XR9-S Light Strikes :(

I just got back from the range with my brand new XR9-S. I'm sorry to have to report that I was plagued with light strikes.

I had approximately eight failures to fire out of approximately 60-70 rounds of my reloads. (Yes, I fired and will fire reloads like I do through all my pistols). These are 124 grain Montana Gold bullets in front of 4.7 grains of Unique with CCI primers loaded into range pick up and cleaned brass. Picture of 4 of the rounds the FTF's:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/alienbogey/XR9-SLightStrikes2...

Note: I was curious how the crimp on my reloads would hold up, but I had no problems nor any indications of the bullet backing out. Also, these are loaded on a progressive with a powder checker die and are routinely digested without incident by various other 9mm pistols.

Next, I had eleven failures to fire out of a box of 50 rounds of DRT 9mm factory ammunition. I've not heard of this brand before, I won a few boxes at a pistol shoot, and I don't know the primers, but they were 85 grain hollowpoint bullets loaded in Starline brass (from the headstamp). A picture of two of the FTF's:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/alienbogey/XR9-SLightStrikes1...

I had planned to shoot some of my DoubleTap +P carry loads, but the stuff is expensive and after all the failures to fire I figured I'd try to find out what may be the problem before expending that stuff at $1+ per shot.

After taking some pictures, all of the light strike rounds, both reloads and factory, were fed through a Beretta 92 and fired first time, every time. Also, my son and I shot the rest of the factory ammunition as well as approximately 150 rounds of my reloads through his Beretta and my S&W 1911 without zero failures to fire. I can only (reluctantly) conclude that it's the XR9's fault rather than the ammunition.

I consulted the manual and under 'Troubleshooting' it states that after 2000-5000 rounds a worn mainspring could cause light strikes, but that can hardly be the case here with the pistol's first trip to the range.

Attachments:

XR9-S Light Strikes 2.jpg, 138 KB
XR9-S Light Strikes 1.jpg, 172 KB

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by alienbogey on February 10, 2012 at 11:29am

I haven't yet received the new, lower sight yet, but I expect that will bring my groups to center.

In my experience it is not uncommon for two people, shooting the same pistol with the same loads, to have somewhat different impact points even though both describe using the same sight picture (bullseye hold, 6:00 hold, etc). Perhaps the sight pictures are still slightly different, or the trigger pulls are slightly different, or the vibration of the hammer drop and recoil impulse are affected differently by the grips and muscle/bone structure, or some of all of the above. I believe these differing impact points with the same pistol tend to be greater with not-as-skilled shooters because they will have bigger personal idiosyncrasies, but I've seen it on a (much) smaller scale even with experts.

If you're shooting your Boberg 'centered as they should' as you say then great, you have no fiddling to do with drifting the sight for windage or asking Arne for taller or shorter front sights. If your friend the range master groups low and right with the same pistol then that's an example of what I've described above. Now, with practice, your group size may shrink to match his.

Not having seen how you shoot I certainly can't recommend that you change anything, but since you ask I shoot what is generally the currently accepted tactical style as taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center: isosceles, slight crouch/lean forward, arms locked out, firm overlapping grip with thumbs parallel to the slide, bullseye hold.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by thegunenthusiast on February 10, 2012 at 12:06pm

Thanks for your answer.

I do my best to follow "tactical style as taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center" - but only for rapid fire. For long range slow fire I do a trick that makes my accuracy (much) better: I have a bit more free stance, including elbows slightly bent, much looser grip by both hands or left hand just supporting - this last as loose as I need to diminish tremble of my hands to lowest level. I picked this trick up from one competition shooter, and after some practice this improved my accuracy significantly - this will work for slow fire only.

I guess you are right: Due to a few heavy things changing their positions inside pistol to the moment of bullet leaving barrel, the gun will aim differently from the moment of hammer drop. Strength of grip will affect that change, hence the difference in group centers. That was my guess too, that's why I asked about your shooting style. Now my curiosity is fully satisfied.

alienbogey said:

I haven't yet received the new, lower sight yet, but I expect that will bring my groups to center.

In my experience it is not uncommon for two people, shooting the same pistol with the same loads, to have somewhat different impact points even though both describe using the same sight picture (bullseye hold, 6:00 hold, etc). Perhaps the sight pictures are still slightly different, or the trigger pulls are slightly different, or the vibration of the hammer drop and recoil impulse are affected differently by the grips and muscle/bone structure, or some of all of the above. I believe these differing impact points with the same pistol tend to be greater with not-as-skilled shooters because they will have bigger personal idiosyncrasies, but I've seen it on a (much) smaller scale even with experts.

If you're shooting your Boberg 'centered as they should' as you say then great, you have no fiddling to do with drifting the sight for windage or asking Arne for taller or shorter front sights. If your friend the range master groups low and right with the same pistol then that's an example of what I've described above. Now, with practice, your group size may shrink to match his.

Not having seen how you shoot I certainly can't recommend that you change anything, but since you ask I shoot what is generally the currently accepted tactical style as taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center: isosceles, slight crouch/lean forward, arms locked out, firm overlapping grip with thumbs parallel to the slide, bullseye hold.