kinda dissipointed in a smith
- Thread starter ca0617
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The Watchman
Member
I purchased mine new,wiped it off after exercising the slide a few times and then shot approx. 200 flawless rounds through it. Very happy. However I was skeptical at first because it looked cheaper than my 659.
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I am guessing it is the aftermarket mag. Use S&W or MecGar and no other.
Use the factory mag and real ammo and lube it up and that 910 should run reliably until the cows come home.
FirebirdV8
Member
I hope they get you fixed up quickly so you can get back at the range with it.
norfdet
Member
+1 on chucking that POS promag out the window or better yet, attach it to the target stand and practice! I would rather load and fire one round at a time than trust my life to a promag.
I see that this thread is stale but I'll post anyway.
I recently bought a used 5906 which appears to be in top condition. Nevertheless it has feed jams on almost every round. S&W tech. as well as Winchester recommended heavier bullet to generate more recoil force. That was a little better - jams on only 2 out of 3 times.
The jam involves the loaded round pushing the empty case back into the chamber and ending up with its bullet nose between the feed ramp and the rim of the empty. If you fire a round with an empty magazine in place, the empty will eject perfectly so I am convinced there is nothing wrong with the extractor.
I have walked the slide cycle through the process by hand, starting with an empty in the chamber. Here's what seems to be happening and the root cause appears to be failure of the slide to travel far enough to the rear. The empty will come clear of the barrel by a good measure but still held by the extractor because the slide has not travelled far enough for the kicker pin to contact the case head. However, the slide is far enough back to strip the loaded round from the mag. as it begins to return. At this point you have two components trying to enter the chamber at the same time. The weapon will eject fine with an empty mag. because the slide is not having to be dragged over the friction of a loaded round pressed tightly against its bottom side. That's how I see it. Same result with both factory mags. Ammo was Winchester 115 gr. (value pack) and Winchester 147 gr. (standard quality).
So what is the fix? Softer recoil spring? Softer mag. spring? Maybe something wrong with the kicker pin?
Thanks, Richard Rogers
I recently bought a used 5906 which appears to be in top condition. Nevertheless it has feed jams on almost every round. S&W tech. as well as Winchester recommended heavier bullet to generate more recoil force. That was a little better - jams on only 2 out of 3 times.
The jam involves the loaded round pushing the empty case back into the chamber and ending up with its bullet nose between the feed ramp and the rim of the empty. If you fire a round with an empty magazine in place, the empty will eject perfectly so I am convinced there is nothing wrong with the extractor.
I have walked the slide cycle through the process by hand, starting with an empty in the chamber. Here's what seems to be happening and the root cause appears to be failure of the slide to travel far enough to the rear. The empty will come clear of the barrel by a good measure but still held by the extractor because the slide has not travelled far enough for the kicker pin to contact the case head. However, the slide is far enough back to strip the loaded round from the mag. as it begins to return. At this point you have two components trying to enter the chamber at the same time. The weapon will eject fine with an empty mag. because the slide is not having to be dragged over the friction of a loaded round pressed tightly against its bottom side. That's how I see it. Same result with both factory mags. Ammo was Winchester 115 gr. (value pack) and Winchester 147 gr. (standard quality).
So what is the fix? Softer recoil spring? Softer mag. spring? Maybe something wrong with the kicker pin?
Thanks, Richard Rogers
The kicker pin is the ejector. Would like to see a picture of the ejector, just to make sure it isn't broken or missing a piece...this is what it sounds like to me.
Maybe a softer recoil spring...if the spring in the pistol is a heavier than standard spring. If you are using normal spec loads then a standard recoil spring should be in the pistol. A normal spec mag should not slow down the slide enough to cause this type of malfunction. I shot WWB 115 grain in my 5906 all the time, no problems.
Below are pictures showing my 5906 with mag and dummy round, and you can see the kicker pin and how far it extends over the round...does it look the same as yours? If so, what type of mag are you using. An in spec S&W magazine will not slow down the slide to cause this.
If you can post pics of your ejector, and the magazine you are using, maybe we can diagnose this a little further.
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Thanks for the reply. Nice to hear from a knowledgable shooter and so quickly. Obviously you went to some trouble to make the pictures. This is a retry. First attempt vanished for some reason. Must have hit some magic key by mistake.
I don't know how to attach photos. I will try if it becomes necessary. However, I can see that my extractor is exactly like yours. It extends forward the same distance; it moves freely up and down; its spring holds it just slightly above the cartridge in the mag.; its end is nicely squared off and slightly tilted toward the rear - not the slightest sign of wear; it has that same little dimple on its left side; it is not bent right or left.
