My wife finally got to the range this afternoon to try out her new-in-box m&p 45. 

In about 70 shots, she gets about 3 FTFs. I didn't try it but 3 seems a lot for a modern polymer gun. She was using factory AE 45ACP FMJs. Gun was cleaned and lubed before first use.

Is this normal?  Should one expect this during the break-in period?  Should she watch out for limp-wristing the gun?  Is there something wrong with her m&p45?

My wife finally got to the range this afternoon to try out her new-in-box m&p 45. 

In about 70 shots, she gets about 3 FTFs. I didn't try it but 3 seems a lot for a modern polymer gun. She was using factory AE 45ACP FMJs.

Is this normal?  Should one expect this during the break-in period?  Should she watch out for limp-wristing the gun?

do a google search and see
certain guns (such as HK P30L) have stiffer recoil springs that make the gun susceptible to limp-wristing FTEs (stovepipes) in the first couple of hundred rounds
some people suggest shooting NATO spec loads or leaving the slide locked open for a night or two

oh, wait, you said FTF
different story
did you check the primers to see how the strike was?
what happens when you do the "pen test" with the firing pin?

Sorry, failure to feed.  In those instances, the case doesn't fully enter the chamber and the slide is still open.

Twice it happened on the last cartridge.  Once it was on the second cartridge.

When it happened, I racked the slide a bit to get the ammo chambered.

Sorry, failure to feed.  In those instances, the case doesn't fully enter the chamber and the slide is still open.

When it happened, I racked the slide a bit to get the bullet chambered.

sorry
i guess i read failure to fire and not failure to feed
 
interesting
was it nose up, or just not all the way in the chamber?
are there any burrs or gouges/scratches on the feed ramp?
what about the chamber?

Not all the way in the chamber.

I'll check the feed ramp and chamber tomorrow

Not all the way in the chamber.

I'll check the feed ramp and chamber tomorrow

...
Probably not feed ramp or chamber. More likely extractor not allowing rim to slide up breech face all the way.
Scrub extractor claw with toothbrush, oil generously. You know how to do a quick extractor claw check?.
Number and oil the mags too.

If all of that doesn't work, It could be something similar to limp wristing if her arm is moving backwards too much from the recoil.  If she's absorbing the energy of the slide moving backwards, it may not move back all the way and therefore not pick up the next round.  It seems to happen more often on lighter (i.e. polymer frame) handguns.  I've seen it happen to a few people, including my wife, on some glocks.

Also, I don't think locking the slide back for a few days will do anything.  A spring wears from constant compression/decompression.  Leaving it in a single state for a long period of time doesn't produce wear on a spring, this is why you can leave a magazine loaded and have it still function.

Sorry, failure to feed.  In those instances, the case doesn't fully enter the chamber and the slide is still open.

Twice it happened on the last cartridge.  Once it was on the second cartridge.

When it happened, I racked the slide a bit to get the ammo chambered.

I recently bought a M&P 45 and I've noticed that.  I've only had a chance to run 50 rounds through it, and it did what you described about 2-3 times while firing and more than a few times when I was loading up the gun and racked the slide to chamber the first round.  I don't think I was limp wristing when I was shooting and I almost never get stovepipes when shooting my Glocks or HK. 

I've spoken to a few M&P shooters, many of them quite experienced in IPSC/USPSA and other shooting and I've gotten more than a few "that's just how M&Ps are when new".  They mentioned that some guns may take time to work it.  They didn't mention any round counts, but I'm willing to let it be for now.  I bought the M&P 45 primarily for a teaching gun for the NRA Basic Handgun class and don't have any intention of using it for defense.  So through the class, the gun will likely get a few hundred rounds through it in a matter of a few months, so something I'll keep an eye on.  If not, I'll likely have it sent back to S&W for some evaluation. 

...
Probably not feed ramp or chamber. More likely extractor not allowing rim to slide up breech face all the way.
Scrub extractor claw with toothbrush, oil generously. You know how to do a quick extractor claw check?.
Number and oil the mags too.

Hi oldfart -- I'm not really sure how to do an extractor claw check.  Could you describe what I should check for? 

Just a note: I did some googling about this and noticed that there's a lot of threads on this issue.  It seems that some folks ended up sending their gun to S&W and had their extractors replaced.

If all of that doesn't work, It could be something similar to limp wristing if her arm is moving backwards too much from the recoil.  If she's absorbing the energy of the slide moving backwards, it may not move back all the way and therefore not pick up the next round.  It seems to happen more often on lighter (i.e. polymer frame) handguns.  I've seen it happen to a few people, including my wife, on some glocks.

