Gold Dots 115 gr. Stuck on the Ramp ***UPDATE

[sebis]

Went to the range for the third time with R9S. I used only Super Lube grease on the slide and oil as directed, no Militech.

The first two magazines of GD 115gr. went flawless then at the third and fourth magazine the 5th round would get stuck on the ramp and had to push it in.

I recognize after the second magazine I was feeling fatigue in the shooting hand (I shot some 50 rounds in my HK in the meanwhile) and had trouble dealing with the recoil by then. However, being always the 5th round makes me believe is something else then my grip.

What do you guys think?

Note to self: need to find some sort of exercise for my hand to deal better with the recoil.

--Sebis

[R9SCarry]

I have yet to discover a real explanation for the (enter number here) round would not feed right.

I am tho - at risk of a butt kicking from Eric - more and more of the opinion that after some use with grease lube on slide, the slide velocity can be marginally slowed - this happened to my 226 SIG.  Thus I only use Militech1 for slide/frame lube - or even Mobil1 would do.

Thing is I will disassemble, clean and lube even more often so this does not prejudice my gun - but IMO it does aid function - grease goes on all the other recommended points.

As for grip - well for sure the pup does punish a bit and perhaps some tennis ball squeezing excercizes would not go amiss.  That said, I think grip has to be pretty soggy before limp wristing is a problem.  Thing is while we all (hopefully) have two hands - grip methods, strength and hand sizes do vary a lot.  Hard therefore to really assess without seeing.

I regularly wish anyone with problems could join me at the range for a diagnostic session - which is not to say I am expert on the R9 - but I sure am intrigued sometimes when I read of problems and want to get my hands on the troublesome gun!

I doubt I have had a chance to say welcome yet - welcome

[sebis]

I doubt I have had a chance to say welcome yet - welcome

Thank you for the welcome, I red your FAQ and I am still searching for the best lube technique for my R9.

I tried Militech the last time but I made a mistake and added too much gun oil on top of it that and went all on my hands after the first magazine. I guess I'll go back to a combination of Militech and Super Lube and try again.

If this still doesn't work I may need to look for different ammo. I am thinking that a round that is closer in shape to ball would work better in my R9 since all the problems are with getting stuck on the ramp with the bullet cavity enclosing the bottom of the feed ramp, I hope I described clear enough.

--Sebis

[sebis]

Scanning the board I came up with this two options:

Winchester Super-X Ammunition 9mm Luger 115 Grain Silvertip Hollow Point Box of 50 = $27.99 @ MidwayUSA

or

Federal Personal Defense Ammunition 9mm Luger 115 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20 (Hi-Shok) = 12.29 @ MidwayUSA.

I will try them both next time. Form an engineering perspective, which one do you think is better?

--Sebis

[groo]

Groo here
 I have gotten away from any oil on my R9
 I use superlube in the recomended places and a small amount on the action  triger etc oil only if I take the grips off " one drop."
 After the break in  one spring or less. 200 rds.
 I shoot about 2 or 3 mags then something else,
 go home clean ,lube and put in my holster.
 With greese in the gun dirt and lint cant get in.

[willow]

Sebis,
I tested the Federal Hi Shok 115 Gr. JHP with no jams in 3 magazines.

[prydwen]

Ed Zackly!
is same problem I have had with my r9s.
hangs up right on lower edge of ramp..in my case it jams up
so tight I have to hold the slide open and force the magazine out with my thumb...the company (today) suggested it was a burr on the feed ramp...I am a little dubious of this...but they did offer for me to ship it back to them with a note explaining my problem...
in my case the pistol WILL feed FMJ 115 grain...but hollow points are all stop. and, for defensive purposes I'd prefer it to handle JHP well enough to feel confident in the thing (that is 100%!) before I lay my 380 and my 38 aside for it.  I am going to the range with mine one more time and then if still not good it is off to rohrbaugh and I will advise of the result ..as noted by me elsewhere on this site today the young lady you speak to at Rohrbaugh could not be much more polite or helpful for her part...give her a call.  Maybe if several of us report the same problem we'll get a recall..maybe it will rain hundred dollar bils!

