Problems with P99

D

David Berkowitz

New member
I recently purchased a new P99, two tone finish, in .40 S&W.
I have to honestly say that the accuracy and ergonomics are even better than posted on these boards. Also, it is the most comfortable 40 S&W I have shot.
However, mechanically, this one leaves a lot to be desired, but I am hopping it is only because it needs to be broken in.
I have only fired 150 rounds through it, 100 Federal American Eagle in 180 grain and 50 165 grain PMC. All full metal jacket.
Out of 150 rounds, I had one round angled up where it would not feed, 3 failures of the slide to go into battery, and 4 occasions where the slide locked back with rounds still in the magazine.
At first, I thought I had a bad magazine, but it was a Walther mag made by MecGar, so I know that is top quality.
There were no failures to extract or eject.
I know you can't tell for certain what may be wrong without seeing the gun, but any suggestions or thoughts on what to do or how to fix will be appreciated.
 
Have you taken the gun apart and cleaned it yet?

Many guns straight out of the box won't have enough lube on the rails and contact points.
Your's may just need to be cleanedand lubed.
 
100 Federal American Eagle in 180 grain

Even though I've put about 500 rds. of this ammo thru my P99, and many thousands thru Glock pistols of various models in .40, I've read elsewhere that the very flat shape of this bullet causes problems feeding at times in some guns.

Give the Winchester "white box" ball, #Q4238, a try in your P99. It works great for me in mine as do the same component bullet in my reloads.

When I initially fired my P99 in .40, I had two failures to feed using the Federal 180gr. ball ammo, #AE40FP. I have had no further problems with any ammo in 2000+ rounds thru my P99.

As far as your slide locking back, I don't think it has anything to do with the ammo. Are you positive that your not hitting the slide lock with your thumb?

You may see some improvement after you have more rounds thru your gun.

You may want to contact Earl's Repair Service and ask Earl for his advice.

Whatever you do, don't listed to the negative remarks here or on other boards about inherent problems with the P99. I trust my .40 enough to depend upon it as my daily carry gun. My 9mmx19 is every bit as reliable.
 
JMC:
Given the choice of only one P99....which would you recommend: The .40cal or the 9mmP ? I am looking very seriously at buying one. It's use will be mainly recreational target shooting, with possible use in IPSC/USPSA Production class, and (maybe) IDPA.
I currently shoot a Glock 35 in IPSC/USPSA Limited 10.
Mike
 
Mike,

I like the .40S&W P99 for carry/personal protection. I don't feel underguned with 10+1 rounds for this.
I like the added magazine capacity of the 9mmx19 (16+1) P99.
Later this week I will acquire my second 9mmx19 P99 (used) but will continue to carry my .40.
I use neither for competition but I prefer the 9mmx19 for a general range/fun gun.
If cost of ammo is a consideration for you, go with the 9mmx19. There is a lot more inexpensive ammo for it than the .40S&W.
It you reload as I do, then cost is not a significant factor.
I stand in front of my Dillon 650 for a few minutes and pump out 500 or 600 rounds of 9mm ammo and head out to the range. :D
Either caliber will serve you very well and they are both great guns.
 
As far as your slide locking back, I don't think it has anything to do with the ammo. Are you positive that your not hitting the slide lock with your thumb?
Click to expand...

I am not aware of hitting the slide lock. I guess anything is possible, but I would imagine that if I were hitting it, I would be pushing down, not up, causing the slide to close on an empty gun.
I thought, too, that I might be limp wristing the gun. I don't have this problem with 1911's, and these are notoriuous for that.
Oh well, I'll just have to keep working it.
 
Jim (jmc):
Thanks for your thoughts on the P99 .40cal vs the P99 9mmP. I think I'll go with the 9mmP model, as a P99 in .40cal is not going to replace my Glock 35 in IPSC/USPSA competition. Given that the only competition that I'm likely to use a P99 for is IDPA, then the 9mm makes more sense there too, as it would in IPSC Production class. I do reload, and don't mind churning out both 9mmP and .40cal by the bushel...
Any comments on the mag release...? Do you find it awkward?
Mike
 
Mike,

I think I'll go with the 9mmP model
Click to expand...

Or, one of each! :D

Any comments on the mag release...? Do you find it awkward?
Click to expand...

