Can't wait to get started...

[jrae]

Hi everyone. I'm a new gun owner, so please be patient when I ask for help. Don't know all the language yet. I just got my new R9. Figured it was a good choice for carry, as I am a petite and small framed female.

Just took it to the range and fired 50 rounds of Winchester through it. On four or five occasions, the slide stuck in the back position after firing. I hear the R9 is ammo-fussy. Think it was the ammo? Somebody suggested I may need to change the spring already. I do have the Speer Gold Dots, 115 gr for defense... but I need good practice ammo.

I'm not a great shot yet, but compared to my P2000sk .40 cal, with my R9 the shots were consistently grouped high and left. Any thoughts?

[Richard S]

jrae:

Welcome to the Forum, and congratulations on having selected what I consider to be the finest pocket pistol yet designed.

As for the matter of occasional slide sticking, my first thought would be that it may have been a bit dry (needing lubrication) and/or overheated from too many rounds fired in close succession. Being the smallest and lightest pistol ever designed for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge, the R9's tolerances are minimal. It doesn't like to be run "dry," and it doesn't like to be run "hot."

Regarding the grouping matter, I have found this target to be a useful tool in diagnosing point-of-aim/point-of-impact discrepancies:

Good luck, and welcome again to the Forum. I think you will find it to be a civil and collegial group around here.
______

I almost forgot the ammunition question. Your Speer Gold Dot 115-grain ammunition is preferred by many R9 owners and should serve you well. As for practice ammo, I use Winchester "White Box" FMJ -- even though it is what I call a "dirty" round, requiring a thorough cleaning of the pistol after use.  

[kjtrains]

jrae.  Welcome to the Forum and congrats on getting that new R9.  As to the slide sticking, try what Richard suggests.  Your ammo is good, so don't think that's the problem.  My ammo of choice is Winchester 115 gr. Silvertips, just for info.

As to your shot grouping, that target of Richard's looks like a good tool to go by.  Again welcome and post often.

[cooperr1234]

Welcome....

[yankee2500]

jrae, to the group.
  Always good to get new members and especially female members as it gives another prospective on R9 issues and accessories.  
  I think Richard has covered you questions quite well, leaving little to add.

John

[jrae]

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions and answers. I'm glad to participate in this forum and soak up advice! Its so helpful, especially for someone just starting out.

Richard, that target you provided is awesome... and I can believe my high left shots probably indeed had something to do with anticipated recoil.

Next question: :-/
Any tricks to getting the R9 back together? I had an FFL friend (with vast knowledge and experience.. close personal friend, not a salesman) take the R9 apart, lubricate it, and reassemble. And Oh... the reassembly. He wanted to curse. We followed Rohrbaugh's suggestions, but there must be a trick to this!

Thanks again everyone. I sure appreciate the input.

[Richard S]

jrae:

This link may be of some help:

http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/rohrbaugh/basefile/vids.htm

Some of us have accumulated our own collection of favorite "gadgets" for the takedown/reassembly process but the most helpful one is probably the "Stopstick" developed by the late R. J. Hedley and now being sold by our own "yankee2500," whose contact can be seen by clicking the "handle" on his post earlier in this thread. He may be sold out at the moment, but if I know John he will restock his inventory before long.  

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=Classifieds;action=display;num=1271805789

[yankee2500]

Richard,
   Thanks for the plug. I hope to have some of the tools in the next week or so.

John

[Richard S]

jrae:

In my previous post I mentioned the "gadgets" which some of us have collected to assist in the takedown/reassembly process for our R9s. Here are a couple of links that show my own collection and contain some discussion on the matter:

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=Cleaning;action=display;num=1165943631;start=0#0

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=Cleaning;action=display;num=1276463030;start=0#0

It certainly is not necessary to have any of these things to fieldstrip and reassemble a Rohrbaugh R9. The process becomes easy with practice. The first couple of times I reassembled my Farmingdale R9 six years ago, I would use a "third hand" -- the well manicured hand of my little wife -- to insert the barrel pin while I held the slide in position. I soon got the knack of the process, but this collection of tools makes it even easier.  

[kjtrains]

Richard.  You have covered it well.

[theirishguard]

jrae, Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy it here. Richard has covered all of your questions so far. It will get much easier with time and practice. Soon you will be more comfortable and enjoy shooting and cleaning the pup. Tom

[Reinz]

jrae, and a welcome from me.

Please have patience.  Once you get over these speed bumps and follow the excecellant suggestions provided you will be on your way to great confidence with the best pocket pistol on the planet.

[jrae]

 
Thank you again, Richard, for the excellent advice. And thanks to everyone for welcoming me to the forum. I shot about 150 rounds through the pup these past two weekends, and have become a pretty good shot with it! Had the opportunity to show it off to many admirers.  

[yankee2500]

Jrae,
   Glad your enjoying your pup. What are your impressions of it after 150 rounds ?

John

[jrae]

John,

It takes a bit to get familiar with the longer trigger pull, but I otherwise have no issues with the R9. For me, its the perfect carry... nothing to snag on my clothing and small. I got a custom Alessi holster for it, its pretty slick.