Failure to Feed on Sig p239

[specialkayme]

First time poster, found the site by doing a google search on the above topic. I wouldn't say I'm an avid shooter, just getting into this. Bought a used Glock 17C when I turned 21. Probably put 20,000+ rounds through it without a single issue. Just got my concealed carry last week, wanted a very reliable (slightly smaller), larger caliber gun to carry. After much debate, went with a Sig p239 in 40 S&W.

Took it to the range last Saturday, put approx. 175 rounds through it (~105 rounds of Blazer Brass 180 gr. FMJ and ~20 rounds of Remmington Ultimate Defense 180 gr. BJHP) and had 7 failure to feeds. The round would get wedged on the ramp and just stop. Sometimes it would get wedged, pause for a second, then the spring would catch it and the gun would jerk forward.

I asked the owner of the range if this was common for the p239, or for new guns, and he looked at me like I was on crack. He said no way. NIB sigs should be good to go, and nothing should be able to stop them. We oiled up the gun and put 14 more rounds through it, and I had 2 more failure to feeds. The ranger owner just shrugged his shoulders and told me to put more rounds through it, it'll be fine.

It caused me considerable concern. I got a sig for carry purposes because it has such a reputation that nothing will be able to stop it, and 9 failures in about 175 rounds is high to me.

I called customer service, and he asked if it was new. When I said yes, he kinda snapped back at me about how that's very normal. For the number of failures I was getting, that's totally common. If I was getting 20-30% failures, then yeah, there's something wrong with the gun. But 9 out of 175 was very common. Keep shooting it and it should be gone by now, or it might take another 100-250 rounds to clear it up. I asked him if after the first 300 rounds if I won't have any more failures, and he wouldn't answer that (not that I was expecting him to).

He said he could take it back, but they would only fire 50 rounds through it, and based on the rate of failures I was getting, he didn't think they could replicate the problem, so it would probably just be sent back unchanged. But I was welcome to do it anyway.

I'm now very concerned about this gun. Again, I'm not an avid shooter, so I don't have tons of experience, but I've consistently read how reliable sigs were, especially out of the box. I've also read about how the company always stood behind their products. I'm not getting that feeling.

I told the rep I would go shoot another 100+ rounds through it, and if it didn't clear up I was going to send it back. He said that was fine, but again it was totally normal, and if I did send it back they likely wouldn't find anything wrong with the gun.

I'm concerned about carrying the gun. God forbid I need to use it, it could just jam. Not the kind of gun I want. Is my concern unfounded? Is this normal?

 

[fastbolt]

No way for anyone to know what's actually happening in your situation without being there to watch you shoot the P239, examine it and shoot it ourselves.

Some thoughts to consider, though.

Have you much experience in handling & shooting anything other than the larger G17C (a softer shooting 9mm), especially something chambered in .40 S&W?

Are you right-handed?

Have you watched the cleaning, lubrication & maintenance video clips offered by SIG customer service on their website?

In the SIG pistol armorer class they constantly reminded us that SIG's are considered "wet" guns, actually meaning that the surfaces requiring lubrication needed to be lubed to the point that the presence of it could be easily confirmed by touch and sight. (Not the same sort of light lubrication recommended by Glock.)

Going from a large & soft shooting 9mm pistol to a different design of smaller, lighter and harder recoiling .40 S&W pistol may serve to bring any grip support & stability issues to your attention. Such grip technique & stability issues may result in feeding stoppages due to slide velocity & slide travel issues.

Some folks like to call it "limp-wristing", but I prefer to call it grip support & stability issues. A properly handshake firm grip (maintained throughout the recoil impulse), combined with a carefully locked wrist (no "breaking" or "flexing" during the somewhat harsher muzzle snap often experienced by newer .40 shooters).

The right or left-handed thing ...

