Ruger Max-9 slide lock problems

[Mauser lover]

I have a new Max-9 and it locks open on a loaded mag periodically. I shot probably 150 rounds of four different kinds of ammo and got 4-5 of these failures.

This is not an abnormal problem. That's not what I'm asking about.

For those of you who have been graced with this problem, did your gun come back from Ruger actually fixed? And how do you know that the problem is fixed? How many rounds have you expended testing it.

Thanks!

 

[troy fairweather]

Could it be your hand pressing the slid lock and not noticing?

 

[Mike J]

Could it be your hand pressing the slid lock and not noticing?

This was the issue I had with the Max-9 I bought recently. I was pressing up on the slide stop with my thumb & didn't realize it.
There was a thread at rugerforum.com of someone that had this issue (he wasn't causing it). He said he sent the pistol in, Ruger changed a spring & it was back fixed in about a week. Mine turned out to be fine though. I was the problem.

 

[Mauser lover]

Could it be your hand pressing the slid lock and not noticing?

No. I thought it was me at first, but changed my grip to confirm that it wasn't me.

My question (for those who have sent the gun in) is as follows: was it really fixed?

 

[someguy2800]

Check that the nose of your bullets isn’t hitting the slide stop. I had the same issue with mine so I took it apart and took off like .020” off the slide stop lever.

 

[Mike J]

Mauser lover I sent you a link to the thread at rugerforum.com as I'm not really sure about the rules about linking to other forums. I hope it helps answer your questions. If I sent the gun in & got it back & it ran 100 rounds without a problem I would believe it was fixed. I am sure there are others that would set the round count higher.

 

[Mauser lover]

Check that the nose of your bullets isn’t hitting the slide stop. I had the same issue with mine so I took it apart and took off like .020” off the slide stop lever.

View attachment 1156627

I think we have a winner. I was able to make this happen. I'm going to send it back to Ruger with a note about this, and if they don't fix it, I will. It'd probably actually be easier for me to just do it myself, but I don't want to void any implied warranties or anything.

 

[Mauser lover]

Check that the nose of your bullets isn’t hitting the slide stop. I had the same issue with mine so I took it apart and took off like .020” off the slide stop lever.

View attachment 1156627

What ammo are you using? I'm guessing 147 grain something or other. If you don't mind, I'd like to steal your picture and send it with my gun!

 

[someguy2800]

What ammo are you using? I'm guessing 147 grain something or other. If you don't mind, I'd like to steal your picture and send it with my gun!

That is a hand loaded 147 gr HST. Just so you know that gun in that picture is a frankenstein. It’s a Max 9 lower with an LC9s upper, so that may raise a question.

 

[Blizzard]

No. I thought it was me at first, but changed my grip to confirm that it wasn't me.

My question (for those who have sent the gun in) is as follows: was it really fixed?

Good morning,
I had the exact same problem a couple years ago. I ended up sending the gun back to the factory.

Before sending it back, I took it out several times to verify that there was indeed a problem. I couldn’t make it through a magazine without the slide locking back with rounds still in the magazine.

At the Ruger factory, the receipt I got back with the gun said they only replaced a spring. I’m sorry I don’t remember which one. Probably one dealing with the slide lock.

Anyway, since I got the gun back I’ve taken it out only a few times, and have fired at least 100 rounds. There have been zero issues with it since. I was very critical when shooting it too. To make sure it works properly. And it sure does.

These are great guns. I really do love the trigger on it. I think it’s far superior to other striker fired triggers.

Good luck!

 

[Mauser lover]

Good morning,
I had the exact same problem a couple years ago. I ended up sending the gun back to the factory.

Before sending it back, I took it out several times to verify that there was indeed a problem. I couldn’t make it through a magazine without the slide locking back with rounds still in the magazine.

At the Ruger factory, the receipt I got back with the gun said they only replaced a spring. I’m sorry I don’t remember which one. Probably one dealing with the slide lock.

Anyway, since I got the gun back I’ve taken it out only a few times, and have fired at least 100 rounds. There have been zero issues with it since.

You have now fired 100 rounds of what? 115 grain ball, or did you try some more blunt hollow points?

 

[Mauser lover]

I got the gun back from Ruger. Here’s what they said.

“ITEMS REPLACED: N/A
ITEMS REPAIRED: N/A
AFTER INSPECTION, PISTOL WAS FUNCTION FIRED 50 ROUNDS OF BLACK HILLS 115GR FMJ, WITHOUT MALFUNCTION.

DEAR RUGER CUSTOMER:
PLEASE ACCEPT THIS COMPLEMENTARY RUGER CLEANING CLOTH AS OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF RUGER FIREARMS.

WITH WARM REGARDS,
RUGER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT”

I gave them a note that emphasized that I was using 147 grain hollow points, and included the excellent photo above and told them that the best way I could think of solving the problem was to shave off .015 or .020. Thanks for doing nothing, marvelous Ruger customer support. I had to drive 30 minutes out of my way to ship this, and I had to take time off of work to receive the shipment. It would have been better for me to fix it myself. I guess I should not have expected them to be actual gunsmiths. At least they paid for shipping and I got a silicone cloth.

 

[jstert]

I got the gun back from Ruger. Here’s what they said.

“ITEMS REPLACED: N/A
ITEMS REPAIRED: N/A
AFTER INSPECTION, PISTOL WAS FUNCTION FIRED 50 ROUNDS OF BLACK HILLS 115GR FMJ, WITHOUT MALFUNCTION.

DEAR RUGER CUSTOMER:
PLEASE ACCEPT THIS COMPLEMENTARY RUGER CLEANING CLOTH AS OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF RUGER FIREARMS.