Yes. If there is one thing that bothers me about the P99, it's the mag release. I have large hands and have found that it is easier for me to use my shooting hand index finger to release the magazine rather than a traditional thumb move. Not that I can't, it's just that the index finger seems to work better for me.
I practice this move each time I fire my P99's, especially my .40 which, like I previously said, is my daily carry gun.
I have found it not to be a disadvantage in executing speed reloads.

I guess anything is possible, but I would imagine that if I were hitting it, I would be pushing down, not up, causing the slide to close on an empty gun.
Click to expand...

True but, if your are right handed for example, and your thumb is riding high on the frame, it could push the slide lock up when the gun goes into full recoil and you may not realize this.
 
I gave the P99 a very thorough cleaning and lube.
The failures to feed are gone. I tested with PMC 165 gr, Blazer 180gr., and Federal 180 gr. and all feed perfectly. I did not have an opportunity to pick up Winchester White Box, so I used what I had.
Other problems arose somewhere near round #120. I experienced 3 more occaisons where the slide locked open with rounds still in the magazine and 4 times where the slide did not go fully into battery.
At this point, I think the slide locking open is probably my fault. I am right handed and I think my left thumb might have been hitting the slide lock during recoil. When I tried to concentrate on where my thumb was, the problem went away and when I was concentrating on other things, it came back. I am going to have to work on that.
The failures of the slide to go into battery has me puzzled, especially when the trigger would allow the striker to hit the firing pin to move but the round was too far away for the pin to make contact. I would then pull the trigger in the DA mode and it would fire. I am uncertain if this is a dirt situation, since it worked perfectly for 120 rounds and then something got gummed up.
The other thought I had was dirt combined with a weak recoil spring not pushing the slide all the way home and then the movement of trigger, striker, and my hand could cause the slide to move just that little bit necessary to seat fully.
I may have to send it back, but I'm going to try working with it some more. Since some of the problem cleared up since last week, maybe it just needs to be broken in more. I'll continue to clean and test it weekly until I have about 20 boxes through it.
Do you think 1,000 rounds is a sufficent test?
The instruction book claims that there is no warranty, yet if you have problems, send it back under warranty to their address at Springfield, MA. Confusing to say the least.
Is Earl's an authorized warranty center? I would prefer to send it to Walther, but I don't want S&W working on it. I would rather pay Earl's than get it for free from Smith. My first preference, if needed, remains Walther.
 
David, Earl is the person to send it to. i believe that he is able to do warrenty work on the walthers. it would suprise me if he weren't. please let us know what happens.
 
David,
The out of the box P99 seems to have a rough feel to it. It changes significantly after a few rounds have been put through it. I had a few problems with my P99 in 40 initially but all went away after putting some rounds through it. Im guessing yours is the same. Whats your neighbors dogs advice?;) :D
 
David,

Another possibility is that the slide lock spring has been damaged. This was a problem on the first P99 .40's. If the slide lock problem persists, send it to Earl and he will put a new spring in for you.

P99
 
David -

My P99 did the same thing as yours re: havingt to pull the trigger a second time in DA to fire a round. It took me 3 trips to the range firing about 300-350 rounds before this went away. I've been back to the range with it 3 times since and probably put another 400 rounds through it and the problem hasn't occured again. I've chalked it up to break in, though I'm not sure what the problem was.

I suspect it will go away.

Mike
 
Dr. Heckel,
I haven't check with the neighbors dog, but I did consult mine.
When asked how smooth the action is, all she said was rough.

I'm not going to to do anything with this P99 uintill I put more rounds through it. Just clean and shoot. If the problem doesn't go away, then I'll sned it to Earl's.
I should have 1,000 through it with in a couple of weeks. I already have 350, so another 650 shouldn't take too long.
I'll let you know.
 
posted by David Berkowitz
Dr. Heckel,
I haven't check with the neighbors dog, but I did consult mine.
When asked how smooth the action is, all she said was rough.
Click to expand...

Its good to see someone with a sense of humor-:D
 
OK, not trying to beat this to death, but I think I'm getting somewhere.
Cleaned and lubed the P99 and ran another 150 rounds through it. No failures to feed.
I think the slide spring is going to need to be replaced as the slide did lock open with rounds in the magazine.
Here is the bizarre part. I had no problem with the slide not going into battery until just over 100 rounds. I was shooting on my lunch break so I had to run these through pretty fast. The gun was pretty hot and the slide would not go fully into battery. Is it possible that that Walther manufacturers to such tight tolerances that the heat could could swell the metal enough to keep from going into battery?
I waited about 5 mins and started shooting again. Except for the slide, no ffurther problem.
 
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