If you're right-handed, try shooting the gun left-handed, paying close attention to maintaining a firm grip and locked wrist. If the feeding stoppage problem doesn't reoccur, it might be possible that your right thumb might've been unintentionally hitting the slide stop lever pad just enough to cause the lever to rise under recoil, momentarily hitting the slide's corresponding notched cut. This might sometimes cause a sort of "stutter stop" hanging up of the slide on the corner edge of the slide stop lever's engagement surface on the rear edge of the slide's notch, which could slow the proper "feeding timing" of the next round's feeding.

So, too, could "thumbing" the slide, meaning having one or the other of your thumbs rubbing against the slide during cycling, slowing critical slide velocity and interfering with proper feeding "timing".

Making sure the slide's extractor hook is clean (brushed under the exposed hook) and dry is a good thing, too.

As is making sure the magazines are clean and dry. Lots of folks don't think to check the mags, which can sometimes contain excess shipping & packing grease or oil, which can accumulate fouling and possibly interfere with the rising of the rounds in the mag body, which can mean another slowing and interference of the proper feeding timing.

Then again, I've seen my fair share of folks disassemble magazines and not reassemble them correctly, either installing mag springs backwards (or upside down in mags where spring orientation is only correct in one direction), or reverse the followers. More feeding problems.

More often than not, when a good quality pistol like a SIG exhibits feeding stoppages or other malfunctions, it's not surprising for a firearms instructor and/or armorer to eventually trace the "problems" to either something involved with the shooter (usually grip technique in one way or another), maintenance practices or ammunition .... with actual gun problems being much less common than any of the other influences.

Sometimes it's not so much having to "break in" a pistol, as it is to "break in the shooter" to a new pistol and/or caliber (recoil impulse and how it manifests as felt recoil).

Sorry I can't offer a definitive "answer", but it's hard enough working with various shooters out on the firing line when it comes to trying to diagnose a problem. "Fixing" a problem, or problems, is usually easier than actually diagnosing what needs to be "fixed".

I've come to appreciate having firearms instructors also trained as armorers (not always the case, believe it or not, for various reasons within different agencies), as that way the instructors can have a better understanding of how shooter or ammo influences may be causing what may seem to be gun problems, and vice versa.

I've had my fair share of guns brought back to the armorer bench with complaints of something being wrong with the gun, only to inspect the gun and find it within normal specs ... but then when I sometimes have the opportunity to take the shooter and the gun out to the firing line, and watch them handle & shoot the gun ... and experience the claimed "problem" ... I often find the actual problem to be with the shooter (and work to correct that problem).

Got a chance to work with an experienced firearms trainer at your range? Maybe have him/her observe you for a bit, as well as try your gun? Just some thoughts.

 

[BSA1]

The usual suspect are the magazines. How many magazines do you have and which ones are having the problems?

 

[specialkayme]

Awesome response fastbolt. Thanks for taking the time. Let me see if I can clarify a few points:

Have you much experience in handling & shooting anything other than the larger G17C (a softer shooting 9mm), especially something chambered in .40 S&W?

I've shot a few other guns over the years. I wouldn't say consistently, but enough to get the feel of other 9mm, .357, .380, .40 & .45. About 8 years ago I went to a range and got 6 different guns, of all different sizes and calibers, and shot a box of each. Over the summer I got to shoot a .40 H&K and a Desert Eagle. Two weeks before I bought the p239, I rented a p245 in (shock) .45 and a Springfiled XDM in .40.

I wouldn't say I'm super experienced with smaller guns shooting larger rounds, but this by far isn't the first. This is, however, the first time I've ever had a failure to feed in a handgun (let alone consisetntly).

Are you right-handed?

Yes Sir.

Have you watched the cleaning, lubrication & maintenance video clips offered by SIG customer service on their website?

I (stupidly) assumed it was properly lubed before I went to the range. I did watch several videos on assembly, dis-assembly, and proper maintenance. But I thought it needed the lube of a glock. I was wrong. That's when I gave it to the range owner, who took it apart and said it was too dry. He lubed it up, and I put two more mags in it. Out of those 14 rounds, it failed twice.

