MP 9c FTF - firing pin related?

Vandal9c · July 30th, 2012, 09:03 PM

New M&P9C with APEX USB, DCAEK, and RAM installed. First range outing. Fired 147gr Federal AE and 147gr HST.

Shooting 147gr HST I had two failures to feed from two different magazines. Each time the round would hang up just under the firing pin which is extended in the pic. Bumping the slide would not send it into battery, it was NOT going forward.

Could this be related to the USB?

jasonuscg · July 30th, 2012, 09:29 PM

I would remove the striker, inspect the striker channel for debris, make sure both are clean & dry (do not lube either). Then do a few function checks (dry fire).

rledwards · July 31st, 2012, 03:20 PM

The firing pin should not be protruding like that. If the round did chamber and the slide closed with the firing pin stuck out, the round could fire without the trigger being pulled. If it continued to stick out and still chamber the cartridges, you could have a full-auto runaway.
You need to determine what is causing the firing pin to stick in the forward position.

Vandal9c · July 31st, 2012, 03:37 PM

Maybe I put the thing together wrong. Here's what I'm seeing
during dry cycle:

Cycle the slide to cock the striker
Press the trigger
Pull the slide to the rear (optionally lock it open). Striker is protruding and is under spring pressure (can push it in and it pops out).
Ease the slide forward. Striker remains under spring pressure until the breachface is about 1/4" away from the rear of the barrel.
Firing pin is retracted as the slide closes

rledwards · July 31st, 2012, 03:50 PM

It definitely sounds like you have the striker assembled incorrectly.

I just tried to duplicate your problem with my M&P 9mm. The only way I could get it to do something similar was to either leave out the small spring from the striker assy, or to assemble the striker assy with the small spring after the plastic guide then the striker spring. See the schematic on the Brownells web site here http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=859/schematicsdetail/MP-Semi-Auto--
for the correct order of the parts.

Vandal9c · July 31st, 2012, 08:04 PM

Don't know how I could mess up the striker assembly, I don't think I even removed it for the USB install.

All I have to compare with is my Glocks which I am very familiar with. On those th firing pin can be pressed back and gives way easily.

Here's the 9c striker assembly. I also put the original striker block in but the firing pin still protrudes and is under spring pressure until the pistol is almost back in battery. And really, what else is going to retract it until it contacts the sear?

Vandal9c · July 31st, 2012, 09:37 PM

The striker definitely stays under spring pressure until the back of the striker hits the sear. It does not retract in time to get out of the way of the case rim sliding up.

I put all the factory parts back in, and can reproduce the problem by dry firing, inserting a mag with a dummy round (metal, not plastic), retracting the slide and just slowly letting the slide forward. The case will hang up on the protruding striker every time. A hard bang on the back of the slide will send it home, or just depressing the protruding striker with a punch or screwdriver will also.

I do know that slow cycling does not equate with reality, and that the velocity of the slide should serve as well as my hard bump to the rear in forcing the case to depress the striker, but with this much protruding I think that's a bit much to ask, and I'd say the two malfunctions also bear witness. Not sure what to make of the fact that both were with HST, while the FMJ did not have trouble.

Maybe this striker is simply too long (out of spec.) The tip measures 0.128 in length.

Vandal9c · July 31st, 2012, 09:59 PM

Found some other posts on this subject, and checked the firing pin channel... no liner!

jasonuscg · August 1st, 2012, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandal9c

Found some other posts on this subject, and checked the firing pin channel... no liner!

Striker Guide, the M&P needs one...

Smith & Wesson Striker Spring Guide S&W M&P M&P Compact 9mm Luger 357

Vandal9c · August 1st, 2012, 06:44 AM

For some reason I'm having a real problem with the new vocabulary.

Regardless, it would have been nice for S&W to have included that $1 part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonuscg

Striker Guide, the M&P needs one...

Smith & Wesson Striker Spring Guide S&W M&P M&P Compact 9mm Luger 357

jasonuscg · August 1st, 2012, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandal9c

Regardless, it would have been nice for S&W to have included that $1 part.

Who installed the Apex Tactical parts?

Vandal9c · August 1st, 2012, 07:51 AM

I dropped them in. No issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonuscg

Who installed the Apex Tactical parts?

jasonuscg · August 1st, 2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandal9c

I dropped them in. No issues.

Was this M&P even fired before putting in aftermarket parts?

Vandal9c · August 1st, 2012, 08:21 AM

It was only dry fired prior to installation of the Apex parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonuscg

Was this M&P even fired before putting in aftermarket parts?

jasonuscg · August 1st, 2012, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandal9c

It was only dry fired prior to installation of the Apex parts.

