Gemtech failure

Elenaidan

Elenaidan

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Quiet and then loud. It happened just that quickly. After it went loud I spotted the front end of the can 10 yards away laying there on the ground. Now before we go asking all them questions, accusing and assuming...... you need some history. These are GM-45 cans that are rated for the 9mm platform they were employed upon. These cans have been through well over 15K rounds each and have been run so hot that in dimming light you could see the color change to a dull glow. Keep in mind that I took possession of these in 2016 and they have been rock solid.

As you can tell from the pics, the failures were on the monocore section, where the thread patterns meet at the attachment point. These are also devices that at some point, a few years ago, I could not get them to separate for a deep cleaning. When I reached out to Gemtech they said not to worry. As long as the section that allows changing pistons was still free and could be utilized properly I could run to fail and then return it for service. They did recommend using lithium grease on the threads to ensure being able to get them apart in the future. Never had a problem with anything where I have followed that advice.

SO the question is............ has anyone dealt with sending these back to a manufacturer and if so what kind of headaches am I in for (besides spending a bunch of money)?

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Baffle strike? But was it caused by the crack you’re showing shift the suppressor enough to not be cocentric?
 
NCFubar said:
Baffle strike? But was it caused by the crack you’re showing shift the suppressor enough to not be cocentric?
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Yes. That is my guess. The reason I suspect this is based on the crack in the other device that has not yet failed.
 
Elenaidan said:
Yes. That is my guess. The reason I suspect this is based on the crack in the other device that has not yet failed.
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Sounds OCD but I have a couple straight diameter appropriate dowels I use to double check concentricity every time I breakdown, clean and remount my suppressors. I know my hosts are pretty damn stable but human error of me reassembling and mounting them just makes me double guess myself.

I gotta ask is the piece where the serial number is damaged or cracked?
 
DrScaryGuy said:
fingers crossed for you. gemtech was bought out by S&W in 2017.
they very likely have no legal obligation to do anything for you.
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if you visit their website and read the warranty information, they as much as tell you that. I have no high hopes for anything being sent that way. I am sending all of the Gemtech items I have in for a check and service pending a conversation with someone Monday. I have several of their products. I hope they will remember that when the time comes to start estimating repair and service cost..... but I doubt they give a rip. I am just another number to a big corporation.
 
I have 3 of their cans myself. come to find out that whatever aluminum they use in their 22 and 9mm baffles apparently doesn't hold up to cleaning as well as other brands. so... a dirty can is a quiet can. I'll just use come CLP and a nylon brush when i have to.
 
I’d get an estimate from them, and a statement they’re willing to return it as-is if you don’t accept their quote for repair. Then send it to ECCO for some magic.
 
DrScaryGuy said:
no legal obligation to do anything
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That is exactly what their warranty page states also lol.

Nasty failure hopefully gemtech takes care of you. Labor day is Monday so I'd wait till Tuesday to call @Elenaidan. If anyone answers on Monday they will most likely be in a crappy mood with minimal management working (if you need to go full Karen)
 
NCFubar said:
Sounds OCD but I have a couple straight diameter appropriate dowels I use to double check concentricity every time I breakdown, clean and remount my suppressors. I know my hosts are pretty damn stable but human error of me reassembling and mounting them just makes me double guess myself.

I gotta ask is the piece where the serial number is damaged or cracked?
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No thank goodness.
 
Button Pusher said:
I own one, going to give it a good look over, under 500rds so far.
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I have one that is still black and has not been as abused as the others. It appears to be in good condition. as long as you don't run it until it changes color you will likely never have a problem
 
Spoke with Trevor at Gemtech today. He said to send them in and let them take a look. Use the return instructions on the website and include a copy of the Form 4 (tax stamp). I will get to it this weekend maybe. I will let you know how they handle it.
 
Elenaidan said:
Spoke with Trevor at Gemtech today. He said to send them in and let them take a look. Use the return instructions on the website and include a copy of the Form 4 (tax stamp). I will get to it this weekend maybe. I will let you know how they handle it.
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Please do, I was looking at a Lunar 9 eventually and I'm curious how they handle it.
 
JBoyette said:
I have a Luner 9 if you want to try it
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I may take you up on that! I'm in a bit of a holding pattern now as my wife finds a new job (we're fine financially, but I've transitioned to "need" purchases over "want" purchases for now), but hope to buy it in the next 6 months or so.
 
Clicker said:
"and have been run so hot that in dimming light you could see the color change to a dull glow."
How the heck do you get 9mm can that hot, 5 back to back mag dumps with a Beta Mag on a postie?
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We have two MPX and have plenty of mags to run them. During our first few torture test they became so hot you could not hold the hand guard. We adapted by wearing thick leather gloves. It has not been uncommon to run 2K rounds up to 4K rounds in one range visit prior to the cost of ammo becoming unobtainium. I have run Surefire cans to the same degree, but they are steel cans and don’t seem to mind.
 