[sebis]

I found some Silvertips locally, will try this next. If I still can't get 4 magazines without a jam with the Silvertips, the gun is going back to Rorhbaugh for warranty work.

I am a little disappointed at this point for several reasons. The Stealth finish is not as good looking as my HK P2000SK, it came it a small blemish on the front sight and a scratch on the front of the slide.

At the end of the day the cosmetic issues would not bother me if it was reliable. My HK had couple of minor scratches on the frame from shipping but I forgot about those after the first trip to the range, that sucker would feed anything without a hiccup from day one and I shot in excess of 700 rounds thru it. If only HK would make a single stack polimer... dreams.

I do recognize Rohrbaugh thou for their endeavor, the smallest 9 mm in the World. I carried in my front pocket at the office and no one gave it a second look! If can only fix the feeding issues and I am set.

--Sebis

[harrydog]

I think the Rohrbaugh Bros. are in the process of officially moving away from their recommendation of using grease to lube the R9 because of its tendancy to attract and hold grit and burnt powder residue, etc., which could possibly affect functioning.

[sebis]

I found some Silvertips locally, will try this next. If I still can't get 4 magazines without a jam with the Silvertips, the gun is going back to Rorhbaugh for warranty work.

Finally, I appears that my R9S is cured, I run 4 magazines of Silvertips and one magazine of GS 115 gr. without a hiccup. I think mine is now finally broken in after 100 rounds.

I think I like the Silvertips, I felt less recoil then Gold Dots. I am making the Silvertips my carry ammo for the Rohrbaugh.

--Sebis

[R9SCarry]

Good news Sebis

[Brenden]

Finally, I appears that my R9S is cured, I run 4 magazines of Silvertips and one magazine of GS 115 gr. without a hiccup. I think mine is now finally broken in after 100 rounds.

I think I like the Silvertips, I felt less recoil then Gold Dots. I am making the Silvertips my carry ammo for the Rohrbaugh.

--Sebis

Sebis,
Excellent!!
I go back and forth on the 115 GDs and 115 STHPs..
I am with you though,the GDs "bark" a bit more IMO..

Hope the pup continues to feed well for you..

Brenden

[DTM_39]

Sebis, glad your R9 is working smooth. Find the ammo it likes and stick with it. Dan

[ronc]

Hey guys,  i am sure i am going to ruffle some feathers with my comments because i know we all love these guns.  I have only had mine to the range 3 times and it has improved immensely from the first time.  However, i feel that we all seem to be making excuses for the short comings of this gun.  If i bought a $250 or $300 kel-tec, then i would expect to have problems and have to find "just" the right ammo that it likes.  And worry about it heating and having "just" the right amount of the right oil, etc.  However, when i pay $1000 for a gun, i think it should shoot ever time I pull the trigger and it should fire any quality ammo I feed it.  I don't have a problem with frequent cleaning.  Any piece of machinery works better if you properly maintain it.  I do think there is something wrong when you have to go searching for some ammo that this gun likes.  A high dollar gun like this should go "bang" everytime you pull the trigger.  You should never have to worry if you have "just" the right ammo,  Again, i know i am not going to make a lot of friends with these comments but this is what i think.  I still love my gun and i don't have any thoughts about giving it up.  I love the way it looks, the way it feels and i love being able to carry a 9mm in my pocket.  But i am a little concerned about the reliability.  Ron C

[tracker]

Ron,
I don't want to ruffle your feathers but yours seems like an
idle complaint; if you don't have a problem, what is your
problem? We don't, as you suggest, "all make excuses".

I, for one, and I think I am in the majority do not have any
complaints. The R-9 has more than met my expectations.
There have been a few problems but most have been resolved.
Just because something is high dollar does not guarantee
that it is problem free as some exotic car owners have had
to admit. A self defense weapon, of course, is a different
animal than an automobile, but I do not hesitate to pack the
pup.