What do I do with this unreliable 5906?

Habakkuk21

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I have a 5906 that continues to give me failures to extract, failures to eject. I just replace the extractor, and that didn't fix the problem. A local gunsmith replaced the recoil & extractor springs.
Today, I ran two mags through it, and got failure to extract, with the longest string 8 rounds. Two shooters, two mags, shooting Remington FMJ.
Do I: 1) send it to the factory? 2) offer it for sale? 3) ???something else???
Let he who has wisdom speak; I'm certainly not going to be carrying this, or allowing it to be carried. I bought an Israeli police High Power from AIM which will be filling that niche in my armory.
 
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Has it always had this problem or did it just start?

Do the spent cases fall out freely otherwise? No chamber scratches on brass?

I believe it's been stated here that new extractors require proper adjustments for reliable functioning. Did the person who installed the extractor have any experience with the 3rd Gens?

.
 
If you send it to S&W, or one of their authorized service centers, they can check the extractor for proper fit and tension.

The 3rd gen extractors aren't usually "drop in" parts, but require some filing/fitting. Extractor fit is checked with a factory supplied Go/No-Go bar gauge, and extractor spring tension is checked with a Wagner force dial gauge. There's a recommended range of tension.

Some of the older 59XX guns might sometimes require a different extractor spring, though, due to the tolerances involved in some of the older slide machining. The depth and "square bottom" profile of the extractor spring holes might vary due to older machining methods.

The factory or warranty smith could also check for any high/tight spots in the barrel chamber.

What's the ejector look like? Old style with short tip (not broken?), or newer version with longer tip?

Replacement recoil spring a factory spring, or something else? A heavier-than-stock recoil spring can introduce its own flavor of extraction/ejection issues, especially if loads at the lighter end of the power range are being used.
 
Have you had this problem with other ammunition besides Remington? IIRC, back in the day, 3rd gen guns didnt run reliably when fed Remington ammunition. These were 45s mind you, but perhaps the 9s had trouble too. Good luck! Hope you get it fixed. Regards 18DAI
 
Send it to Frank at LSG. He's an authorized S&W service center. Email him with the issues and he'll call you to speak to you. He's usually faster than the factory and a heck of a nice guy to deal with. He'll get that gun up to factory spec. Who knows if your gunsmith was even qualified to work on the gun?

LSG, Mfg|Gun Parts|Warranty|Gunsmithing

I have his email address on my computer. I'll post it later.
 
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In my view, only guns that work reliably are interesting.

I wouldn't spend an additional dime on your gun.

I'd sell it and be happy to be rid of it.


If you sell it, please disclose the problems. There are enough people in the world "happy to get rid of" stuff without bothering to mention that they are selling it because something might be wrong. Of course I am more of a get it back in service guy and would have already called S&W. When my Tahoe doesn't start I don't just trade it in, I go buy a new battery and get it back on the road.
 
Amen to what Rpg said. Sell your mistakes (at a loss if necessary). Don't invest more money in your mistakes. If you try to keep and live with your errors it will make you mad everyday.
 
I always sell or trade off any of my vehicles that get a flat tire....let someone else deal with the headache of jacking it up, loosening the lug nuts and fixing the tire.

It will NEVER be reliable and trustworthy again!!

Randy
 
From translate app:
I have the same problem with my 5906 no more than 3 cartridges fired maximum before the weapon jams!!
 
Hard to "fix" a problem if you don't explain the symptoms.

Better define "jams". ;)

Failures-to-extract?

Start with examining the extractor hook (broken/chipped) and ejector tip (broken off), although a weakened recoil spring can also be involved (affects slide velocity).

Failure-to-feed?

Start with a damaged magazine (lips/followers), but weakened mag springs are often a common issue, especially if it's happening with more than a single magazine. (And the magazines are old/used.)

If the simplest potential causes are eliminated without resolving the problem, then it requires a closer examination by someone familiar with the pistol design (gunsmith, repair technician or factory trained armorer).

For example, failures-to-extract may involve a weakened extractor spring, which may be as simple as replacing the old spring with a standard one (for model/caliber), but may also involve using a heavier or lighter than standard spring. (Machining of spring hole can affect this.) S&W offered armorers a selection of heavier and weaker springs, and taught them how to use a force dial gauge to check extractor spring tension (there's a recommended range for each caliber/model).

Replacing a chipped extractor usually requires fitting/filing (bar gauge was used for filing the extractor adjustment pad surface until proper dimension is achieved for any particular slide).

While the ejector was a drop-in part, it required knowledge of frame disassembly sufficient to replace the part.

Recoil and mag springs are the easiest things to try, of course.

For the visitor from France? Perhaps call this contact from the S&W website? See what they may say about trying to obtain examination and repair of the discontinued 3rd gen pistol.

Pour le visiteur de France ? Appelez peut-être ce contact depuis le site Web de S&W ? Voyez ce qu'ils peuvent dire à propos d'essayer d'obtenir l'examen et la réparation du pistolet de 3e génération abandonné.

France

Sidam
Zac De La Petite Camargue
Avenue Maurice Privat-BP 57
30600 Vauvert, France
Phone: 33-4-6688-2906
Fax: 33-4-6688-3762
Web: HomePage - Sidam
Type: S&W Government Distributor, S&W Warranty Station (Belgium, France, Luxenbourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain)

International Dealers & Distributors | Smith & Wesson
 
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Contact bmcm and I'm sure he can fix this. Those that are suggesting to sell it don't have the patience to get it fixed no. I think that's just wrong. Find a true Smith & Wesson gunsmith and get it to him.
 
Contact bmcm and I'm sure he can fix this. Those that are suggesting to sell it don't seem have the patience to get something fixed . I think that's just wrong. And makes no sense. Find a true Smith & Wesson gunsmith and get it to him.
 
Google is your friend. Intrepid59 wrote:

I have the same problem with my 5906 no more than 3 cartridges fired maximum before the weapon jams!!

You're welcome.

I avoided Google by learning French at high school in England until I was 16. Damn, the crazy stuff I'll do to avoid Google.;)
 
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