Not saying the first 7 ftf's were not because it wasn't properly lubed. But lubing it up (to the point where it was almost dripping) didn't solve the problem.

Going from a large & soft shooting 9mm pistol to a different design of smaller, lighter and harder recoiling .40 S&W pistol may serve to bring any grip support & stability issues to your attention. Such grip technique & stability issues may result in feeding stoppages due to slide velocity & slide travel issues.

Interesting. First I've heard of this (not surprising though). Anywhere I can read more about this?

Some folks like to call it "limp-wristing", but I prefer to call it grip support & stability issues. A properly handshake firm grip (maintained throughout the recoil impulse), combined with a carefully locked wrist (no "breaking" or "flexing" during the somewhat harsher muzzle snap often experienced by newer .40 shooters).

I can't say I'm 100% certain I have the proper grip. I could be wrong. But I would say I had a very firm grip on it. The double action start was new for me, and with it jumping around a little (due to the "hopping" of the ftf, followed by a pause of a half a second or so, maybe less, then the slide sometimes closing) caused me to hold on a little more than normal, with a locked wrist and fairly firm elbow.

If you're right-handed, try shooting the gun left-handed, paying close attention to maintaining a firm grip and locked wrist. If the feeding stoppage problem doesn't reoccur, it might be possible that your right thumb might've been unintentionally hitting the slide stop lever pad just enough to cause the lever to rise under recoil, momentarily hitting the slide's corresponding notched cut. This might sometimes cause a sort of "stutter stop" hanging up of the slide on the corner edge of the slide stop lever's engagement surface on the rear edge of the slide's notch, which could slow the proper "feeding timing" of the next round's feeding.

I'll give it a shot. Again, no way to say I'm right or not, but I doubt my thumb was either hitting the slide or the lever. I've seen a few instructors watch me shoot before (probably 3 overall, none on this gun though). They have told me, repeatedly, to put my right thumb higher. I have a natural tendency to curve my right thumb down, to the point that sometimes my left hand has to go at an angle and wrap off the bottom of the grip. I don't like for my right thumb to be up anywhere near the slide. Something I have to work on, I know. But for the time being it helps me think it's not my thumb.

Again, who knows. I'll give it a shot.

As is making sure the magazines are clean and dry. Lots of folks don't think to check the mags, which can sometimes contain excess shipping & packing grease or oil, which can accumulate fouling and possibly interfere with the rising of the rounds in the mag body, which can mean another slowing and interference of the proper feeding timing.

I wiped down the mags before I went to the range. I noticed there was some soot in the gun from when it came from the factory and they test fired it. I didn't want to all out clean the gun, but did wipe down a few parts, mags included, in the "my precious" moments right after a purchase

Sometimes it's not so much having to "break in" a pistol, as it is to "break in the shooter" to a new pistol and/or caliber (recoil impulse and how it manifests as felt recoil).

I think what concerned me so much is my call to sig's customer service. They made it sound like 7 or 9 failure to fires within the first 200 rounds was expected. That was not the reliability I was expecting from a sig. And their customer service person's cavaleer response that if they did take it back, they wouldn't find anything wrong (without asking for a serial number, where I got it, how much shooting experience I had, nothing). When I told him the range owner thought 7 ftf's were absurd from a new gun, the customer service rep got very defensive and said "sir, I do this for a living. I do this every day. I know what is normal for new guns. This is normal." I thought to myself, "maybe for a sig it's normal, but for other guns it might not be," but decided to keep my mouth shut as I didn't now what I was talking about.

It very much made me second guess the gun and the manufacturer, rather than myself.

Got a chance to work with an experienced firearms trainer at your range? Maybe have him/her observe you for a bit, as well as try your gun? Just some thoughts.

I need to. I know. But I haven't.

