6906 Magazine Release

[Mr310]

Well, I finally got to "bail out" my 6906 from gun jail, and after a good scrubbing with some Hoppes, and some thorough slide glide and gun oil, my baby's ready to rock. I just have one question about the magazine release. It seems a bit mushy and has to be pushed in all the way to release the magazine, which is quite a bit different from my other guns, leading me to believe it's perhaps nearly worn out. Is this normal? If not, what exactly do I need to replace. Thanks in advance!

ETA: I'm also thrilled to be a member of the 3rd gen club. I'll just need to find a 3913 next!

 

[Fastbolt]

On the bottom side of the mag catch button (which is a threaded nut), you can see a small stainless steel plunger. The head of the plunger is actually captured by a recessed slot on the bottom of the button. Ideally, the top of the plunger should be either flush with the outside of the frame, or slightly below it. (It's adjusted by turning the button 180 degrees at a time, "tightening" or "loosening", but I'll mention something about that in a minute.)

Is the center "post" visible in the center of the mag catch button (the threaded end of the actual mag catch body, itself) sticking too far outward, above the outside of the mag catch button? (Poking into your finger? Or mostly flush?)

It's possible that the plunger spring may have become rusted/corroded, weakened or broken. Complete of the whole assembly is fairly simple, although it involves removing the grips.

Adjustment of the button/nut & plunger relationship can be done without removing the grips ... as can replacing a rusted/broken plunger spring ... using a nickel, a flat surface, a small pin punch, a small slot screwdriver and holding your mouth just right.

Congrats on the new 6906.

One thing I'd do if it were mine is replace the recoil & mags springs with factory springs (or the mag springs with Wolff springs and the recoil spring with a factory spring).

 

[Mr310]

The nut in the middle of the button is flush. The other thing that I noticed however, is that the grip has a bit of play on the left side right before the slide stop. Should I buy a new grip or is this normal? The trigger is a bit gritty as well. Should I just drown it in Hoppes and then blow dry and lube it again or is there anything else? I'm not too comfortable taking it apart, and as I'm in Los Angeles, I don't know of anyone around me that can really take it apart to look at it. Any suggestions?

 

[Fastbolt]

How about the little plunger under the bottom edge of the button itself? Is it flush, or only slightly below the outside of the frame? That's what controls the depth & movement of the mag catch body.

The front/upper corner of the grip can sometimes be bowed a little outward. Shouldn't be an issue (it just covers the front of the side plate leading up to the angled part of the plate that engages the slide stop plunger).

It's not uncommon to see brand new factory grips that have the front/upper "corner" noticeably bowed inward, making it important to not snag under the edge of the side plate and push upward on it when seating the grips (so the unwanted pressure doesn't cause the bottom legs of the side plate to become tweaked/bent). The inward "bend" helps keeps the upper corner snug against the side plate (which can sometimes have a bit of an outward bend away from the frame).

I'd not suggest disassembling the frame to anyone that isn't familiar with doing it properly. Maybe a local gunsmith could help? The 3rd gens were pretty prolific as LE guns, and there ought to be gunsmiths around who are familiar with them.

 

[goldenlight]

When I got my 6906 some years back, the magazine release was 'mushy' as you describe, and hard to push.

All I had to do was remove the magazine release button, and clean some 'dried grease', or whatever, from where the button sits.

It was about a 5 minute job, and now it works perfectly, and has since I did the cleaning.

It could very well be the same situation with your 6906.

I'd give it a try, if it was mine.

Good luck.

 

[BigDaddy7972]

Goldenlight, mine was the same way, especially when a fully loaded mag was inserted and I tried to remove it. I will try your repair technique.

 

[SmokeRing]

S&W 6906

Hi, I have been searching the net trying to find out the height of a 6906 with the flat mag base pad. If any one knows this spec I would very much appreciate it. TIA

 

[Mr310]

Sorry for the late reply. I tried depressing the plunger and unscrewing the magazine release button, but it would only go in further! Perhaps I'm just used to the more positive releases on my other guns? I put some oil in and it seems very slightly better, but I'm afraid to try and take them out.