Help! My Pc Carbine won't stop stovepiping

[Dryfire Daydreamer]

Hi folks,

I have a Ruger PC 9 that I bought used and really enjoy shooting. However, over the course of five hundred rounds or so, it started stove piping. Now it does it every five to ten shots, maybe less. There has been a lot written about this problem, but the explanations of the cause have been varied and so far not worked out. Here are the problem/solutions I have found:

1. The stock extractor needs to be replaced with a beefier one, I got the M-Carbo (this seems to work for a short while, solving the problem, but maybe it was wishful thinking)

2. The jiggly Glock mag well needs better fitting - solution found online was to put a piece of velcro between it and the stock (this seems to work for a short while, solving the problem, but maybe it was wishful thinking).

3. Plastic glock mags are messed up by the metal extractor - the mags should be frequently replaced or the glock adapter should be switched for the original Ruger one to allow for the Ruger steel mags (further research revealed many people complaining that the Ruger mags are causing stove piping, too, so I haven?t switched anything out, my used Glock mags don?t look messed up).

4. Other posts have suggested screws aren?t tight enough somewhere, though I have retightened them multiple times since.

Nobody that I have read or talked seems to have an answer that clearly solves the problem and I am about to give it to any armorer or gunsmith and hope they can ?Hail Mary? this thing into the Promised Land and make it work. At this point, no armorer I have talked to about it knew how to deal with this particular problem, though, which has me concerned.

I have scoured the internet for answers on this, and have a collection of youtube videos and posting that suggested the solutions above, but they haven?t worked.

Anyone have similar problems? What solutions did you find?

[Dnele928]

It may be weak ammo. Ammo that was made for handguns may not be powerful enough to cycle the action robustly enough for a PC rifle.

[DaveInOroValley]

Agree with Dnelel928. I would try various different loads to test. Especially various bullet weights. As well a really thorough clean and lubrication would also be good.

[Dryfire Daydreamer]

It's happening with many types: Blazer Brass, Magtech, LAX factory, Federal, Norma - to name a few off the top of my head. I've been buying small batches, but plan to get some large amounts before July's tax hike.

As for cleaning, I like doing it and clean it often. I thought maybe I was cleaning it too much.

[IronsightsRifleman]

I struggled with a similar situation on my M1 Carbine. After trying many things (ammo, mags, mag catch, feed ramp, etc), last month I rebuilt the bolt to install a new ejector and ejector spring. This finally solved my problem.
Good luck.

[FNGGlock]

Is it a PC9 or PCC?

[IronsightsRifleman]

Other advice.

[sigstroker]

Gunbroker?

Just kidding. I did that with mine before I ever shot it, but I'm not in kali and I lucked out with my first 9mm AR build. It worked.

[NATEWA]

Other advice.

Helpful video. Hopefully that does the trick. OP, please let us know what solves the problem.

I have one - never any issues with it but I don?t shoot it much.

[DB>]

Obviously he's limp wristing... J/K

I would suggest taking the gun down to get to the bolt, and the interior of the receiver. Clean thoroughly, and I'd suggest some Slip 2000 EWL, that will help things move as originally intended if not even better - you should be able to wipe some of it on, clean it up to where it's "dry", and still see the parts move more smoothly. With a little luck you'll find that if the bolt cycles smoothly, it should more forcefully eject the spent case. probably also make sure the extractor is working properly so the spent casing is being pulled out (check that the chamber isn't binding as well) so it's got momentum when hitting the ejector.

Keep in mind that a clean, properly lubed mechanism will cycle properly and agressively to eject as designed.

[Dan_Eastvale]

All kinds of "information" out there..
PCC9, PC9, PC9 Carbine, PCC...... Glock, Ruger mags...

"I could not get my PC9 to quit stovepipeing with the Ruger mag. No problems with the Glock mag. I've read about a couple of people who kept accidentally hitting the mag release."

"Recently, I bought a new Ruger PC9, as one of the selling points is that uses Glock mags."

https://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=2332778&tl=-ARCHIVED-THREAD-Glock-Mags-that-DON-T-work-in-Ruger-PC9-Carbine

[FNGGlock]

If you read his entire post your question was essentially answered when he mention the use of Glock magazines. I'm sure you already know that a Ruger pc9 cannot take Glock magazines and only uses the Ruger p series magazine

Fair enough, I wasn't going to read a very long post in detail before knowing if it is the PC9 or more common PCC.


OP, I think the issue has been covered in detail. Likely start by cleaning the bolt, receiver, chamber and extractor properly first if it. More than likely that will resolve the issue.

Next step will be to swap the extractor. A lot of people had success with M-Carbo extractors, especially with high usage PCCs, as the stock ones are a but soft.

[TheGood]

Lots of problems with cycling on pistols and rifles that operate on blow-back pressure only is due to sticking of the case in the chamber. If the chamber isn't smooth or it's dirty the case won't eject easily, and the bolt won't run back far enough to push the next round in with the proper speed to make it jump up into the chamber.


Try thoroughly cleaning the barrel and chamber. use an oversized cleaning brush to clean the chamber, don't run it down the barrel. Once it's scrubbed, use a bore snake or plenty of patches on a rod to swab out the chamber. If that does not solve the problem, you might need to have the chamber polished.

[walmart_ar15]

stovepipe is a form of FTE. Typically caused by the ejecting case not clearing the ejection port before the bolt closes. Most time the new round is partially in the chamber.

It can be caused by slowed bolt velocity, not enough bolt rear travel, short ejector, or loose extractor. Since it is not a handgun, so grip is not a concern. So basically, it is a timing issue.

Since the gun was working fine before, and it just start to have problem after 500 rounds or so, could mean a few things:

• Dirty chamber - cause empty case sticking...
• loose or damaged ejector
• loose extractor - the spring tension on the extractor is weaken.
• "sticky" bolt - bolt is no longer moving smoothly. It could be many things, damaged rail, bent rod, etc

Good luck OP.

[IDontDoQuests]

I hate to be THAT guy, but Ruger has been going downhill in quality control for a while. I bought one of their 10/22s two years ago, and it's been nothing but feeding and extracting issues regardless of all I've sank into it. I really wanted a Ruger 9mm carbine, but due to my experiences with Rugers recent quality control issues, I've been reluctant. Long story short, start looking elsewhere for some other 9mm carbine if you can't get it to work. All the advice on this thread, especially from walmart_ar15 is quality info.