Barrel hood wear/chipping Options

[M&PXJ]

Got an M&Pc9 I've shot about 1000 rounds through. The last couple hundred rounds (including about 25 speer gold dots, which were the guns first hollowpoints I've fired) I've started to notice some wear/chipping on the barrel hood from rubbing against the slide. The bottom of the slide (where the barrel slides under) shows similar marks as the barrel does. What do you guys think about this? Normal, or something to be concerned about?

Also, if I field strip my gun and remove the spring the barrel will move a little bit in all directions, including forward and backwards. Should it do this, or should it be a pretty tight fit?

Thanks.

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0121.jpg)

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0139.jpg)

This post has been edited by M&PXJ: Feb 9 2010, 04:17 AM

[scubahound]

Thats what mine looks like... to me it looks like even normal wear so I havent worried about it. I have about 2K rounds through mine. I do add a drop of oil to the underside of the side where that part of the barrel meets it.

[wr moore]

Actually, the barrel hood is the projection at the other end of the chamber area of the barrel. Now then, what you're seeing is simply finish wear on the surfaces of the slide/barrel that rub against each other during the normal cycling of the pistol. The beveled edge on the front of the chamber is there on purpose, it's not the result of wear.

The front face of the chamber locks against the front edge of the ejection port when the slide assembly is in battery (fully forward). The barrel hood rests against the breech face-you'll note wear on the finish on both of those areas also. A certain amount of play may be present, it's a service pistol, not an Olympic match pistol.

Follow the lubrication instructions in the owners manual.

This post has been edited by wr moore: Feb 10 2010, 09:22 AM

[maraf]

The hood will slightly wear off its black finish but not the beveled edge - not mine at least. there is some play between barrel and slide, they call it "reliability", so its a normal fit for a reliable gun

[1911ES]

Good photos and information. Guess we all worry a little when we see wear marks on internal parts ...... we'll just have to let a gun be a gun ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/coffee.gif)

[mp9werks]

Normal, or something to be concerned about?

Also, if I field strip my gun and remove the spring the barrel will move a little bit in all directions, including forward and backwards. Should it do this, or should it be a pretty tight fit?

If it didn't have some room to move it wouldn't / couldn't function. In fact, it functions best when the spring is installed. Make sure you clean up all those fine pieces of metal debris when cleaning so they don't act as little scouring pads on the surface of the gun.

This post has been edited by mp9werks: Feb 10 2010, 11:16 AM

[tstrenuous10]

WOW! How does your barrel have 1000 rounds through it and have no wear on the top of the barrel? Wish mine looked that pretty.

[M&PXJ]

Thanks for all the help everyone.

WOW! How does your barrel have 1000 rounds through it and have no wear on the top of the barrel? Wish mine looked that pretty.

There is some. The finish is starting to come off, it just didn't show up very well in those pictures...

This post has been edited by M&PXJ: Feb 10 2010, 07:53 PM

[M&PXJ]

Now then, what you're seeing is simply finish wear on the surfaces of the slide/barrel that rub against each other during the normal cycling of the pistol. The beveled edge on the front of the chamber is there on purpose, it's not the result of wear.

It definitely is a little more then "finish" wear. The surface is uneven and rigid if you look at it or slide your finger across. Some areas are scored slightly lower then others. There's "chips" taken off the surface. It's not horrible, but it is more then just the black finish.

This post has been edited by M&PXJ: Feb 10 2010, 07:51 PM

[bigpoppa]

I've had my M&P9 for about 18months now and my barrel looks about the same as yours. I haven't had one iota of trouble from this firearm that is why I bought an M&P357Sig for my daily carry. I would just keep the inside of the slide lubed and keep shooting.

[JeffWard]

Lube, reload, shoot, repeat...

Looks a little rougher than normal, but as a carry gun, it might be collecting grit in that area, between the barrel and the slide. In a non-life-threatening shooting situation, clear and clean a carry gun before shooting....

I get a lot of sand in my carry guns, since I live walking distance from the Gulf of Mexico. Really NICE clean white, powdery, salty, sand! Great for tourists, and HELL on a gun's finish. I make sure to blow out the internals of my carry guns on a regular basis. I'd guess they'd accumulate a teaspoon of sand a year if left uncleaned!!!

Jeff

[wr moore]

It definitely is a little more then "finish" wear. The surface is uneven and rigid if you look at it or slide your finger across. Some areas are scored slightly lower then others. There's "chips" taken off the surface. It's not horrible, but it is more then just the black finish.

OK, if you're referring to the arc like markings on the slanted portion of the forward chamber area, those are milling cutter marks made during machining of that area. It's NOT due to wear. That portion of the chamber area must be relieved to provide clearance to allow the slide to pass over the chamber as it moves to the rear during cycling. Could they have specified a better finish in the area? Yeah, but it doesn't affect function and would result in increased costs/price. It does appear a bit rougher than most of others I've seen.

