The Rohrbaugh Forum
Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: jeeptree2112 on May 21, 2012, 07:12:13 PM
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Quick question for all the Rohrbaugh experts here. First off I'm happy to be a new member of the forum. I find forums like these invaluable.
My question is I was on a waiting list for 6 months for a kimber solo and when it came in the owner of the gun store actually talked me into buying this gorgeous little gun. His argument was very convincing. So I came home and all the other gun store had for 9mm ammo was standard Federal ammo.
So I loaded it up, with a strong, deliberate shooting stance fired off all 50, slowly. Extremely accurate and recoil was manageable. BUT OUT OF 50 ROUNDS I HAD 12 THAT EITHER BOTTLE NECKED (FTF) OR DIDN'T EJECT (FTE) HOW DISAPPOINTING. Please someone tell me it was just the ammo.
Thanks
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jeep. Welcome to the Forum and congrats on getting a Rohrbaugh. Certainly not an expert, however, yes, could be the ammo, for sure. Try Gold Dots 115 or 124 gr. and see. You should see a big improvement. The tolerances on the R9's are very tight. Again, welcome. Let us know how the Gold Dots perform. Thanks.
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I am a new member as well and glad to hear you passed on the solo. I Almost bought the solo as well, but after some research I found out that the Kimber is having some problems that need to be corrected. The Rohrbaugh is far superior in quality ans craftmanship. I will be ordering mine very soon, and I am super excited to own this gun. I do hear that this gun does like certain ammo....so keep with what the guys here tell you...they are very knowledgeable.
Dom
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Welcome to the forum Jeeptree.
I am by no means an expert, however I do own a few R9's that I shoot as well as shoot every single weekend in other endeavors.
12 malfunctions out of 50 in totally unacceptable!
A handfull of scenerios come to mind. Anytime I test a gun, I take as much different ammo as possible to see which will work best. In an auto, I will even alternate different brands and types just to test the reliability of the firearm. Of course as you stated, you did not have this luxury.
For an auto to work properly there needs to be a paradoxical situation in place. One a very steady platform (grip) for the recoil mechanism to work against and two, a smooth, low drag working of the recoil system; i.e. proper lubricattion and heat control. Thus, rock solic vs. slick.
From your description, without someone else being there to evaluate, it would seem prudent to me to look in these areas:
1) Ammo- as KJ reccomended, try some Gold Dot , it's like steak to these pups. If you can, try some other brands as well, maybe, Remmington Golden Sabre and Winchester White Box -ball ammo like at Wal-mart and even Winchester Personel Defense or Silver Tips if you can find it. Federal Hydra Shok are good also.
2) You said you had a firm "stance", are you sure that your wrist was locked? Or extra firm. Some people have a hard time translating these words into action. If you have to, lean in to it a little that is fine, I do and it helps with control.
3) Is there proper lubrication? Not dripping wet, but a light film on the barrel and slide rails and underneath the slide where it cocks the hammer.
4) The catch all- Dreck/inspection Is the feed ramp clean? , The extractor? No clothing threads, dust bunnies,metal shavings,anything to slow down or impede that smoothness?
5) Did the Magazine stay seated firmly during the whole shooting session? Sometimes the latch can get bumped, If the mag shifts, then things won't work right.
6) Make sure you don't go ape with back to back to back firing strings. This gun will overheat and malfunctions start showing up.
These are just a few things off the top of my head. We have a lot of experience here, I am sure others will offer good/better advice as well.
Good Luck and please keep us aprised.
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Great advice. I also called Rohrbaugh, and they recommended American eagle 115gr-124gr cartridges for plinking as well as Speer Gold Dot and Winchester silver tip for defense. The gun shop guy says only shoot 124gr out of it as he does with his R9. Magazine was tight, and no fabric snags in the gun being that it was shot straight from the store with out initial break down. The lubrication could be in question due to I never lubricated it my self, straight from the factory. My stance, well, that can be subjective, true, so I will pay more attention on my next 50 rounds. I'm going to try the American eagle next then the gold dot everyone here recommends. They also recommended using the other magazine to see if it is a mag issue. Thanks again for all the advice.