WITH WARM REGARDS,
RUGER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT”

I gave them a note that emphasized that I was using 147 grain hollow points, and included the excellent photo above and told them that the best way I could think of solving the problem was to shave off .015 or .020. Thanks for doing nothing, marvelous Ruger customer support. I had to drive 30 minutes out of my way to ship this, and I had to take time off of work to receive the shipment. It would have been better for me to fix it myself. I guess I should not have expected them to be actual gunsmiths. At least they paid for shipping and I got a silicone cloth.

this non-solution reply is certainly not what i would expect from ruger. frankly, a cleaning cloth is an insult. not even an extra mag for your time and trouble? i’m embarrassed for ruger.

 

[drobs]

I got the gun back from Ruger. Here’s what they said.

“ITEMS REPLACED: N/A
ITEMS REPAIRED: N/A
AFTER INSPECTION, PISTOL WAS FUNCTION FIRED 50 ROUNDS OF BLACK HILLS 115GR FMJ, WITHOUT MALFUNCTION.

DEAR RUGER CUSTOMER:
PLEASE ACCEPT THIS COMPLEMENTARY RUGER CLEANING CLOTH AS OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF RUGER FIREARMS.

WITH WARM REGARDS,
RUGER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT”

I gave them a note that emphasized that I was using 147 grain hollow points, and included the excellent photo above and told them that the best way I could think of solving the problem was to shave off .015 or .020. Thanks for doing nothing, marvelous Ruger customer support. I had to drive 30 minutes out of my way to ship this, and I had to take time off of work to receive the shipment. It would have been better for me to fix it myself. I guess I should not have expected them to be actual gunsmiths. At least they paid for shipping and I got a silicone cloth.

Go shoot it again with 147gr ammo and see if the problem still exists. They may have done something but not notated it.

 

[someguy2800]

I got the gun back from Ruger. Here’s what they said.

“ITEMS REPLACED: N/A
ITEMS REPAIRED: N/A
AFTER INSPECTION, PISTOL WAS FUNCTION FIRED 50 ROUNDS OF BLACK HILLS 115GR FMJ, WITHOUT MALFUNCTION.

DEAR RUGER CUSTOMER:
PLEASE ACCEPT THIS COMPLEMENTARY RUGER CLEANING CLOTH AS OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF RUGER FIREARMS.

WITH WARM REGARDS,
RUGER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT”

I gave them a note that emphasized that I was using 147 grain hollow points, and included the excellent photo above and told them that the best way I could think of solving the problem was to shave off .015 or .020. Thanks for doing nothing, marvelous Ruger customer support. I had to drive 30 minutes out of my way to ship this, and I had to take time off of work to receive the shipment. It would have been better for me to fix it myself. I guess I should not have expected them to be actual gunsmiths. At least they paid for shipping and I got a silicone cloth.

that is all

 

[Rule3]

What ammo are you using? I'm guessing 147 grain something or other. If you don't mind, I'd like to steal your picture and send it with my gun!

But what ammo are YOU using? On what ammo did malfunction happen??
Brand? bullet??

 

[Mauser lover]

But what ammo are YOU using? On what ammo did malfunction happen??
Brand? bullet??

I thought for sure I had listed that in this thread. I told Ruger what I was using the following: Federal 147 grain HST and Federal 147 grain old school hollow points. Multiple failures with each. I think I even got a the same failure with Blazer 124 grain FJM, but I don't remember for sure.

 

[Mike J]

@Mauser lover I saw someone post on another forum that there are reports of bent recoil springs causing this issue also. I joined a Ruger Max-9 F-book group & going back through the posts saw a post about it. Might be something to look at if your other plan doesn't work.

 

[plainsdrifter]

There was a slide lock issue from the get go but I thought Ruger took care of it. Seems like Ruger sent you a message you need to clean your gun. lol

 

[Mauser lover]

It seems like everyone is getting the silicone cloth.

I think there was a spring issue with the slide lock, but that’s not causing this particular issue. That one was tying up the whole shebang.

 

[Mauser lover]

Oops. I took too much off the slide lock lever. But it doesn't lock open with ammo in the mag anymore!

 

[BlankRow]

Wow, what an insulting response from Ruger especially since they clearly ignored everything you sent/told them. I am not familiar with the Max-9 specifically, but have faced similar issues on other pistols. Here is what I would do, if you don't want to just sell it and move on.

You can weld or hard solder on the slide stop and try again, but I would ask Ruger for a new slide stop, slide stop spring, and recoil spring.

Try the new parts first and see how it goes. The slide stop assembly may be out of spec, or the recoil spring may be too light and the pistol is out of time. Ideally the round should raise to the top of the magazine before the slide stop can be engaged. So even if the bullet does contact it, the slide stop won't be activated.

 

[Mauser lover]

I wanted to close this out with an update.

After contacting Ruger and offering to purchase a new slide lock, they sent me one for free, with the spring.

I have successfully run 39 rounds (three mags) of the same HPs through it without hiccup. I am fairly confident that it is actually fixed, since I could not get through one magazine without failure previously.

So, credit to whom credit is due: Ruger has taken care of me, sort of. They didn't diagnose or fix the problem when I sent it in, but once I identified it and requested the proper part, they sent it to me without charge.

I'll try to update if there are any problems that arise later.

 

[Mike J]

I am glad the issue is resolved. It really stinks to buy something, anything, new & have it not work the way it is supposed to.

 

[someguy2800]

I am glad the issue is resolved. It really stinks to buy something, anything, new & have it not work the way it is supposed to.

It would work fine with 95% of the ammo on the market, but some types of long wide hollow points like an HST will hit the slide stop. An oversight by ruger, but a pretty easy fix.