Also, I don't think locking the slide back for a few days will do anything.  A spring wears from constant compression/decompression.  Leaving it in a single state for a long period of time doesn't produce wear on a spring, this is why you can leave a magazine loaded and have it still function.

Yeah my wife was limp wristing the 1911 which is why we decided to stay with a polymer gun for her.

Good info on the spring wear.  Speaking of that, I'll need to check the magazine and make sure it is cleaned.

I recently bought a M&P 45 and I've noticed that.  I've only had a chance to run 50 rounds through it, and it did what you described about 2-3 times while firing and more than a few times when I was loading up the gun and racked the slide to chamber the first round.  I don't think I was limp wristing when I was shooting and I almost never get stovepipes when shooting my Glocks or HK. 

I've spoken to a few M&P shooters, many of them quite experienced in IPSC/USPSA and other shooting and I've gotten more than a few "that's just how M&Ps are when new".  They mentioned that some guns may take time to work it.  They didn't mention any round counts, but I'm willing to let it be for now.  I bought the M&P 45 primarily for a teaching gun for the NRA Basic Handgun class and don't have any intention of using it for defense.  So through the class, the gun will likely get a few hundred rounds through it in a matter of a few months, so something I'll keep an eye on.  If not, I'll likely have it sent back to S&W for some evaluation.

Please let me know if the problem clears up for you and what you end up doing to resolve the issue.  I'll update this thread as well on any resolutions for her M&P.

Yeah my wife was limp wristing the 1911 which is why we decided to stay with a polymer gun for her.

Good info on the spring wear.  Speaking of that, I'll need to check the magazine and make sure it is cleaned.

another thing you can do is mark the mags and see if it's only one of them that's doing it
if it's on the last round, it could mean a weak spring, which would be odd since you said it's a new gun
but you did say that it happened on the second round too
 

check to see if the extractor claw is clean and that it springs correctly like someone else said

Hi oldfart -- I'm not really sure how to do an extractor claw check.  Could you describe what I should check for? 

Just a note: I did some googling about this and noticed that there's a lot of threads on this issue.  It seems that some folks ended up sending their gun to S&W and had their extractors replaced.

...
Easier to come over my house than try to explain. Where you live?

Please let me know if the problem clears up for you and what you end up doing to resolve the issue.  I'll update this thread as well on any resolutions for her M&P.

Will do. Teaching a class this Sunday, so will see. I guess malfunction clearance is a good thing to teach to new shooters. Haha.

Will do. Teaching a class this Sunday, so will see. I guess malfunction clearance is a good thing to teach to new shooters. Haha.

See me Sunday, I can show you the ins and outs of an extractor.  Although it seems odd to me than an extractor problem would cause a failure to feed. 

FWIW, new guns often do have a "break in" period.  Machined parts with rough edges cause friction, even when lubed.  400-500 rounds should smooth things out, if that's the case. 

How many mags are you using?  If one, try a different one.

I had the exact same problem with my Glock 17.  Only from one mag, though.  I swapped the spring and follower from one not having the problem with the problem mag, and both are working fine now.

See me Sunday, I can show you the ins and outs of an extractor.  Although it seems odd to me than an extractor problem would cause a failure to feed. 

FWIW, new guns often do have a "break in" period.  Machined parts with rough edges cause friction, even when lubed.  400-500 rounds should smooth things out, if that's the case.

Ok.

Not sure what's going on, but didn't think it was an extractor thing since it's extracting fine, just not going into battery on the next round stripped from the mag.

The gun came with two mags. I usually number them, but this gun is so new, I just haven't done it yet.

Same as drck1000. Was using both mags that came with the gun. I haven't had a chance to number them either.

oldfart, thanks for your hospitality today and for checking out my wife's M&P.  It seems the issue is the extractor being a bit tight and the cartridge not sliding in smoothly when the slide brings the cartridge to battery.  I think I will give it a few more hundred rounds at the range before doing any smoothing work on the extractor. 

Thank you also for your trigger control training tips.  I will give those a try next time we go to the range.   

oldfart, thanks for your hospitality today and for checking out my wife's M&P.  It seems the issue is the extractor being a bit tight and the cartridge not sliding in smoothly when the slide brings the cartridge to battery.  I think I will give it a few more hundred rounds at the range before doing any smoothing work on the extractor. 

Thank you also for your trigger control training tips.  I will give those a try next time we go to the range.   

OF is da man!