Ruger LC9 Failure to Fire – FTF

Ruger LC9 Failure to Fire. At first I thought there was a problem with the Ruger LC9. After the first 175 rounds I started getting Failures to fire. Then the second trip to the range I shot 250 rounds before I started to get FTF. I hadn’t notice that the firing pin channel had become plugged. So I changed ammo and still had a FTF. This led me to think that it was the pistol. Then the plug must have cleared and fallen out because the LC9 started to fire normally again. I shot some Sellier & Bellot brand ammunition and the firing pin got plugged momentarily. It took me three trips to the range to figure it out. Metal from the primers of certain brands of ammunition was getting in to the firing pin channel. The melted metal caused light firing pin strikes. You could see on some cases that the force of the firing pin was distributed over a wide area and softened by the metal plug. Soft strikes, light strikes caused by certain brands of ammunition used in the Ruger LC9. In this case it was Remington Golden Saber +P and Sellier & Bellot ammunition.

On the third trip to the range I first shot Winchester White Box FMJ 115 grain, Federal Classic FMJ 115 grain, Federal Classic JHP 115 grain, Wolf Military Classic 115 grain, Herter 115 grain all with no problems. After each magazine I checked the firing pin channel to find it clean. Then I fired a magazine of Remington Golden Saber +P JHP. The first round fired, the second round was FTF. Checked the firing pin channel to find metal from the primer in the hole. Finished of the magazine of Golden Saber by re firing and shot all rounds. Then shot a magazine of Sellier & Bellot FMJ 124 grain. Had the same failure to fire problem. I collected the spent casings to examine the primers and kept the gun with the firing pin channel plugged to take pictures.

Firing Pin Channel Plugged at Tip of Arrow
Firing Pin Channel Plugged at Tip of Arrow

Some of the cases show a double strike but the only problem ammunition is the Remington Golden Saber +P and the Sellier & Bellot FMJ. Both of these are 124 grain.

You can see the Remington Golden Saber 124 grain JHP +P primers (silver cases) are melted. The Sellier & Bellot 124 grain FMJ (brass cases) also have melted primers with some primer material missing.

Primer Metal Pluged Firing Pin Channel
Two plugs of melted primer metal removed from firing pin channel

All of the “good” ammunition was 115 grain. The Herter on the left side looks like the primers have a double strike. Next are the Wolf Classic which have a good strike. Then the Winchester White Box has a double strike. On the right are Federal Classic JHP with a good strike but one case looks like just a slight double strike. Not shown are Federal Classic FMJ cases that have a nice looking clean strike.

 

Herters, Wolf Classic, Federal Classic FMJ, Federal Classic JHP
Herters, Wolf Classic, Federal Classic FMJ, Federal Classic JHP
Remington Golden Saber - Sellier Bellot Primers Melted
Remington Golden Saber - Sellier Bellot Primers Melted