When I expressed my issues to the range owner, and he lubed it up, and I shot 14 more rounds only to get 2 more ftf's, the owner looked puzzled. So he grabbed a few different types of rounds and filled to clips for him to fire it. He pointed the gun down range, fired a round, and it jammed. He then re-racked it and tried again, but it wouldn't fire. He then looked at the gun and said "that's a .40" to which I responded "yup." He then said, "I thought it was a 9mm." He pulled out all the 9mm ammo he was trying to force through the gun (one of which fired), said "hold on a sec" and came back with two clips full of .40 ammo. He fired both clips and it didn't fail once. He then said the gun's "fine" and "keep putting ammo though it." He then went on to tell me how nice of a gun it was, and how he really likes it. But due to his inattentive nature of putting a 9mm into a clearly marked .40 gun, I decided maybe I needed a second opinion.

Granted, I also had my glock with me (I was shooting both that day) and I had boxes of 9mm and .40 ammo. He may have just looked at one of the boxes and assumed it was for the sig. But still.

This may sound weird but I kinda hope the problem is with me, rather than the gun. Although I've never had this kinda problem before, and I've shot at least 2 other sigs (that I can remember) and a .40 on at least 3 other occasions (again, that I can imagine).

 

[specialkayme]

The usual suspect are the magazines. How many magazines do you have and which ones are having the problems?

I have two mags. Both came with the gun. I've noticed failures with both of them. Although I didn't keep track of how many with one as opposed to the other.

Whenever it would occur, the bullet would be wedged between the ramp right before the barrel (technically a part of the barrel) and the back of the slide, halfway in the mag and halfway out.

If you pulled the slide all the way back and re-racked, 90% of the time it would properly feed the half cocked round. 10% of the time it would remain wedged, and you'd have to pull the slide back, engage the slide stop, and feed the bullet back into the mag before pulling the slide back all the way to re-rack.

I can't say new mags wouldn't solve the problem, idk. But if both were an issue, at $45 a pop how many am I going to have to go through before I find two that aren't an issue?

 

[guyfromohio]

I don't doubt your story, but I have shot easily 5000 rounds out of my 239 without a single failure. I do wonder if it's magazin related.

 

[specialkayme]

That's what made me concerned. Sigs are known for their reliability, and how accurate and reliable they are right out of the box. Having so many failures early on, and having the customer service rep tell me that's totally normal, makes me really nervous about using it as a CCW.

 

[Plastikosmd]

doesn't sound normal.
did you let anyone else try shooting it?

 

[specialkayme]

Just the range owner, who quickly put 14 rounds through it and said it was fine.

 

[jimbo555]

"Grip support and stability issues". I like that! That's why I prefer revolvers!

 

[Plastikosmd]

sorry, if I missed it in your post..
thank you

if 14 ran through without issue, keep shooting to see if u can duplicate his results. if not send it back for a check.

I cant say I have ever had that trouble with any of my sig's (553, 226mastershop, 226 and 220 germans, 210 and mosquito)

 

[9mmepiphany]

I (stupidly) assumed it was properly lubed before I went to the range. I did watch several videos on assembly, dis-assembly, and proper maintenance. But I thought it needed the lube of a glock. I was wrong.

Not a huge deal, a dry SIG will still run, it just won't run as well. If you lube it like a Glock, you'll destroy the frame in no time.

However, you really should have cleaned off the preservative grease before shooting it.

...came back with two clips full of .40 ammo. He fired both clips and it didn't fail once. He then said the gun's "fine" and "keep putting ammo though it."

With that experience, that is likely what I would have told you too

I wiped down the mags before I went to the range. I noticed there was some soot in the gun from when it came from the factory and they test fired it. I didn't want to all out clean the gun, but did wipe down a few parts, mags included

That isn't going to be enough. You'll need to completely disassemble the magazines, soak them, and clean out all the packing grease.

That is what they had us do when my last department issued us new SIGs...then they had us run a couple of hundred rounds through them to make sure everything was wearing in correctly.