Slight finish wear happens in the chamber/slide areas of virtually all Browning type self loading pistols and is entirely normal. In fact, 1911 type pistols will exhibit far more than 'slight finish wear' on the equivilent part of the chamber area. If you're referring to the bevel at the front of the chamber area at the transition from chamber to barrel tube, I've never really examined those areas. You might have a rough edge on the lower edge of the front of the ejection port, that's causing the problem.

If you feel that you have a problem, call S&W customer service and return it (it's free!) for professional evaluation by those who made it.

This post has been edited by wr moore: Feb 11 2010, 05:23 AM

[M&PXJ]

OK, if you're referring to the arc like markings on the slanted portion of the forward chamber area, those are milling cutter marks made during machining of that area. It's NOT due to wear. That portion of the chamber area must be relieved to provide clearance to allow the slide to pass over the chamber as it moves to the rear during cycling. Could they have specified a better finish in the area? Yeah, but it doesn't affect function and would result in increased costs/price. It does appear a bit rougher than most of others I've seen.

Slight finish wear happens in the chamber/slide areas of virtually all Browning type self loading pistols and is entirely normal. In fact, 1911 type pistols will exhibit far more than 'slight finish wear' on the equivilent part of the chamber area. If you're referring to the bevel at the front of the chamber area at the transition from chamber to barrel tube, I've never really examined those areas. You might have a rough edge on the lower edge of the front of the ejection port, that's causing the problem.

If you feel that you have a problem, call S&W customer service and return it (it's free!) for professional evaluation by those who made it.

Not trying to beat a dead horse, but it seems like there is some confusion on which part of the barrel I'm talking about. Here's a few more pics. Excuse my crappy photobucket editing...

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0126.jpg)

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0142.jpg)

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0138-1.jpg)

This post has been edited by M&PXJ: Feb 11 2010, 10:36 AM

[wr moore]

OK, now that we're on the same page. I'm unable to access any samples to examine, so: With the unloaded weapon stripped, invert the slide and carefully examine the forward, lower (closest to you) edge of the ejection port for signs that it may be striking that area on the barrel. Please note that the angled clearance cut at the front of the chamber area typically rides against the inside top of the slide in normal operation.

If you seen indications that the area you outlined is striking the forward, lower edge of the ejection port, I'd give S&W customer service-or better yet, the repair shop-a call and discuss the issue with them. As I noted, the 1911 typically decorates the the front half of the chamber area with drag marks. I don't see that issue with the M&P, but again, I haven't spent any time looking at the area of your concern.

As suggested to another poster, if there's any abrasive dust that could accumulate in that area during carry, it may be causing the issue.

[M&PXJ]

OK, now that we're on the same page. I'm unable to access any samples to examine, so: With the unloaded weapon stripped, invert the slide and carefully examine the forward, lower (closest to you) edge of the ejection port for signs that it may be striking that area on the barrel. Please note that the angled clearance cut at the front of the chamber area typically rides against the inside top of the slide in normal operation.

If you seen indications that the area you outlined is striking the forward, lower edge of the ejection port, I'd give S&W customer service-or better yet, the repair shop-a call and discuss the issue with them. As I noted, the 1911 typically decorates the the front half of the chamber area with drag marks. I don't see that issue with the M&P, but again, I haven't spent any time looking at the area of your concern.

As suggested to another poster, if there's any abrasive dust that could accumulate in that area during carry, it may be causing the issue.

It's not from dust from carrying because I haven't carried it yet. Still waiting on a holster. I also field strip and clean after EVERY use. It is rubbing on the slide. It's was hard to take a picture of, but I took a couple. Doesn't appear to be very bad in the pictures, but it's a little worse in person. It's not as bad as the barrel but there is small amounts of metal gone, definitely is more then just the finish.

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0279.jpg)

(IMG:http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c164/offroadxj/DSCN0287.jpg)

This post has been edited by M&PXJ: Feb 12 2010, 03:09 AM

[scubahound]

Yep thats what mine looks like. Call SW and see what they say.

[Slice]

Yep thats what mine looks like. Call SW and see what they say.

[sig2009]

The hood will slightly wear off its black finish but not the beveled edge - not mine at least. there is some play between barrel and slide, they call it "reliability", so its a normal fit for a reliable gun

They may call it "reliability" but I call it inaccuracy when you shoot it. This may well be the most inaccurate gun I own because of this feature.

[SHV]

M&PXJ,

Any updates? My 9c is starting to look like yours....

[Skyjump136]

That looks normal. My 40FS wears more on top where the chamber is slanted downward. My 40C is worn more like your pictures show (on the forward edge), but more wear on top as well. That happens naturally as the slide and the barrel mate to each other. I'd be more worried if there wasn't any wear in that area...