Don't know if there is any to tell whether the recoil spring is original or changed-out by previous owner. Maybe all I could do is get an original and try it.
Both magazines are 10-round with the official S&W logo stamped. A loaded round is positioned just like shown in your photo.
Regarding the theory of slide friction on round in mag., I was surprised to see no wear pattern under slide in the area above the mag. Apparently there is clearance there. Elsewhere the only wear I see is slight polish of finish on moving surfaces. This makes me all the more puzzled that the gun will eject perfectly with empty mag. inserted. There must be a clue here somewhere. The slide moves on the rail with no friction at all.
Still learning my way around the guts of this thing. If I learn anything more I'll post.
I have to field strip on an old towel. Looks like your wife lets you use the fine bed linen.
Thanks again, Richard
I don't know how to attach photos. I will try if it becomes necessary. However, I can see that my extractor is exactly like yours. It extends forward the same distance; it moves freely up and down; its spring holds it just slightly above the cartridge in the mag.; its end is nicely squared off and slightly tilted toward the rear - not the slightest sign of wear; it has that same little dimple on its left side; it is not bent right or left.
Don't know if there is any to tell whether the recoil spring is original or changed-out by previous owner. Maybe all I could do is get an original and try it.
Both magazines are 10-round with the official S&W logo stamped. A loaded round is positioned just like shown in your photo.
Regarding the theory of slide friction on round in mag., I was surprised to see no wear pattern under slide in the area above the mag. Apparently there is clearance there. Elsewhere the only wear I see is slight polish of finish on moving surfaces. This makes me all the more puzzled that the gun will eject perfectly with empty mag. inserted. There must be a clue here somewhere. The slide moves on the rail with no friction at all.
Still learning my way around the guts of this thing. If I learn anything more I'll post.
I have to field strip on an old towel. Looks like your wife lets you use the fine bed linen.
Thanks again, Richard
It still may be the extractor.
See this post:
My 4506 doing the same as your 5906?
Look at the picture of the FTF/FTE.
Oh, and I'm a bachelor.
See this post:
My 4506 doing the same as your 5906?
Look at the picture of the FTF/FTE.
Oh, and I'm a bachelor.
i would double check the mag springs. I ordered several mags for my 4506 straight from the factory and the springs were backwards! sometimes you'll find them upside down. They will cause problems like that. Just because you've got a factory mag doesn't mean some hair brain didn't install it incorrectly.
Your FTF ends up in exactly the same jam as mine. I'll try some other brands of ammo, Federal if I can find it.
I looked at the extractor carefully and it looks fine as far as I can tell - front bevel perfectly even all the way back to the knife edge - back side perfectly square. One thing that surprised me was how much force was required to depress the extractor spring when pressing on the rear end of the extractor. I didn't understand the warnings about dropping the slide on an already-chambered round. With this kind of extractor I don't see how that is any different from what happens when feeding from a mag.
I checked how my mag. springs were installed and saw nothing amiss. The longer section of tight coils was toward the follower.
Thanks for your service to your country!
Richard
I looked at the extractor carefully and it looks fine as far as I can tell - front bevel perfectly even all the way back to the knife edge - back side perfectly square. One thing that surprised me was how much force was required to depress the extractor spring when pressing on the rear end of the extractor. I didn't understand the warnings about dropping the slide on an already-chambered round. With this kind of extractor I don't see how that is any different from what happens when feeding from a mag.
I checked how my mag. springs were installed and saw nothing amiss. The longer section of tight coils was toward the follower.
Thanks for your service to your country!
Richard
On the mag. springs again, would ColColt explain how to tell when a spring is upside down and when it is backwards.
Richard
Richard
I always respring any pistols I buy used, you don't know how old they are or how many cycles they have gone through.
Brownells has the mainspring, magazine spring, recoil spring, extractor spring, and firing pin spring in stock.
I would replace the magazine spring, extractor spring, and recoil spring and see what happens.
Brownells has the mainspring, magazine spring, recoil spring, extractor spring, and firing pin spring in stock.
I would replace the magazine spring, extractor spring, and recoil spring and see what happens.
You shouldn't need "special" ammo for your 5906. The one I had was fed almost exclusively WWB 115 and never had a failure of any kind. Mine was an ex police gun and I did nothing to it.
There is some issue with yours, whether its the springs, ejector, extractor, etc.
There is some issue with yours, whether its the springs, ejector, extractor, etc.
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