PF9 first time out range report.....questions

[TennJed]

Well I took out my new PF9 this morning and WOW I really like it and think it went very well. (note I did not perform a Fluff & Buff). I shot a total of 196 rounds with 1 Stovepipe, 2 FTE, and 2 FTF.

Here is the Breakdown:

49 Federal (0 issues)
49 Remington UMC (0 Issues)
49 Independence (1 Stovepipe on last round in mag)
49 Winchester White Box (2 FTE, 2 FTF)

The 4 issues with the WWB ammo is what I have some questions about. I started out with one mag each of the 4 types, no problems. I then shot the rest o the Federal, and Independence with the one stovepipe on the last round of a mag, and I feel this was probably my error.

On the WWB Failure to Extract, the spent casing was somewhat in the barrel. Had to point the barrel upward and the casing fell out. On the Failure to feed, the round shot proceeding the malfunction, came back and hit me in the forehead.

The Malfunctions came after about 140-150 rounds fired and I was feeling the recoil by then. Could these types of issues be a result of limp wristing? Although my last 35 rounds were UMCs without a problem. I am a revolver guy and do not have a lot of experience with autos, so forgive my ignorance (I had a Ruger P95 9mm and have shot my father in laws Colt and Kimber 1911s in the past)

Overall I really like they way this gun handled everything and I assume the malfunctions were either limpwristing or ammo (or both). But hoping someone here can shed some light on this for me.

Also of note, the recoil was not really as bad as I was anticipating. I have a 2.25" Ruger SP101 357 and it was not a much worse than that. I did put a Randall Jr. grip sleeve on after 4 mags and it did make a difference. I will say I shot a mag of Federals one handed and it was all I could do to finish the 7 rounds. IT HURT!

Accuracy seemed good. I did not shoot paper targets (I wanted to really check out the function and will get the 250 breakin out first) but shooting a 12" spinning target at 7-15 yards seemed to do pretty good. hit it more often than not.

Last thing (sorry if I am long winded) I also shot my new to me S&W 5906 9mm for the first time this morning and another WOW. That is one heck of a gun. 75 rounds of WWB and Blazers and shoots dead on with no issues.

Thanks for any input and again the PF9 seems to be a great little gun!
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[Caliper_Mi]

Congrats on the new gun! Interesting, my first two pistols were the same - P95 then PF9. Shooting the P95 after the PF9 WILL make it feel like a .22!

If you continue to get FTE's, check the tightness of the extractor spring screw. It's the one on the side of the slide. Mine got a bit loose after a few range sessions and causes FTE's. Kel Tec uses some sort of yellow thread locker on it. I put loc-tite on it and tightened it back down (don't kill it, small screws will also strip easily) and the FTE's are gone.

You are right about the recoil. Lots of people make it out to be more than it really is. I find mine fun to shoot.

Keep practicing and you should have no problem hitting that steel target every time! The PF9 being so small is sensitive to technique issues. Type "handgun correction target" into google images and use one of those targets. It will tell you how to correct common grip and form errors based on where your shot fall. Very useful tool.

 

[Mad Magyar]

Overall I really like they way this gun handled everything and I assume the malfunctions were either limpwristing or ammo (or both).

I wouldn't be so quick on that. Mfgr's plant those ideas blaming the shooter for most of the maladies, like Jerry Ahern, former CEO of Detonics, who blamed FTF's on ammo, limp-wristing, and poor maintenance. Never the pistol. I'm familiar with all the ammo you listed except the IND., all good stuff. Anyway, I'm sure you have a good pistol. However, if it continues, after all the tips you'll receive on the forum; I'd send it back...

 

[MachIVshooter]

Those few malfunctions aren't something I'd be concerned about in the first 200 rounds, and it is very possible to limp wrist these featherweights.

Clean it, lightly lube it and see how the next range session goes with an emphasis on really managing the recoil.

Last thing (sorry if I am long winded) I also shot my new to me S&W 5906 9mm for the first time this morning and another WOW. That is one heck of a gun. 75 rounds of WWB and Blazers and shoots dead on with no issues.

One of the finest combat/duty pistols ever made, IMO. Reliable, accurate and built like tanks. You can't get enough powder in the 9mm case to hurt a 5906. Trust me, I've tried (not specifically to hurt the gun, but to max out the cartridge in a gun I trusted to protect me from it). I don't ever recall a single failure of any kind in my 5906.

 

[gofastman]

I hat a PF9 that would not reliably eat WWB no matter what I did, it was 100% with everything else IIRC.
WWB 9mm ammo has a smaller groove for the extractor to grab on to, that, and the particular shape of the PF9 extractor is where the problem lies IMO
I decided to sell it.

 

[markboss]

Some PF9's do not like WWB...
Mine will sometimes fail to eject the round...I simply use other brands of ammo, and have never had a problem since..The WWB is about .010 longer than Remington, or Blazer...

 

[SwampWolf]

I agree with Mad Magyar's assessment.And I'd shoot a couple of hundred or so rounds through the pistol to "iron out the wrinkles" before I'd blame the ammunition. I'm not big on relying on any pistol being used for self-defense that's picky about its food.