NEED HELP - Just got my 6906 from AIM - Seems ok EXCEPT that you really have to slam magazine in to get it to lock.

If you insert it normally like my 4006, 5906, 3913 it does not lock in place and it slides back out just a fraction.

If you slam it in, it locks fine. Have tried a new factory SW magazine and same problem as the one that came with gun.

Any help appreciated.

The spring and plunger under the magazine release button can be compromised by oxidation, or by old lubricants and debris. You may be able to flush the release assembly and cavity out with some solvent, or aerosol like Gun Scrubber, etc.

The mag release button could also be out of adjustment. (too deep) The button should be adjusted so that the bottom of the button is even with, or just slightly below the frame.

__________________
Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

My 5906 did the same as Armorer951 suggested found corroded mag spring and plunger .

Not uncommon to find the mag release button screwed down too far in used S&W pistols. I don't know why, but it seems a lot of people think the button should be screwed in as far as it will go.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

The police trades get sweat/humidity & grime into the catch that corrodes the spring. Wolff has fresh springs if needed.

One of my 3rd gens had a too tight and full of gunk mag release that a couple of shots of brake cleaner and some CLP and a little fiddling took care of. No rust, just sticky goop. I don't even want to know what it is.

Empty or loaded?

"Police return" autos I've gotten from Aim looked clean, but
held muddy brown glop inside every cavity, detent and
crevice. Seems like they immersed them in a filthy
ultrasonic bath, to get the stuff down into such tight areas.

Were you able to clean or remove it?

Yes...and regarding the filthy-ultrasonic bath theory, this gunk
was water soluble. It didn't come off with CLP, but dissolved
easily with dish soap and warm water.

It was down inside every spring and detent on the gun, including
magazine catch and detent/spring/bore on safety, etc. This is
what was under rear sight on a 4013TSW, and a 6906--both
'police returns'.

Attached Images

	4013TSW Crud.jpg (93.3 KB, 50 views)
	6906 Crud.jpg (87.0 KB, 55 views)

Wow...

I wish I had known this was cleanable a couple years ago. I had looked at 4 guns, all alloy frame/stainless slide at the time, all LE trade-in. Three had some kind of issue or damage, and one was nice except for clumps of dirt just like this.

There is so much knowledge about these used LE or government trade-in guns here, I wonder if it would make sense to make a summary of known and repairable problems for aspiring new owners.

My 908 is similarly difficult... someone asked how it was with the slide locked open. I tried and it was fine. Normally mags are switched with the slide open, so I quit worrying about it.

Yah, these cleaned up pretty well--though the .40 was missing
one of it's recoil springs, and has some substantial 'crush' on
frame, where barrel seats in recoil.

The same mushy/semi-gritty, water-soluble brown muck that
was in all the small internal spaces, was also on the side plate,
under grips, etc. In those areas, it was had a hard consistency,
like a dried syrup.

For the OP, I recommend the disassembling the mag catch (and
everything else, honestly). You may have an accumulation of
sludge in there, that just keeps the catch from moving properly.

Attached Images

	Dried Brown Residue.jpg (75.8 KB, 32 views)
	Cleaned.jpg (72.6 KB, 34 views)

OK - I disassembled and cleaned mag release - not too bad, but I cleaned out anyway. The actual release had what appeared to be some wear - though it may have been filed very gently if someone tried to fix before I got gun.

I replaced with new release and reassembled. Mag goes in with no hesitation while slide is off.

Thought I had solved problem. But when I put slide back on, it has same old problem. Have to slam magazine (empty) to engage. Tried 5 different magazines - all SW factory mags.

Tried adjusting tension by going +1 notch and -1 notch on release nut. No appreciable difference, though tighter position may be slightly worse (but neither way noticably better than starting position).


Having similar problem but not nearly as severe with 3913 but only with fully loaded magazines - hoping the 6906 does not get worse with loaded mags.


Any more thoughts - thinking of taking old release and filing a bit just for the heck of it since I have a spare.

How's the magazine disconnect plunger feel, in slide? Does
ejector look right--not bent, left or right?

Thanks for response
Mag disconnect feels OK but I dont really have anything else to judge it by right now - may have to grab another gun and take slide off to make sure. Hate to take sight off to really examine it for damage and if it was broken spring it would probably be less force down.

Had not thought about ejector but it looks normal.

Travel this week, will fight battle again next week - thanks again

Just spitballin' ideas on what could alter dimensions, with slide &
magazine...