[Arizona Smithshooter]

This post is for Dan Burwell, but if anyone else has an idea or suggestion please pass it along.



My M&P9 is about six months old and has approx 1500 rounds fired. Last week I had my first failure and I passed it off as a fluke, but then it happened again this morning. About half way through a magazine a round failed to eject. The extractor failed to catch the cartridge and so it didn't pull the fired round from the barrel. This failure isn't easy to quickly clear and since my M&P is now my Carry Gun is has caused me some concern.



My question is what should I look for? Could it be they way the rounds are loaded into the magazine? Bad ammo? Bad Magazine, or might it be something more serious??

 

[Dan Burwell]

My first guess would be something related to the chamber being tight on the case ie. dirty chamber, burr or rough chamber, brass out of spec.



Next I would look to reasons that the extractor might not be holding the rim ie broken extractor (not likely), not enough extractor tension or ammo rim out of spec.



Last it might just be the ammo doesn't have enough uuumph to it.



In each of those potential problem areas there is only one commonality the ammo, So I would look over all the areas if they all look OK then change your ammo and life should be good again.



Dan

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

Thanks for the quick response Dan! Between my first post and now I cleaned and lubed my pistol, looking for anything the might have caused the problem. The extractor is not broken or dirty and everything else looks OK. I assume the extractor tension cannot be adjusted, at least by me, so is there any way to tell if it's out of spec? Once the extractor slides into the groove of the cartridge can it retract without pulling the empty case from the barrel? I will pick up a couple of different brands of ammo and give that a try, but I used the same ammo in my Sigma for over 3 years and countless rounds without ever having one failure of any kind. Sorry for all the questions, but this has me really concerned.

 

[Dan Burwell]

No the tension cannot be adjusted, just make sure it moves freely and it is not grittty as it moves.

Can it slip off the cartridge rim yah if anough force is applied this normally puts a good ding in the case rim and usually indicates a sticky chamber.



Can you describe the exact position of the empty and what did you have to do to clear the malf.



Dan

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

The weapon fired as normal. The next cartridge was pickup up by the slide but jammed against the fired cartridge in the barrel that failed to be extracted/ejected. I had to remove the fired cartridge with my fingernail after removing the magazine and the round that was jammed against it. I continued shooting for another 1/2 hour or so....about another 50 rounds without another incident.

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

I shot another 100 or so rounds today with various ammo, including Federal Personal Defense 147 grain Hydra-shok's. I didn't have another FTE or any other problem. I am using the Federal for carry. If anyone else experiences a similar problem, please post it.

 

[raz-0]

was the stuf causing FTEs winchester white box? Enough people enough places have bitched about their gun suddenly not liking WWB that I suspect an out of spec lot went out the door with out of spec cases that don't have enough extractor groove.



Just an idea.

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

Yes, it was Winchester white box ammo. I have heard some negative comments about that ammo, but I used that in my Sigma 9VE for over three years without a single failure. I have recently been using Federal ammo, as well as a few other brands, and have not had another failure. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[ConcealedMP]

Pardon me for bringing up an old post but I just itched to do it anyways...



I see you posted this in October so this shows you've had plenty of time to molest and play with your M&P... Have you had any FTE since you went strictly to Federals? I am experiencing FTE on 2 different brands of ammo in the 9mm arena... Just curious...



Cheers-

Erich

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

ConcealedMP



Since my last post I have put quite a few more rounds through my M&P without another failure. Most of the time I am shooting Wally World Winchester Whitebox ammo. I read somewhere on the M&P forum that junk builds up under the extractor claw and could cause a Failure to Eject. That's exactly what I found on mine and I had to clean it out with an old dentist pick....it was in there pretty good. Now every time I clean my pistol I make sure that area is clean. My M&P 9 has been flawless since then.

 

[revolverman357]

I just bought an M&P 9MM today, brought it home with a box of 115gr WWB FMJ, and loaded up

both mags, and the first mag fired fine, on the second mag I had exactly what you are describing

with the FTE. Twice in ten rounds. Yeah, I'm worried since I've had it only a few hours. I went and picked up some Remington ammo to try this weekend.

 

[ConcealedMP]

I've had absolutely NO ISSUES with any of Remington's ammo. Guess I'll be sticking to this ammo from now on for the range and using Cor-Bon's for carry.



I did however find a bunch of gunk under my extractor and used a wood tooth-pick to clean it out. This may have been the issue with the FTE I was getting. I'm not going to chance it with the crap ammo I was using...



Thanks again for posting...



Cheers!!!

Erich

 

[Bloodnut]

I use a pipe cleaner or two to clean between the extractor claw and the frame of my brand G pistol - assuming I don't detail strip the slide. Use the pipe cleaner like dental floss.



Is my understanding correct that the rear sight has to be removed to get to the firing pin channel & extractor? If so, this is one situation where the Glock is easier to maintain.

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

The rear sight must be removed in order to remove the firing pin safety from the slide. The extractor is held in by a pin that goes through the slide and extractor, and I read on this forum that the pin is almost impossible to remove. I do agree with you that this is a real pain in the butt as far as maintenance is concerned. I used to own a Sigma 9VE and it was much easier to do a complete take-down.

 

[jtucker]

I posted earlier about 2 FTEs. I was using WWB also. This was the first 150 rounds thru the pistol. I also had to point out that this is my first non .22 cal pistol though, so it could be user error.

 

[ClosetCaseNerd]

Is my understanding correct that the rear sight has to be removed to get to the firing pin channel & extractor? If so, this is one situation where the Glock is easier to maintain.

No thats not correct, but the extractor from what I hear is quite a pain. The gun's melonite is applied after the pin is set, so its REALLY stuck in there. Broken punches were the word of the day.



As for the striker, its simple to remove and takes about 20 seconds. I copy and pasted instructions from the FAQ (curteousy of Jester). I remove mine every 2 range sessions, so about every 300 rounds and clean out any primer flow. Thats excessive and unneccissary but I get a warm and fuzzy knowing that its clean in there.

Push in/forward the wihte collar by the striker leg. Slide out the slide cover plate.



To reassemble push the white piece you pushed the first time all the way into the slide form the end. Slide in the slide cover plate.