Magazine catch on 457

[Medicmoe]

Searching for help with my 457 magazine not wanting to stay in the gun, especially loaded, I have determined that the magazine catch is plastic and worn out. I bent it back a little bit, and it seems to hold a little better now, but it's a matter of time before it wears out again or breaks. Is there an upgrade for the 457 to a metal one like the 4516 without modifying the gun frame? Thanks for the help guys

 

[BMCM]

Welcome aboard Medicmoe,

I hope you are referring to the magazine catch nut which is plastic and not the actual magazine catch which is a steel part.

That plastic button (magazine catch nut) is a consumable part and is to be replaced any time the magazine catch is disassembled from the frame. It cannot be reused as the process of disassembly destroys the part. If your magazine catch nut has been re-used or is damaged/worn and is not holding the magazine catch in place properly it needs to be replaced.

Assuming your magazine catch is still in good shape, I suggest replacing the magazine catch nut with a new one. Brownells has them in stock
MAGAZINE CATCH NUT | Brownells
And.. while you're at it, probably wouldn't hurt to install a fresh conical spring in there too.
MAGAZINE CATCH SPRING | Brownells

Like I said, hopefully you didn't bend the actual catch, if you did bend it, a replacement is gonna be a little tougher to find.

And... there's really no way to install the all steel parts in a value line gun without drilling a recess to house the magazine catch plunger & spring.

Cheers
Bill

 

[Medicmoe]

Thanks BMCM for the reply. I appreciate the info and help. Yes, i need the hard to find plastic mag catch. all of my searches came up empty for a part that someone has in stock. any ideas on where to search?

i need part #28

 

[BMCM]

#28 is part number 262400000 magazine catch
BTW that's a steel part.

#29 is plastic and is a consumable part to be replaced if ever removed.

If your magazine catch #28 is bent it must be replaced. I suggest calling S&W customer service and see if they have one.
Otherwise you'll need to haunt the auction sites and parts houses to source one. I don't see them in stock at any of the usual sources.

I strongly recommend replacing all three parts.

Cheers
Bill

 

[Gunhacker]

Ebay has a "457 parts kit" listed, kinda pricey when you need just the one part, but... what with the way parts for 3rd gens in general are getting increasingly difficult to come by, if you plan to keep your 457 "for the duration"... then maybe a parts kit is not a half bad idea as "cheap" insurance.

Gunbroker has some parts too, but not what you're looking for.... so keep an eye out on both of those sites.

 

[Medicmoe]

I called S&W, after they sent me an email to call them. I told the service department my dilemma, he said he would check for the plastic mag catch. After 2 minutes on hold, he says they no longer stock them or make them, then I asked him if there was a way to upgrade to all metal catch, he said yes, the 4506 assembly will fit, I would just have to get the screw on button as well. I found said parts on brownells, and numrich. 40.00 for both sites, but it should fix everything. I'll let you know when I try to install these parts.

 

[TercGen]

I called S&W, after they sent me an email to call them. I told the service department my dilemma, he said he would check for the plastic mag catch. After 2 minutes on hold, he says they no longer stock them or make them, then I asked him if there was a way to upgrade to all metal catch, he said yes, the 4506 assembly will fit, I would just have to get the screw on button as well. I found said parts on brownells, and numrich. 40.00 for both sites, but it should fix everything. I'll let you know when I try to install these parts.

Well, what the gentleman at S&W may not have known is that you will have to drill a recess hole for the mag catch plunger and spring to make the 4506 assembly work. This hole partially overlaps the (already in existence) mag catch hole, and from all accounts makes it difficult to drill because of this.

This is as far as I know, based on the fact that I've looked into 'upgrading' my 908 mag catch and found others who have done so. I think if you put the 457 mag spring in with the 4506 mag catch and nut, the nut will just back off without the plunger to secure it.

 

[N_Frame.SquareButt]

Found this old thread and have the same problem with a 457 I picked up last week. Has anyone replaced with the 4506 mag catch? Wonder if you could just locktite the nut on?