Slide Won't Retract?

[SAWBONES]

I noticed with my original R-9S that the slide would "stick" a bit within the first couple millimeters of retraction, but that closing then again retracting the slide would permit the slide to retract fully, as usual.
When my original slide cracked after 150 total rounds, I sent the gun back to Rohrbaugh. (See thread about this if interested.)

When I got the refurbished ("all new top end", per Karl Rohrbaugh) R-9S back from Rohrbaugh last week, I noticed the same issue, to whit, the slide would stick, making further retraction impossible, after retraction of the slide by about 5 mm, to the point that the first portion of the recoil spring assembly and the first few mm of muzzle-barrel were visible, and the barrel hood had dropped (barrel unlocked). As before, it was intermittent, but frequent. Disassembling and reassembling the gun showed no problem, but did not stop the "sticking" from occuring.
When "stuck" this way, no amount of force that I can exert with my hands will make the slide retract farther. I have to release the slide and retract it once again to free the action.

This became much more pronounced with firing the gun today, such that after 50 rounds or so, I could no longer get the slide to retract by hand at all, until by trial and error I discovered that pushing downward on the barrel hood while retracting the slide seemed to keep it from "sticking".

At no time was function during firing interfered with, and the gun would eject and feed fine, even though I couldn't retract the slide by hand.

The gun looks completely normal field-stripped, with no undue wear at any particular spot on barrel lugs or hood or feed ramp or chamber mouth or at the belled muzzle, nor is there any obvious wear on the breechface, barrel hole, or any other part of the slide, nor is there any asymmetric wear on the frame's barrel bed or lug recess (apart from peening of the aluminum alloy, which was there before, and seems to be normal on this gun, judging from pics posted on the Rohrbaugh FAQ), and the frame pin holes and the pin itself all seem normal.
The recoil spring guide apparatus looks fine (yes, it's assembled correctly, with the open end of the larger spring toward the front, inside the end cap), and I cannot tell by inspection what is causing the "sticking".

Has anyone else had this problem or noticed any "sticking" tendency when retracting the slide?

Since firing function seems fine, I intend to keep shooting the pistol to see if things will "break in" (no pun intended).

[SAWBONES]

Silly to reply to my own post, but I think I've discovered the problem by considering the operation of the 1911.

The "catch" seems to occur at the top front of the barrel hood, which is now noticeably peened back, apparently by hitting the inner ledge at the inside of the slide, just in front of the ejection port.

Pushing the slide backward via pressure applied with a nylon rod passed down the barrel and bearing against the breechface allows the barrel to unlock and the slide to retract properly.
Since this approximates the operation of the action by cartridge detonation, I suspect things are OK, yet I know the timing or fitment must be slightly "off" or this wouldn't happen.

Suggestions?

[R9SCarry]

I think I am imagining your description properly.

Indeed, a nylon rod down barrel does better simulate the firing cycle.  Force is closer to main axis.

Slide racking is almost (inevitably) a more awkward operation, with particular regard to getting the barrel unlocked.  I daresay very tight tolerances may be a factor.

I would try further shooting and also - try and make the slide retract operation more brisk - sorta get some ''inertia'' into the movement - real brisk.

[Aglifter]

I realize this may not be what you want to hear, but it sounds as if the complete gun should go back to Rohrbaugh -- kinda suprised they didn't want it back in the first place.  Could the extra stress from the barrel/resistance to retracting have caused the crack in the first place?  Also, when the replaced "the entire top end" did that include the barrel, etc?  Confused trying to figure out how the grip could cause the barrel to catch on the slide...could the pin hole be off?

Brad

[SAWBONES]

When I said, "the whole top end" was replaced, that occured when the entire gun was at Rohrbaugh. I didn't send just the slide.
Karl Rohrbaugh clearly indicated that both the slide and barrel were replaced.

Racking the slide with speed and force makes no difference; in fact, the slide is more likely to retract successfully if the operation is done slowly.

I suppose I'll have to call Rohrbaugh again Monday. Pisser!

[SAWBONES]

Follow-up:

I just talked to Karl Rohrbaugh on the phone again, who in response to my concerns as described above said the gun parts are "seating", and that if the "catch" on manual slide retraction worsens (it now seems to be improving), to stone the peened barrel edge in question sufficiently to just barely "break" the edge.
This I'll do, if needs be.

[Erich]

Wow, sorry to hear of your travails. I really hope the fix works for you.  

[SAWBONES]

No real travail, though thanks for the kind words.

I just want the gun to be reliable and safe, is all.

I'm already quite pleased with the refurbished gun's accuracy and precision.
I'm a stickler about these, and the first 124gr Gold Dot JHP from a cold clean barrel right at POA, at the center of a 2" bullseye at 5 yards, I thought was quite impressive. (All the other 111 shots on Saturday were equally acceptable in accuracy and precision, and I have absolutely no concerns about hitting the target with this little pistola.)

I'll keep testing till it's throughly reliable or something goes wrong!

[Skyhook]

SAWBONES, that spot of retraction stoppage is almost exactly where I'd say my gun totally locked up. It may just be coincidental, but- ? -

Send the thing back. That is probably your decision already, but, as for my feelings on a bug gun... reliability trumps everything.. even beauty.