Vandal9c · August 4th, 2012, 12:20 PM

Installed the striker spring guide/liner... part #4 here.. No more striker protruding from the breechface, and it still launches a pencil in the dry fire test.

Makes me wonder if the reports of broken strikers could be traced to this -- eventually I bet the case would knock the end off the protruding striker.

jasonuscg · August 4th, 2012, 03:21 PM

I'm glad it was an easy fix.

July 30th, 2012, 09:03 PM	#1
Vandal9c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: CA Posts: 9	MP 9c FTF - firing pin related? New M&P9C with APEX USB, DCAEK, and RAM installed. First range outing. Fired 147gr Federal AE and 147gr HST. Shooting 147gr HST I had two failures to feed from two different magazines. Each time the round would hang up just under the firing pin which is extended in the pic. Bumping the slide would not send it into battery, it was NOT going forward. Could this be related to the USB?

July 31st, 2012, 03:50 PM	#5
rledwards Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 76	It definitely sounds like you have the striker assembled incorrectly. I just tried to duplicate your problem with my M&P 9mm. The only way I could get it to do something similar was to either leave out the small spring from the striker assy, or to assemble the striker assy with the small spring after the plastic guide then the striker spring. See the schematic on the Brownells web site here http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=859/schematicsdetail/MP-Semi-Auto-- for the correct order of the parts. Last edited by rledwards; July 31st, 2012 at 07:58 PM.

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July 30th, 2012, 09:29 PM	#2
jasonuscg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Salish Sea Posts: 3,344	I would remove the striker, inspect the striker channel for debris, make sure both are clean & dry (do not lube either). Then do a few function checks (dry fire).

July 31st, 2012, 03:20 PM	#3
rledwards Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 76	The firing pin should not be protruding like that. If the round did chamber and the slide closed with the firing pin stuck out, the round could fire without the trigger being pulled. If it continued to stick out and still chamber the cartridges, you could have a full-auto runaway. You need to determine what is causing the firing pin to stick in the forward position.

July 31st, 2012, 03:37 PM	#4
Vandal9c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: CA Posts: 9	Maybe I put the thing together wrong. Here's what I'm seeing during dry cycle: Cycle the slide to cock the striker Press the trigger Pull the slide to the rear (optionally lock it open). Striker is protruding and is under spring pressure (can push it in and it pops out). Ease the slide forward. Striker remains under spring pressure until the breachface is about 1/4" away from the rear of the barrel. Firing pin is retracted as the slide closes

July 31st, 2012, 08:04 PM	#6
Vandal9c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: CA Posts: 9	Don't know how I could mess up the striker assembly, I don't think I even removed it for the USB install. All I have to compare with is my Glocks which I am very familiar with. On those th firing pin can be pressed back and gives way easily. Here's the 9c striker assembly. I also put the original striker block in but the firing pin still protrudes and is under spring pressure until the pistol is almost back in battery. And really, what else is going to retract it until it contacts the sear?

July 31st, 2012, 09:37 PM	#7
Vandal9c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: CA Posts: 9	The striker definitely stays under spring pressure until the back of the striker hits the sear. It does not retract in time to get out of the way of the case rim sliding up. I put all the factory parts back in, and can reproduce the problem by dry firing, inserting a mag with a dummy round (metal, not plastic), retracting the slide and just slowly letting the slide forward. The case will hang up on the protruding striker every time. A hard bang on the back of the slide will send it home, or just depressing the protruding striker with a punch or screwdriver will also. I do know that slow cycling does not equate with reality, and that the velocity of the slide should serve as well as my hard bump to the rear in forcing the case to depress the striker, but with this much protruding I think that's a bit much to ask, and I'd say the two malfunctions also bear witness. Not sure what to make of the fact that both were with HST, while the FMJ did not have trouble. Maybe this striker is simply too long (out of spec.) The tip measures 0.128 in length.

July 31st, 2012, 09:59 PM	#8
Vandal9c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: CA Posts: 9	Found some other posts on this subject, and checked the firing pin channel... no liner!

August 4th, 2012, 12:20 PM	#16
Vandal9c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: CA Posts: 9	Installed the striker spring guide/liner... part #4 here.. No more striker protruding from the breechface, and it still launches a pencil in the dry fire test. Makes me wonder if the reports of broken strikers could be traced to this -- eventually I bet the case would knock the end off the protruding striker.

August 4th, 2012, 03:21 PM	#17
jasonuscg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Salish Sea Posts: 3,344	I'm glad it was an easy fix.