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Jeeptree, welcome to the forum and the the world of the R9! The forgoing advice is all excellent. I would note that this pistol should be broken down and lubricated before the first firing...it is not ready to shoot out of the box. After the first session you will likely find dreck, a few metal shavings, etc. in the works. These sometimes slow down slide function and will disappear after the first few range trips. As a general rule, best not to carry until you have about 200 rounds down the pipe and flawless function with chosen ammo...note that ammunition makers recently have had quality control issues, so best advice is to use Gold Dots, or whatever else your pup chooses to eat, and from ANY box of 20, shoot 13 and if no issues, load and carry the other 7. I have arthritic hands, and have trouble firing my R9 one handed; unless I really concentrate on firm forearm and grip I get failures to feed, but have no issues two-handed.
John
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ok, well I bought American eagle ammo today and Speer Gold dot. I grabbed the other mag as well to see if they feed the same.
After last firing of 50 cartridges, the gun was thoroughly cleaned.
Loaded up the american eagle first and shot about 40 rounds without even a hiccup. Much better than the awful federal rounds. But then it happened, FTE X3 on the next 10 rounds.
So I then tried the other mag with another 10 rounds of american eagle and 2 FTE.
So then I loaded up the gold dot and fired off a whole box of 20. 2 FTE
Called Rohrbaugh and they are going to get someone else to talk to me on Tuesday, their closed all weekend. Stripped the gun down again and it was pretty dirty.
So, with all that being said does anyone here think that it gets too dirty with that many rounds and the jams?
Lord knows I'm not going to use this as a range gun and probably will never fire more than a few mags per year through it at one given time but I am trying to get to 200 so I can change the spring at the very least and I'm still not there. 135 rounds
Oh, and ripped the skin right off my thumb joint, but let me add one thing.....THAT DARN THING IS SPOT FREAKING ON ACCURATE!!!!!!
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Jeep, welcome to the group.
The powder residue could be a factor with the failure to eject a residue buildup between the case and the chamber causing the case to stick. You did make it through 40 rounds so after a good cleaning see what the next range session brings.
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Yankee has an excellant point. And just may be spot on.
One other thing to consider after 6-7 mags. Did your concentration level remain the same? As far as grip and stance. Your muscles could have been getting tired or the mind starting to loose a little focus. I'm Guilty!
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ok, well I bought American eagle ammo today and Speer Gold dot. I grabbed the other mag as well to see if they feed the same.
After last firing of 50 cartridges, the gun was thoroughly cleaned.
Loaded up the american eagle first and shot about 40 rounds without even a hiccup. Much better than the awful federal rounds. But then it happened, FTE X3 on the next 10 rounds.
So I then tried the other mag with another 10 rounds of american eagle and 2 FTE.
So then I loaded up the gold dot and fired off a whole box of 20. 2 FTE
Called Rohrbaugh and they are going to get someone else to talk to me on Tuesday, their closed all weekend. Stripped the gun down again and it was pretty dirty.
So, with all that being said does anyone here think that it gets too dirty with that many rounds and the jams?
Lord knows I'm not going to use this as a range gun and probably will never fire more than a few mags per year through it at one given time but I am trying to get to 200 so I can change the spring at the very least and I'm still not there. 135 rounds
Oh, and ripped the skin right off my thumb joint, but let me add one thing.....THAT DARN THING IS SPOT FREAKING ON ACCURATE!!!!!!
Try to find soneone with a Ransom rest to clamp the gun in to shoot. I think you will find the gun will work with any ammo you put in it unless it is mechanically broken. The R9 is not an easy gun for most people to shoot. JMO
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Jeep, welcome to the group.
The powder residue could be a factor with the failure to eject a residue buildup between the case and the chamber causing the case to stick. You did make it through 40 rounds so after a good cleaning see what the next range session brings.
John does make an excellent point. I'll just add, when the gun is cleaned and at the next range session, just a suggestion, only shoot the Gold Dots, no American Eagle, and see how many rounds you can fire without a hiccup; fifty should be a plenty; do let the R9 cool down between mags. Again, just a suggestion.