You really can't judge a reliability of a gun until you've cleaned it completely before shooting

 

[specialkayme]

Fair enough.

It's been thoroughly cleaned now, after the last trip to the range, and adequately lubed.

I'll put another 100-200 rounds through it this weekend and see how it goes.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[fastbolt]

...
It's been thoroughly cleaned now, after the last trip to the range, and adequately lubed.

I'll put another 100-200 rounds through it this weekend and see how it goes.
...

You're probably still relatively new enough to the caliber for the .40 to probably seem a bit more snappy (not particularly hard-kicking, but having more muzzle whip). That can be distracting for a while, and distraction can make the mind wander "off topic" when it comes to following through on proper technique (anticipation of felt recoil does it often enough).

Also, I've seen shooters trying to get used to Traditional Double Action (DA/SA) guns sometimes get distracted by the length of the initial DA trigger stroke, and let their attention to their grip firmness and locked wrist wander off at the critical moment of recoil.

Think about pacing yourself for your next range session. Maybe only 100 rounds. Not enough to start to develop fatigue in your hand/forearm or an excessive flinch.

Also, did your earlier feeding stoppages seem to occur at the beginning, when you were "fresh" and not yet tired, or more toward the end of your session?

Keep that in mind, and if any more occur in your next session, try to track when it/they occur during the session.

Also, consider that SIG (like the other gun companies) probably get a lot of calls yours, and they have no way to really know the knowledge, experience and shooting skills of the callers. Many folks are probably thinking "gun problems", when the company reps are probably hearing "new shooter problems" ... and it's easy enough for them to recommend the customers continue to use and become familiar with their guns. Once that happens, it's not impossible for some of the previously reported "problems" to have resolved themselves.

When experienced firearms instructors and armoers get together to share experiences, it's not uncommon to hear the general opinion that upwards of 95% of all "problems" reported by shooters of semiauto pistols are somehow caused by the shooters themselves ... and about 2-3% of the problems are caused by ammo issues ... and maybe 1-2% of the problems are actually gun problems that require attention & correction.

Don't give up.

While there can be some occasional issue even with a SIG pistol that may require some attention by a factory tech under warranty, by & large they tend to be very good quality pistols that are about as reliable as any of the other major makes of service-type pistols that have been extensively tested by LE/Gov agencies over the years.

 

[BSA1]

Maybe the 40 caliber isn't for you.

A few months ago I had the opportunity to shoot a brand new P239 9mm. The factory rep pulled it out of the box, I loaded it and shot a magazine full with no problems. No cleaning or lubing before I shot it.

I was so impressed I purchased one in 9mm. I don't run it "wet". I lube it with Tetragun Grease and it runs flawlessly.

Is there someway you can get a 9mm P239 to shoot? I am not a 40 caliber fan but most of that is it doesn't do anything my 9mm's and 45's already do much better.

 

[specialkayme]

Think about pacing yourself for your next range session. Maybe only 100 rounds. Not enough to start to develop fatigue in your hand/forearm or an excessive flinch.

I'll keep that in mind. I was able to do ~175 rounds of .40 and another ~ 150 rounds of 9mm without feeling fatigue, stress, or flinch in the least. But I'll keep it reasonable none the less.

Also, did your earlier feeding stoppages seem to occur at the beginning, when you were "fresh" and not yet tired, or more toward the end of your session?

Evenly throughout. I noticed one right out of the gate, and had 2 noticeable ones near the end. The rest were fairly evenly spread throughout.

Keep that in mind, and if any more occur in your next session, try to track when it/they occur during the session.

Will do.

I've also read others who have had the same problem. They claim it's always bullet #2 or #3 out of the 7 round clip. They say if they only fill it up to 5 bullets, never has that problem. I'm going to try that too.

Also, consider that SIG (like the other gun companies) probably get a lot of calls yours, and they have no way to really know the knowledge, experience and shooting skills of the callers. Many folks are probably thinking "gun problems", when the company reps are probably hearing "new shooter problems" ...

