SA EMP Ejector Issue

[hotrail]

I have seen some discussion of pinned vs. glued ejectors on the Springfield EMP 9mm. I think am experiencing the same problem with my EMP. I purchased mine new less than a year ago and the ejector is not pinned.

While at the range Monday, the slide started binding badly toward the rear part of its travel. The gun would not function. It did not “lock up” with the slide back, but the slide was very sticky. I unloaded it, took it home and field stripped it.

Upon inspection, I observed that the top of the ejector appears to be rubbing on the slide. I noticed there was a visible gap between the bottom of the ejector and the frame. I tapped the top of the ejector gently with a rubber hammer and that gap closed up. Then I re-assembled the pistol and the slide functioned pretty smoothly. Put 130 rounds through it today and it functioned perfectly in all respects.

My question is, do I need to send this in to Springfield, or is there some fix for the ejector that I can do? This pistol has less than 1,000 rounds through it. I am concerned this problem is going to recur.

Here is a pic of the ejector before I tapped it back into the frame.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Fizz]

Yes, your ejector has come unglued.

Had the same issue with mine. Push on the ejector, you can probably 'snap' it back into place. However, it won't stay there. It didn't affect firing noticeably, since the ejector just rides in the channel in the slide it can't move too far out. I didn't notice it on mine until I tried to put the slide back on and things weren't quite lining up properly and it was difficult to install the slide when they did. Once the slide was on I didn't notice anything.

Check the top part of the ejector and see if the finish wore in that area, mine did.

If you send it to Springfield, they'll drill the ejector/frame and pin it. This is a much better/confidence inspiring job than trying to remedy this yourself. Let SA's machinist drill it/pin it and pay shipping both ways.

No sense in doing this yourself for any reason unless you don't have another pistol for the repair duration. In such a case, immediately go buy another gun so you can have one on hand during the 1-2 weeks SA will need to have your pistol.

EDIT: Should have fully read your post; you already pushed the ejector and saw the ejector/slide rub. Yeap, you're identical case to mine.

[redhemi]

Red loctite. It will work but sending it back to Springfield to get it pinned would be better. They should do everything for free. Call them It happened to mine and I sent it back and got it back in just under 3 weeks.

[hotrail]

Thanks guys, I have contacted SA.
I would try the red Loctite but given that there are no threads -- and no torque to hold the threaded parts together -- I doubt that would be a permanent fix. Certainly if SA used anything similar to Loctite in the initial assembly, it did not last very long.

[Soginator]

SA customer service is pretty awesome about getting your gun back to you quickly. One time they contacted me about the gun literally the day it arrived at their shop.

Thanks for this post btw. EMP is my every day carry and I've never even heard of this problem. I'm gonna field strip mine when I get home.

[SkyHawk]

How in the H are they going to sell those guns with a glued on ejector?!! Why do they make customers send them back to get pinned, when they should have been pinned from the start?

[JTROKS]

Most gun cleaning solvents will degrade Red Loctite. Use JB Weld or Devcon.
Sending it to SA to have it pinned is better.

[MotoFahren]

How in the H are they going to sell those guns with a glued on ejector?!! Why do they make customers send them back to get pinned, when they should have been pinned from the start?

If they change their manufacturing technique it will fall off roster, then no one will be able to buy the little jam-o-matic and the world will be safer for it.

[jmaglipay]

Had the same issue with my emp. I sent it to SA had it back in 1.5 weeks. They pinned the ejector and polished the feed ramp. By far my emp is the most finicky pistol that I have. It will jam if not cleaned every 1k rounds.

[Dellinger]

I had mine start to come undone. Took about 1k-1500 rounds to notice it. I sent mine in and they pinned it. Not an issue since. My favorite gun I've ever owned.

[SonofWWIIDI]

I guess I'm lucky. I bought an EMP many years ago, and have had none of the problems that seem to come up. My 2 biggest problems were, rear sight set screw came loose, and a broken grip screw. Both times springfield sent me replacement parts and it continued to function properly.

I've never had an issue with the extractor, it eats all types of ammo, and is more accurate than I am.

If I could afford it (and was on the stupid roster) I'd buy the new EMP4.



BTW, good luck OP.

[Dellinger]

^^^ same here on the EMP 4.^^^
Most people don't start threads on how fantastic a product is. Usually it's because they are pissed. SA has made enough of these to expand the line which says sales aren't going down.

I did have an extractor issue with mine and just cought the ejector when I was sending it back for work. The space between the frame on mine was playing card thick. Their cs is great and quick.

Mine was the only one with an issue out of 4 other people I know with them. Good gun...

[SkyHawk]

If they change their manufacturing technique it will fall off roster, then no one will be able to buy the little jam-o-matic and the world will be safer for it.

Ok granted, but WTH were they thinking in the first place, before gun #1 ever rolled off the assembly line or before a roster was any concern at all? Who thought this was a good idea?

Good to hear they are willing to correct the mistake for owners, but dang...

[JTROKS]

Ok granted, but WTH were they thinking in the first place, before gun #1 ever rolled off the assembly line or before a roster was any concern at all? Who thought this was a good idea?

Good to hear they are willing to correct the mistake for owners, but dang...

Someone in Springfield probably glued their ejector and it worked just fine so they thought it will work for as a manufacturing shortcut.

[hotrail]

So SA customer service is as great as everyone says, they sent an RMA number and they cover the shipping cost. Great.

I have to say I am pretty much in love with this EMP. It shoots well, has a great trigger, and is surprisingly accurate for a 3" barrel. It comes with tritium night sights, and it looks great. Oh yeah, and it feels like that familiar 1911 in your hand. It seldom, if ever, has malfunctioned -- except for this ejector issue.

I know CG is chock full of newbs who worship Glock, but I would rely on my EMP over my G34 any day. The G34 is the only pistol I own that is prone to FTE/FTF if I don't grip it "correctly". Oh and some wise @$$ will say oh, you are just limp-wristing it. And I would reply I've got 40+ years of shooting experience with a wide variety of pistols, and the Glock is the only pistol that I can manage to limp-wrist. So I get at least one FTE/FTF for every 100 rounds with the full size, 5" barrel Glock. But I have absolutely zero problem hanging onto a little 3" EMP that fires the same round, and getting my rounds right on target, over and over again.

If I could get my hands on the EMP 4 I would buy the "lightweight champion" and the carry version both.