Smith M&P 9mm failure to extract

[razorback2003]

Is it common for M&P Pro 9mm's to have to be sent back to Springfield, Mass TWICE to fix failure to extract problems? I sent the gun off, got it back, shot 100 rounds with a few empties thrown at the shooter, then another 100 rounds all empties thrown at the shooter, and one case stuck on the extractor and not thrown out of the gun.

I am pretty frustrated because the M&P fits my hand so well and when it works it shoots well. Makes me wish I just picked up a clean Smith 686 357 with no lock hole. Those were quality.

 

[ATLDave]

My S&W M&P 9 (non-pro) ejected brass straight back at me for the first few hundred rounds, but now is tossing them gently to the right. (In fact, I can collect about 60% of my brass by leaving a bag with a ~12"x18" opening in the right spot, just off my right foot.) I never had a FTE, though. People said that M&P's often threw brass backward until they were broken in, so I just shot it until it quit doing it.

I wonder if S&W tried to "tune" your extractor to change the direction of ejection only to make it less reliable?

 

[razorback2003]

S&W supposedly put in a new extractor. They got the gun back to me within two weeks and did not charge me anything for the shipping.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

You may take a look at your ejector. It may be damaged or not functioning properly.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm sure what they did was just change the extractor. My understanding is that it is a tolerance issue.

The M&P9 uses the same extractor as the M&P40...and it usually works fine. However, if you extractor is located a bit on the wide side of their specs, it isn't getting a good grip on the rim. Folks who shoot a lot of rounds practicing for competition were the first to notice it...likely as the extractor wore in and got looser.

The factory fix is 1) hope an extractor change will solve the problem or 2) swap out your slide.

Folks who don't want to go through that, who would rather have a gun they can count on in competition will get an afermarket extractor, optimized for the 9mm, installed. Apex Tactical makes one, but it is spendy and needs to be fitted in the shop...they don't advertise it much as most folks don't need it

 

[mgmorden]

Apex Tactical makes one, but it is spendy and needs to be fitted in the shop...they don't advertise it much as most folks don't need it

Actually Apex advertises the FRE (failure resistant extractor) as being a drop-in part if being used on a 9mm. If being used on a .40S&W gun then it has to be fitted. Naturally I know that sometimes what's "advertised" as drop-in isn't always so, but most of their parts seem to live up to that claim.

 

[fastbolt]

Out of curiosity, what ammunition was involved? Not one of the 'budget brand', lower power 115gr loads, was it? (I mention this since I know of an instance where a major brand's low-cost/budget contract load was once found to have a case rim tolerance issue observed by the factory when they were trying to identify a feeding problem in their previous SW99 that was reported by an agency several years ago. Sometimes it can be an ammunition issue which causes what's at first suspected to be a 'gun problem'. )

FWIW, I learned in an update M&P armorer class that S&W apparently received a small number of extractors that had been over-molded on the leading edge of the extractor hook, but they identified and corrected that issue. (It was discovered when investigating an issue reported by an agency evaluating some M&P 9's a couple years ago.)

The extractor also received a minor revision within the last year or so, involving a sharper hook and a little more negative rake. The same extractor is still used across the whole model/caliber line.

I've not seen any extraction issues across a number of 9, .40 & .45 models owned and used by different folks, and I wouldn't expect it to be a 'widespread' issue. I'd give them another chance to correct it under their lifetime warranty, especially since the shipping is covered by them for shipping both ways.

Be sure to articulate in your accompanying letter that it's been returned twice for an extractor-related issue (so they can also examine the barrel for any spec issue). Also identify the ammunition that's been involved.

Just my thoughts.

 

[arthury]

OP,
Can u check these?

1. Are your ammo factory or hand-loaded?
   
2. Are you touching the slide with any of your fingers; thus, slowing down the slide in its cycling?
3. Try shooting with your strong hand and see if the problem still persist.
4. Is your gun very fouled up? When is the last time you cleaned it?

I agree with fastbolt, the external extractor produced by S&W is probably the best in the industry. I have a 9 and 45 and have never had any problems with extraction.

 

[allaroundhunter]

My M&P has never had those problems, and I have not heard of any others that have either. So yes, I would say that it is unusual.

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[razorback2003]

I was using factory loaded Federal 115 grain FMJ this time. Before the gun was sent to the factory the first time, I used Winchester 115 grain FMJ.

The gun has had maybe 200 rounds since it was last cleaned. I would think that the gun would be able to handle a couple hundred rounds before needing to be cleaned. I was using a two handed grip when the malfunctions happened.

I was surprised there was a problem because I had a Sigma full sized 9mm over ten years ago and never had a problem with the Sigma.

 

[Sam1911]

It certainly isn't unusual. I see a lot of these guns in the local competition circuit and know more than a few "high-mileage" shooters who've had M&Ps back for extraction problems multiple times. (Most of these were M&P Pros, if it matters.)

Ironically, they like the guns so much that most of them bought another (one of my pals is on his THIRD) after abandoning the platform in frustration.

S&W does seem to try and get it fixed, though. And they may have it completely solved with the fixes 9mmepiphany mentioned, I'm not sure. But they surely do know what you're talking about if you call the CS line and tell them, "My M&P doesn't extract..."

 

[razorback2003]

Sam,

What auto pistols have you seen in competition that are more reliable than the M&P? I bought the M&P Pro partly for fun and partly for protection. I am using a snub 38 for protection now because the M&P has proven unreliable.

 

[Sam1911]

Well, that's a tricky question. I can't say that I've seen any gun type that's used commonly which never fails.

Glocks probably still hold the reliability crown, though stuff happens.

I've never seen a broken or jammed xD in competition, but I only see a few of them (including mine).

 

[9mmepiphany]

Surprisingly the gun I see regularly at out local matches which runs like a top are a pair of Kahr CW9s...we used to have a gal who was shooting a Kahr K9 (stainless frame) who we don't see anymore, but she never had a stoppage either.

The gun with the most stoppages is the 1911, more in ESP, than in CDP. I'm pretty sure it is a combo of the 9mm chambering and 10 rounds mags (.45ACP)

 

[GRAPE-DRANK]

I have an M&P pro. The regular size one. I bought it cause I wanted a lighter trigger, night sights, and I didn't want the slide safety. I don't care about what the "pro" series is all about or competition or whatever. I just wanted a 9mm I could shoot the you know what out of it. So far it has fit the bill. No problems.

Doesn't show any real wear considering how hot I have gotten it.

 

[razorback2003]

I have the five inch barrel pro with the fiber optic front sight.

 

[Dr_B]

I shoot an M&P 9 in monthly steel challenge matches. It has failed to extract a round from the chamber twice in the past six months. Both times it happened during a match. Those are the only two malfunctions the gun has had in about 1000 rounds. Both times it was with 115gr plated bullets I'd reloaded myself. I suspect bullet seating depth may have played a role. But now I am wondering (after reading one of the posts above) if the extractor just doesn't get a good grip on the casing. I have seen Glocks with extractors made for .40S&W rounds not get a good grip on 9mm rounds.