I could see that . . . if they asked me one question about my shooting experience. The call literally went like this:

"Hi this is Brian, how can I help you" - Rep
"Hi Brian, I bought a new p239 in .40 S&W on Sunday the 5th. I got to shoot it last saturday for the first time. I put around 170 rounds in it, and out of those I had 7 failure to feeds, so I . . ." - Me
"[cuts me off] Was it new?" - Rep
" . . . oh, uh, yeah, I purchased it new from . . ." - Me
"[cuts me off] You need to break it in sir" - Rep
". . . oh, what? I never heard of anyone else having to break their Sig in and . . ." - Me
"[cuts me off] Sir you need to put at least 100 or 150 rounds through it to break it in. That, and 7 misses out of 150 rounds is perfectly acceptable." - Rep
"Excuse me? 7 missed rounds out of 150 is acceptable?" - Me
"Absolutely. That's perfectly normal. If it was 20-30%, I'd say there is an issue with the gun. But only 7 out of 150, that's perfectly normal." - Rep
(it went on for about 5 or 6 min)

If at any point he asked me if it was my first sig, my first gun, my first .40, how much I shoot, ANYTHING, I could get that. But instead I told him of an issue and I was immediately dismissed. I don't think that conversation had anything to do with him thinking I was a "newbie."

 

[specialkayme]

Maybe the 40 caliber isn't for you.

Why do you say that?

Is there someway you can get a 9mm P239 to shoot?

Not that I know of.

If I was settled on going back to a 9mm though, I don't think I'd go with the p239. It's a fairly large CCW gun. I'm fine with it (chose it after all) if I'm trading off for the larger caliber. But if the p239 doesn't work out (for whatever reason) I'll either go larger with a Kimber Ultra Carry, or smaller with a .380 like the Sig p238. If I went with a 9mm, it would probably be a pocket pistol.

 

[BSA1]

The recoil of the 40 is different than the 9mm. The 40 has sharper recoil in subcompact guns such as the P239. For me the 9mm is more comfortable and controlable.

 

[specialkayme]

True, the recoil on a 40 and a 9mm is different, but the recoil on a 9mm and a .45 would be different too, no?

 

[MCMXI]

I think that SIGs customer service response is BS!! I currently own six SIG pistols and they work every time, all the time. I have a P239 in 9mm and it has NEVER failed. I bought it new just like the other five and all of them have worked 100% out of the box with no break in required. I've put hundreds of rounds through a P220 Combat with a suppressor attached and the pistol is filthy but it runs great.

 

[1SOW]

I've carried a 239 in 9mm since 199x and haven't had a failure, but I always clean and lube new pistols before shooting them.
You mentioned two bullets that you shot, but you didn't mention if "both bullet weights" FTF'd. With a dry gun and/or maybe dirty mags, the 180 gr might be a little harder to feed--but I don't 'know' that. If the mag wasn't clean, the heavier weight bullets could be a factor.

After you shoot again, let us know how it goes. I would expect 100% if the pistol is clean and lubed--especially the slide rails. The rails are aluminum and 'seat' to the slide through use. Thumbs forward, two hand grip as high as possible on the grip it should run smoothly.

 

[GeoJammy]

At great risk of being pummeled by other SIG owners - I had similar issues with my P239/.40 in Germany years ago. I never could get it to work 100% of the time through a box of ammo (back when ammo wasn't ridiculously expensive!). No one I talked to could believe the problems I was having - mixed FTF's and FTF with fired case still in the ejection port. I considered getting a new recoil spring - but decided just to sell it since it was problematic and noticeably heavier (thicker slide) than my 9mm P239. So now my risky statement: I don't think the P239/.40 was ready for release when they started selling them - maybe the newer ones are better.

