early release of the cartridge. Both of these problems need to be fixed by redesign of the magazine, and unless that happens, I don't see them being solved.
I would certainly like to hear any suggestions that any of you have, and plan to call the factory on Monday.
At this point, I would bet my life on a $300 Kel-Tec before I would bet it on this $1,100 gun.
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BillinPittsburgh,
See the topic titled Here is the Ammo that works that is further down in this same subforum. I can pretty much tell you for sure that this ammo will work.
Mike
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Hi Bill:
Forget the ammo and send the gun back to Rohrbaugh for review. There is no way that you should have had as many problems that you did.
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But of course George!
Bill, when it comes back IF you still have some problems then try the ammo I suggest.
Mike
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Mike and George,
Thanks for your comments. I definitely appreciate the advice about ammo that works.
At this point, I am convinced that it is a magazine problem, but will speak to Rohrbaugh tomorrow.
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Sorry not been in for a while.
Sorry Bill to hear of further hassles - and just hope you can get some useful feedback from Deer Park. There has to be something not right somewhere to get those problems.
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Sorry to hear of the problems Bill. One thing this does confirm however is that problematic pups come up all over regardless of who gets them in or what model/vintage they are. Im glad i got my "reconditioned" pup at a savings! If id spent over a grand and or bit the bullet an bought a brand new stealth and had these issues id be fit to be tied! My old purple reconditioned pup with sanford and son floorplate doesnt seem like such a downer to me now.
Anybody have any old nyclads layin around? That coated tip may improve feeding...Just a hypothisis.
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Called Rohrbaugh today, and was told to send the gun back so they can diagnose the problem.
While that response was predictable, one thing was surprising: I was told not to clean the gun if it hadn't been cleaned already. I didn't think that most gun makers would want to mess around with a dirty gun, so I had cleaned it, not realizing that seeing the gun in that condition might provide information.
In my case, it won't make a difference. The malfunctions occurred at the same rate during the last magazine as during the first.
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Bill, Make sure your clear about that in your letter of explanation and enclose the magazine/s. Reason being bros R and many other manufactures often get back FILTHY guns and often if the company cleans the gun and the problem doesnt surface its chalked up to just another dirty gun. While I know this is frustrating to you, it is a good way to ensure a "false diagnosis" is not levied. All too often the only issues with a malfuction ARE dirty guns or limpwristing. Sometimes, It becomes habit forming to "paint with that broad brush" when in reality thier is something wrong with the GUN not the shooter or cleaning habits. But, sometimes when repeated operator errors are noted, the next guy is often stereo typed with the same "issues".
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Everything is explained in the letter. You are right, if they got back a dirty gun without specifically asking for it, that would be a good assumption.
In my case, the gun had already been cleaned and lubed before I found out they wanted it dirty.
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Any update on this?
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Still no news.
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Heard from Karl today.
He found some issues with my gun, which he fixed. He was able to put 60 rounds through the gun without problems. It is being returned to me shortly.
I was impressed with the speed with which they addressed the problem and the apparent attention to detail that came through in the phone call.
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Bill:
All of that sounds good. I have always found Rohrbaugh's customer service to be excellent.
Good luck!
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Glad to hear that. Can't wait to hear how it works for you.
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Bill, that sounds great, I'm sorry you got the one without the magic dust. Tom
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Most encouraging Bill - fingers crossed your pup comes back in great health!
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This is good news! Excellent customer service will go a long way toward building a good reputation for the R Bros and their guns.
Mike