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Thanks all for the advice. I'll take a home equity loan out and buy a bunch of Gold Dots and see how it fires......LOL
As for the fatigue, I'm sure that could have been a factor. Plus my bloody thumb knuckle could have hindered a little as well. No shooting this weekend but try again next week Have a great weekend all.
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Thanks all for the advice. I'll take a home equity loan out and buy a bunch of Gold Dots and see how it fires......LOL
As for the fatigue, I'm sure that could have been a factor. Plus my bloody thumb knuckle could have hindered a little as well. No shooting this weekend but try again next week Have a great weekend all.
;D
http://www.sgammo.com/product/speer/50rds-9mm-speer-gold-dot-115gr-hollow-point-le
http://www.sgammo.com/product/speer/50rd-9mm-speer-gold-dot-124gr-le-hollow-point-53618
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Great prices Just ordered 2 boxes 124gr Gold dot Thanks
They are 26.00/box for 20rounds here in Pa
Thanks again
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JT:
There is little to add to the excellent analyses of the previous posts, so permit me simply to welcome you to the Forum and repeat my own mantra for the R9 I have carried for eight years:
"Keep it clean and well lubricated, identify the premium ammunition it prefers and feed it only that, give it a firm grip platform against which to recoil, don't let it become overheated during range sessions, and remember to change out the recoil spring every 200 rounds or so."
Of all that, the most important thing in my opinion is to keep the R9 clean and well lubricated. These little pocket rockets are built to extremely close tolerances and are what might be described as "dreck averse."
Good luck with your new masterpiece.
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well, took the R9 back to the Rohrbaugh dealer I bought it from today because the guy I bought it from wanted to take a look at it and give it a good cleaning. After which I was given a new black mag and new spring, NOT INSTALLED, and a box of American eagle bullets. He then took it out back and fired it and had 1 FTF out of 10 shots. He advised me to take it home and run the whole box. So I did. 5 FTE with the new magazine. VERY DISCOURAGED at this point. I have taken everyone's advice and still FTE and FTF's. AND it happens with the Gold dot speer's too. Been in contact with the company and Maria has been very helpful in trying to evaluate the issue. She then had Karl Rohrbaugh call me after a few calls to her and we have not talked yet, just messages. Just thought I'd share. Thanks
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A further note: after about 20 rounds, I get a skin tear on my forefinger (trigger finger). I've taken to wearing a good thin leather shooting glove on my right hand....problem solved for range work.
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Lots of good ammo advice. To be honest, I must be lucky, but "out of the box" I have never had even one FTF or FTE. My R9 has been 100% from day one.
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Any updates on this?
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just waiting on a reply from Karl. I'll write in with an update. Thanks
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I got rid of my new R9. Had same problems as you plus I was surprised at its short effective range. I don't like the gun at any price let alone a retail of over $1200.
I also think their customer service strategy of having the founder callback complaining customers is a joke, though overall, might be effective for them - I don't know. Smells like a BS move that shouldn't be necessary with a quality product. Truly curious how many hours a week Karl spends making these calls. It would be genious of them to hire some raspy older gentleman to impersonate Karl.
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Short effective range? Why would you expect anything else? You did the right thing by selling it.
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I suppose it was my ignorance with the r9. I think it's more accurate to say I didn't realize just how effective my pm9 is.
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Short effective range???
Just this last weekend I was goofing around and shooting at steel plates at over 120 yards, yes as in over 360 feet. And I was hitting
just below the plate 50% of the time.
The ammo was 147gr Golden Sabre and 147 gr Hydra Shoks out of a Stealth.
I was quite satisfied.
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Excellent shooting Reinz!
With anything practice makes perfect! :)
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I'm gratefull that this forum is here.
It seems to me that I'm hearing me and more new owners having problems with FTE, & failure to feed.
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First of all REALLY NICE SHOOTING!!!!!! That's some top shot stuff there.
Secondly, I'm so glad I'm not alone and crazy with all my little issues with my R9.
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Short effective range???