 

[Rock185]

specialkayme, no way that malfunction rate would be OK or "acceptable" to me. My P239s were in 9MM,but both functioned 100% from day one with any standard pressure or +P ammo I tried. That would include 115-147 grain ammo RN ball, flat point ball, hollow points, etc. I have been a SIG armorer for years maintaining co-workers SIGs and my own P220s, PP226s, P228s, P229s, P239s, etc. The one thing they all had in common is that they all worked reliably from day one with any appropriate 9MM, .40 S&W, .357 SIG and 45ACP factory ammo. No "break in" required. I'm not a .40 S&W fan myself, but in a SIG I would still expect it to function reliably. I have often wondered about smalll CCW/SD type pistols where it is suggested or implied that these pistols have to be gripped just so to function reliably. Do people really believe that in a potentially sudden and violent SD type situation that they will always grip their pistol just right??? Perhaps in a keyboard commando fantasy world, but in the real world, don't count on it.........
BTW, several years ago I called SIG about a possible issue and was put through to their "gunsmith." He treated me with an arrogant, dismissive attitude apparently similar to what you experienced......

 

[specialkayme]

I think that SIGs customer service response is BS!! I currently own six SIG pistols and they work every time, all the time. I have a P239 in 9mm and it has NEVER failed. I bought it new just like the other five and all of them have worked 100% out of the box with no break in required. I've put hundreds of rounds through a P220 Combat with a suppressor attached and the pistol is filthy but it runs great.

I was talking to a friend of mine who is now retired, but used to be the deputy chief of the local police force. At one point in time he was in charge of the academy. He told me sig's are their typical duty weapons. They'll give the new sig to the cadet, right out the box without any testing, and put 1,000-2,000 rounds through it over the course of the academy training. He said if any one of them behaved the way mine did (9 FTF's in ~190 rounds) the police force would have deemed it unfit and sent it back to the factory. He said he's seen hundreds, if not thousands of sigs be taken right out of the box and put on the range, and none of them required a "breaking in period."

He also gave me the name of a gunsmith in town that is a certified sig armorer. I told him I would at least give the customer service rep the benefit of the doubt and try his recommendation of putting a 100 more rounds through the gun. If I'm still having the same problems, I'll sit down and talk with the armorer and see if he suggests sending it back to sig or not.

I also took his advice and put some lithium grease on the rails, rather than just some gun oil, but keeping the other parts oiled. Hopefully that helps.

 

[specialkayme]

I've carried a 239 in 9mm since 199x and haven't had a failure, but I always clean and lube new pistols before shooting them.
You mentioned two bullets that you shot, but you didn't mention if "both bullet weights" FTF'd. With a dry gun and/or maybe dirty mags, the 180 gr might be a little harder to feed--but I don't 'know' that. If the mag wasn't clean, the heavier weight bullets could be a factor.

After you shoot again, let us know how it goes. I would expect 100% if the pistol is clean and lubed--especially the slide rails. The rails are aluminum and 'seat' to the slide through use. Thumbs forward, two hand grip as high as possible on the grip it should run smoothly.

I'll let you know how it turns out after I shoot it again. Hopefully it's cleared up. Otherwise, this guy's gonna be pissed!

I was very nice when I called cs the first time. Hey, things like this happen. That's why you take it to the range to put a few rounds through it before you carry it around. Granted, not really happy with the concept that I put essentially $75 in ammo through the gun to find out it isn't really working right, and cs suggested I put another $50 through it to find out, but whatever. The name of the game. If they offered to take it in and look it over, I'd be happy. The fact that they were dismissive and defensive, and basically told me my gun was fine, kinda pissed me off. But again, I'll give cs the benefit of the doubt and do what they suggested. But if that doesn't fix it, and I had to spend another $50 in ammo to confirm that there was still a problem AFTER I had already figured out that there was a problem, and cs refused to deal with it, I'm not going to be very easy going.

But that is an if. Who knows. Maybe another box of ammo, a good cleaning and some good lube does wonders for the gun.