Man I really took my time getting those sent off 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 I just sent them this past Saturday on March 4th. They received them March 9th. I would expect to hear something back in a week or two. I will let you know.
 
Elenaidan said:
Man I really took my time getting those sent off 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 I just sent them this past Saturday on March 4th. They received them March 9th. I would expect to hear something back in a week or two. I will let you know.
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I get it.

I found my SDP last night.

I thought I sent it off in Nov.

My bad. Lol
 
So today I get an email that has a RMA number and shipping label like I am sending something back to S&W. No further instruction or even an email that I can reply to with a "WTH" am I supposed to do with this. Seems strange and now it has me wondering if they are going to ship the broken stuff back and ask me to reship using their shipping agent. I will be curious to see if I get a follow up email or if a box just gets dropped on the front porch or if I have to go to a terminal to sign for it. Jeebus man. The lack of communication with large companies is astounding.
 
I am about two glasses of red wine and dinner prep into my evening, so that is the best time to vent about your problems right? Well a few days ago I received word from Smith and Wesson that they will not warranty the damage (which I expected). The replacement cost for two cans with tax stamps and the exceptionally short wait would put me at almost 2K and the frustration of waiting for another year. They will not sell me new cans with the serial numbers of the ones they are going to destroy. SO I have to be honest, I don't think suppression is worth all the trouble at this point. I think the .Gub people are counting on that with all of their regulations and offenses. I just don't think the cost and the trouble can be justified on my budget........... but then again, neither is .Gub. Signing off, sad, disappointed and a little buzzed.
 
Elenaidan said:
They will not sell me new cans with the serial numbers of the ones they are going to destroy.
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Are they giving you the option of the cans being shipped back to you? SOMEONE has to be able to repair or rebuild it with the same serial number.

Elenaidan said:
just don't think the cost and the trouble can be justified on my budget.
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Paging @BigWaylon we need a doctor, he is spiraling.
 
BigWaylon said:
I’d get an estimate from them, and a statement they’re willing to return it as-is if you don’t accept their quote for repair. Then send it to ECCO for some magic.
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Looks like he already has.
 
Elenaidan said:
They will not sell me new cans with the serial numbers of the ones they are going to destroy.
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Did you think that was gonna be an option? That’s a huge no-no.
 
BigWaylon said:
Did you think that was gonna be an option? That’s a huge no-no.
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But can't a wizard cut the tube up and reuse the blast baffle or whatever the serial number is engraved onto? And fix/replace whatever has been destroyed?
 
Squanchy said:
But can't a wizard cut the tube up and reuse the blast baffle or whatever the serial number is engraved onto? And fix/replace whatever has been destroyed?
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Yes. Markings have to be reused, and (at least according to ECCO) some portion of the tube, in case the end caps are what is marked. All of mine have ends marked, so when he redid three of mine to tubeless he used a portion of the tube as the blast chamber.
 
Slacker said:
Any update?
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So they did evaluate and decided the damage warrants replacement at my expense. An option for repair was not given. I spoke to the local district Gemtec Rep last week and he said that the earlier versions of the cans were very difficult to repair and that the warranty approvals he has seen go through were for the newer cans, not the original ones. He did say to send him the pictures and he would take a look. I do not expect their position to change. We had a polite and frank conversation about my feelings regarding future purchases from Smith and Wesson under the Gemtec product line. They did offer me a "great option" however. Shown below.

"Because we value you as a Smith & Wesson customer, we would like to extend an offer for two new Lunar-45’s, SKU 12126 to you at a reduced cost of $1,144.00 plus any applicable Tax."

Of course these will require $400 dollars worth of tax stamps and your friendly neighborhood ATF's blessing after 6-12 months of purgatory.

I asked the representative to return them to me in the broken condition and that I would seek repairs elsewhere. Any suggestions from someone who has actually had to go through this would be appreciated. I did print out a form from ECCO and started to fill it out for repair, but they asked some questions that I do not have answers for. It will require a phone call for me to clarify what they mean.
 
sorry to hear that. I figured it's what you'd hear, but i like being wrong sometimes.
looks like my 3 gemtechs is where i call it unless i get an absolute screaming deal on a new one.
 
sent this

I just heard from one of our local guys in NC that gemtech is NOT honoring repair/warranties from before the S&W purchase. I had a big sneaking suspicion that would be the case, but I hate to hear it came true. I have 3 gemtech suppressors, and it looks like that's where i'm calling it quits. I was planning on buying some upgrades for them (3lug mount on my 9mm for sure, possibly recore my baffles to monocore) but I'll likely toss that idea out the window. I have other cans from smaller brands that will appreciate the business.
 
not gonna lie. I was thinking about getting an aurora for the lulz. wipes are funny and i like hearing mousefarts that sound like farts.
 
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