Problem with my P99: opinions?

[Indy_Guy_77]

I have posted this on another board that I frequent a little more often, so some of you may have seen this before.

This is concerning my 9mm Walther P99 "Stress Action", even though mine predates this designation. Initially, I thought it was a problem with the striker, gunsmith agreed, replaced the striker assy. (for free...)

Here is a description of my problems:

With the striker cocked, the "cocked indicator" / back of the striker sticks out of the back plate about 1/16" of an inch; which is normal.

When I SLOWLY pull the trigger from the cocked-striker position, when the trigger reaches it's break, the striker releases. However, it only travels forward about 1/32 of an inch. It's still sticking out of the back of the back plate about 1/32". It is at this point that I can feel the trigger return spring trying to do its job to return the trigger to its double action resting point. It's like the decocker has been pressed.

But when I give it a sharp/fast trigger pull in single action, the striker releases cleanly.

So, instead of me having a striker problem...perhaps its a trigger-associated problem?

Any thoughts and ideas on this would be appreciated.

Thank you.

-J-

 

[fattsgalore]

Are you having any failure to fire. You know instead of click boom you go click, damn.
If no I wouldn't worry about it till it messed with function.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Yes, there is failure to fire.

Upon the slow trigger pull in "single action mode", it essentially de-cocks and returns to double action.

 

[fastbolt]

Did you buy it new when Walther America was formed within S&W and became the official importer for Walther P99's? Walther only offers a 1-year warranty, but it might not hurt to call and ask to speak to someone about the problem.

Based upon your description, if it was one of our SW99's exhibiting that symptom I'd replace the trigger bar and/or the sear housing block in an attempt to resolve the problem. The sear housing block is an expensive part to purchase (if not covered under warranty), and I'd see if the company would consider examining and repairing the P99 under warranty (even if it's past the 1-year period) if it was an obvious parts failure not apparently caused by normal wear & tear.

I once had an occasional light-strike problem with a pistol when the trigger was pressed in DA mode ... (traditional double action, what Walther now calls their AS/Anti-Stress trigger). Turned out to be a tolerance problem between the trigger bar guide and the trigger bar. The trigger bar was occasionally being released prematurely in the DA mode trigger stroke, reducing the force of the striker.

FWIW, Walther revised the production of their frames in regard to thickness at some point. One day I noticed that the new sear housing blocks were a bit thinner at the bottom that those which originally came with our pistols. Also, the small plastic 'tube' in the bottom of the newer assemblies no longer fit inside the older frames. When I called and asked about it I was told that Walther had made the frames a little thicker in that area, necessitating a change in the sear housing block assembly dimensions. In order to replace an older sear housing block assembly with a new one (I was replacing a broken ejector, which is part of the block assembly) I had to replace the tube in the new block with the tube from the older block. Disassembly of the sear housing block isn't something which should be done by someone not trained and familiar with the 99 series ... or you risk having additional problems.

Just my thoughts. While I've been a LE armorer for the P99/SW99 series for several years I'm certainly not a gunsmith, nor do I work for the factory.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Long story short.... Gunsmith at Gander Mountain spoke with a S&W rep, then a Walther rep. They want the gun back at the mother ship to determine what's wrong.

Evidently it's quite a perplexing problem for everyone!

-J-

 

[TonyT]

I have both the S&W 99 and Walter 99QA. Both guns have been super reliable and surprisingly accurate considering their short barrel lengths.