Just this last weekend I was goofing around and shooting at steel plates at over 120 yards, yes as in over 360 feet. And I was hitting
just below the plate 50% of the time.
The ammo was 147gr Golden Sabre and 147 gr Hydra Shoks out of a Stealth.
I was quite satisfied.
Dam*ed good shooting, Reinz! I've never tried my R9 at that distance, but out of curiosity I once backed off to around 50 yards from a new silhouette target, factored in a wild-a** guess as to elevation and windage needed from a 2.9" barrel, and lobbed off six rounds. On walking up to the target, I was surprised to find five holes scattered in random pattern within the silhouette with a sixth outside but still in the paper. That "entertainment" was also done using 147gr Remington GS. (As I've posted before, I've now dropped the R9's carry load down to 124gr GS for ammo compatibility with my HK P7, the gas-retarded recoil system of which wasn't designed for the heavier round.)
I've done the same sort of long-range "lobbing" with my Colt Mustang, a suprisingly accurate little single-action pistol. The DAO R9 may not be quite as accurate at distance as the Mustang, but it would have to be a close second. Of course, both of these pistols are intended as up-close personal defense weapons, not target pieces.
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Short effective range???
Just this last weekend I was goofing around and shooting at steel plates at over 120 yards, yes as in over 360 feet. And I was hitting
just below the plate 50% of the time.
The ammo was 147gr Golden Sabre and 147 gr Hydra Shoks out of a Stealth.
I was quite satisfied.
Great shooting, Reinz. :)
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I'm sorry I was not trying to impress or be bragadoicious. I was only stepping in with a point towards my confusion about "short effective range".
BTW, I believe Richard's shooting was superior, they were Hits! Good Shooting Rich!
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Just got off the phone with Karl R. and he said the recoil assembly was shot. He also said he replaced the the trigger mechanism as well. He did one more thing but forget what it was. He stated there was a lot of rounds through it. OK, I bought it brand new and fired 170ish rounds through it. So I asked his opinion on "a lot of rounds", and he far more than 170. INTERESTING!!!!!! I'm calling the gun store. So he said it is brand new now. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!! GREAT FEEDBACK FROM KARL!!
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"I also think their customer service strategy of having the founder callback complaining customers is a joke, though overall, might be effective for them - I don't know. Smells like a BS move that shouldn't be necessary with a quality product"
I know why you smell BS. Check your shoes, you stepped in something. ;)
Meanwhile, let's hope the OP's gun is fixed. That's round count thing is odd though.
John
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Gunstore commando " let me check that serial number..... oops that's the store demo, my oh my, how did THAT get switched ? ".
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"I also think their customer service strategy of having the founder callback complaining customers is a joke, though overall, might be effective for them - I don't know. Smells like a BS move that shouldn't be necessary with a quality product"
I know why you smell BS. Check your shoes, you stepped in something. ;)
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Under that point of view it would appear that Karl is dam*ed if he does and dam*ed if he doesn't. My point of view holds that the manufacturer of a truly quality product should do exactly as Karl is doing.
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There is no "strategy", just outstanding customer service with a master's personal touch. Far better the phone call than some no-name apprentice working on it and sending it back without a word.
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Good words, RS and tracker and I agree. My thoughts are, Karl is definitely doing the right thing.
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My minor two cents is that if an owner of a company calls me personally, that's paramount in customer service. I'm very satisfied with the interaction we had. BUT, I just called the gun store and they assure me and will prove to me that the gun was brand new, never been fired since they have no gun range. They have only taken in 2 used Rohrbaugh's since the doors opened, they sold one a year ago and the owner has the other. So with that being said, should a gun code named the Rolls Royce of 9mm's be THAT worn after 170 rounds as stated from Karl? Let me just answer that for everyone.....NO. But hey, he gave it the VIP treatment and I'll love it and carry it everywhere......after I test it of course.
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Good grief. Enough already. "My gun won't work and the gun store says this and the owner of the gun company says that, and whoa is me." Buy the Kimber. Karl will refund your money.
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LOL some here asked for updates, I gave you updates. Whoa is me you thought you cared.
