LC9s Guide Rod Defect & Soft Recall

[Doc Hawk]

AO Sword Firearms is telling all their customers that bought a Ruger LC9s via SSE that Ruger has issued a replacement guide rod to address a problem with the firearm. The original guide rod head is a flat, circular plate. It can hang up off-center in the slide's guide rod hole, preventing a return to battery.

This condition is fairly rare under operating conditions when the slide is returned to battery via the recoil spring, but if the slide is jostled or disturbed (such as holstering and re-drawing), it may come out of battery and not return. That's a scary thought for a purpose-designed carry gun.

The new guide rod has a forcing cone, which successfully guides the rod back to center in the guide rod hole in the slide.



If you contact Ruger directly and give them your info, they will put you on the list to receive your replacement guide rod. From what I understand, Ruger is rushing to produce the redesigned part. They are not, curiously, issuing a recall, but are just responding to requests for fixes. I am disappointed by that approach, because I think the holster-draw scenario (which I have replicated on the range easily and repeatedly) is pretty easy to picture in a life-or-death situation.

I hope this helps folks with the new LC9s.

[jims98z28]

I heard about this when I brought home my LC9s 2 weeks ago. I contacted Ruger and they sent out the guide rod right away. Turn around was fast, about 4 days.

[3006Garand]

Thanks for the info. I'll call Ruger as soon as I get mine out of jail.

[DCF]

Thanks OP. My LC9S has the flat plate but never gave me any problems. Nonetheless I will contact Ruger for the updated guide rod.

[jimsguns]

Thanks for giving the heads-up to everyone.

[cnj]

I contacted Ruger, and was told that since I am in California, they would not send the new guide rod to me directly, but were willing to send to the FFL from which I purchased the gun. Hokey CS in my opinion.

[jims98z28]

I contacted Ruger, and was told that since I am in California, they would not send the new guide rod to me directly, but were willing to send to the FFL from which I purchased the gun. Hokey CS in my opinion.

Are you serious? They sent me one no problem

[slayer61]

I contacted Ruger, and was told that since I am in California, they would not send the new guide rod to me directly, but were willing to send to the FFL from which I purchased the gun. Hokey CS in my opinion.

Ya... That sounds like BS. They sent me mine over a month ago while mine was still in jail. I looked at the guide rod (knowing there was an issue) before being impounded and notified Ruger right away. After verifying that I was in lawful possession of a handgun AND an American citizen, they sent me the guide rod. Perhaps things have changed in the last month or two. shrugs shoulders

[SkyHawk]

I just got off the phone with Ruger, 2 minutes ago. They are sending the guide rod to me on Monday, to my house in CA, no questions asked. They never even flinched when I gave them my address. I am not sure how people get sideways with Ruger CS, they have always been awesome for me.

Thanks for the tip OP !!

[Oceanbob]

I minute ago. Nice people. I used the 928 number, option 1.

Got the serial number, name and address and she said out on Monday.

Great service.

[Doc Hawk]

Got mine in the mail earlier this week. 100 rounds through it yesterday - flawless! Noticeably smoother operation, and goes fully into battery every time.

The most noticeable change is really in operation of the manual safety. With the original part, because it hung just a few mm short of full charge, the slot in the slide didn't exactly line up with the manual safety lever. So, it was hard or impossible to engage the safety without pushing the slide forward. Now, the safety works with just the right amount of effort.

[cnj]

Ya... That sounds like BS. They sent me mine over a month ago while mine was still in jail. I looked at the guide rod (knowing there was an issue) before being impounded and notified Ruger right away. After verifying that I was in lawful possession of a handgun AND an American citizen, they sent me the guide rod. Perhaps things have changed in the last month or two. shrugs shoulders

Don't know why they elected to deny me. As soon as I said the word "California" when giving my shipping address, the girl balked immediately. I DID get the new guide rod through my FFL, though.

[SIGman Freud]

This is exactly why I wait a while before buying a subcompact semi-auto (or any gun for that matter) after it first comes out. There's always the bugs that a manufacturer has to work out in the first few runs of the product.

[SkyHawk]

Update to this thread and a bump reminder to LC9S owners who didn't know about the updated guide rod.

I just had to request another guide rod for my wife's new LC9S obtained via PPT - Ruger is sending it to us tomorrow, and again there were no questions asked at all when my CA address was given to them. So 2 for 2 here - great customer service from Ruger.

[Nor*Cal]

I purchased a new LC9s via SSE in November at it already had the new cone shaped guide rod.