3rd Gen 45 Issue (Help)

[ChiefTJS]

Hi all,
Been having an issue with my 4596 slide not locking back and I know where the issue is but not how to solve it. Looking for suggestions from the experts. I'm sure the picture explains it better than me but the spring loaded plunger is slipping below the sheet metal stop and the slide stop can't rise up to lock the slide back. Is something worn or put together wrong? Thanks.

 

[GaryS]

I'm not an expert, but looking at the compared to my 457S, it looks more like the side plate has slipped upward than that the plunger sliding down.

You could take the grip off and look to see if the bottom of side plate where it locks into the sear spring retaining pin is broken or out of place.

Just a guess and hopefully someone who knows will come along and tell us what's going on.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I'm not an expert , but they'll jump in soon . If not send BMCM a pm , he's the resident expert gunsmith on these guns .

 

[JohnHL]

I agree with Gary.

The "sheet metal stop" for the slide stop is called a "side plate".

Remove the grip and look to see if the lower side plate legs are spread at the sear pivot pin.

They should fit very snugly around the end of that pin.

Oh, and be very careful removing and replacing that grip if you haven't done it much.

It is the primary reason those side plate legs get bent.

John

 

[WR Moore]

It very well could be that either the lower leg of the side plate (widget that the slide stop plunger bears against) is not locked over the sear pin or, the back lower leg is broken off the side plate. The lower leg is slotted and has a hole that's supposed to lock over the notch in the sear pin. Unfortunately, it's easier than it should be to break that back leg off.

Remove the slide & slide stop and very, very carefully, remove the grip. When you reinstall the grip, you MUST hold the slde plate in place while installing the grip to make sure you don't stress the back leg of the side plate.

BTW, shockingly, Brownells has the side plates in stock. Their part # is 940-000-328, price about $9.

 

[18DAI]

That's what happened with my 457 when I broke the sideplate (leg snapped off due to fatigue/excessive use).

I replaced the sideplate (Thanks Fastbolt! ) and all was well again. Regards 18DAI

 

[JohnHL]

Just on a general issue regarding grip replacement.

I seldom see it mentioned, but S&W was thoughtful enough to provide an assembly aid on their 3rd gen grips.

Inside the left grip panel, there is a shallow groove (or channel) extending down from the inside top of the grip.

The easiest method for me is to slip the grip up on to the grip frame and then align the groove with the end of the sear pivot pin/side plate legs junction.

The pin in the groove guides the grip right on home.

John

 

[4T5GUY]

Sometimes it's better for me to see something than having it described to me.

This is a quick picture of what is being talked about.

Jim

 

[ChiefTJS]

Kinda strange, I decided to pop the grip panel and see what I could see and it all looked pretty straight forward. I had gotten a curved backstrap grip to try out and had decided I liked the straight one better so I popped the straight one on and I can't seem to get the side plate to move up now. I can't see anything in the grip that would affect the side plate but as long as it's fixed, I'm happy. I'll be ordering a new plate though. Thanks to all.

 

[BMCM]

Hi all,
Been having an issue with my 4596 slide not locking back and I know where the issue is but not how to solve it. Looking for suggestions from the experts. I'm sure the picture explains it better than me but the spring loaded plunger is slipping below the sheet metal stop and the slide stop can't rise up to lock the slide back. Is something worn or put together wrong? Thanks.

Slide stop plunger trapped under sideplate thus disabled. Sideplate is pivoted upward against slide allowing slidestop plunger to get trapped.

Your sideplate is either bent or broken and needs to be replaced.

#108600000 is the latest (R1) revision
#106990000 is the early version but will work fine and Midway has some in stock.

Cheers
Bill

 

[ChiefTJS]

Thank you Master Chief. Kinda figured it out but ordered up a new side plate to be safe.