Wildcat, you make me smile. Have a good day There's always one
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JohnBT: checked my boots - clean. Checked my upper lip - clean as well. If you're going to be rude, at least be funny.
tracker: All business is by definition a "strategy" to produce profit. I promise Rohrbaugh has a customer service "strategy". I guess I'm ok with a "no-name" calling me. Not really one to be star-struck.
Wildcat1: This is a discussion board. We are discussing. Sometimes people will have compliants and I'm sorry if that ruins the circle jerk. I'm a realist always in pursuit of fact. I also think that you're wrong about Karl refunding my money. Would be awesome, but not likely. He even refused to cover the shipping charges of sending the gun back to them so...
jeeptree2112: Pretty funny that you caught Karl giving you a BS excuse.
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If I sold my R9 this forum would be in my rear view mirror.
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Do you want me to go away tracker?
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No, I was just speaking for myself. There have been several prominent members here who sold their R9s and saw no further need to be a member of this forum.
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I guess I'm still intrigued by Rohrbaugh. Plus you guys are pretty cool and have some good knowledge. However, I fully admit I am not in the same shooting class as Reinz. I couldn't hit a thing with an R9 at 120 yards.
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Nyr888 - I welcome you to the forum whether you own an R9 or not. I also respect your veiws whether I agree with you or not. As you said this a discussion board and I do like to discuss. It's great admiring pics of new aquisitions, but discussing is more stimulating to me.
BTW, I never hit Anything at 120 yds, I came close and Only 50% of the time.
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I have to comment that I sold my R9 because I couldn't find ANY round that was 100%.
It wouldn't even run on ball ammo. On mine it appeared that the round was attempting to enter the chamber at too steep of an angle. If I recall correctly that someone on this forum thought that was also a problem and was playing with P38 floorplates to raise the feedlips.
Why have I circled back? Because I REALLY would like a R9 that would run 100% for off-duty. I can't find any other 9mm that fits in my pocket.
After all this time I was hoping they had the bugs worked out, it seems like a few run, a lot don't.
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I sincerely appreciate the welcome Reinz. I clearly misread your post but that's still some serious shooting. Doubt I'll ever get to that level.
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I know this is an old thread but I wanted to see how jeeptree2112 's R9 is running since getting it back.
I appreciate any range reports that people give.
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I know this is an old thread but I wanted to see how jeeptree2112 's R9 is running since getting it back.
I appreciate any range reports that people give.
I second this. I would like to see how his R9 is running since Karl got his mitts on it.
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I started searching for and reading jeeptree2112's posts, and it looks like he had at least 2 trouble-free range sessions since his pistol came back from the factory.
But I'd still like to see how it's doing now... :)
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Good words, RS and tracker and I agree. My thoughts are, Karl is definitely doing the right thing.
Dead thread, but here is my experience. When mine was having some light hits, i sent it in, and did speak with Karl at one point. They cleaned it up, and gave attention to the firing pin area, and it worked great when i got it back. Same experience with another excellent gun manufacturer, Seecamp. My LWS 380 as well as my LWS32 both had to go in for service. On several occasions i spoke to Larry Seecamp about the issues, and he was very pleasant and helpful. These two companies are highly recommended by me.
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Wow. I'm sorry guys. Just realized you all were looking for range feedback. The R9 runs flawlessly. I run 124and 115 American eagle ammo, as recommended by Rohrbaugh, through it for range time as well as the occasional 115 Speer gold dots which I carry. Interesting note..... I let my brother in law load and fire it and he had two FTF. But as he stated he didn't pack the mag prior to loading. I took it back. Reloaded and shot 40 trouble free rounds. So overall since I got the gun back I have over 400 or so rounds through it. Everyone has went boom. I now officially love my R9. If you get one that doesn't work then send it to Karl. He was overly accommodating. The gun is the tightest, best built little gun I could ever have. And trudt me, I've wasted a lot of money looking gor a pocket 9mm before conceading the R9 is worth it. I did have to put VZ grips and a mag extension on to get a better grip for quick follow up shots. It was too slippery before the mods. I clean it after every time I shoot and cgange the spring at every 200th shot.