GSG 16 Mag Release Screw

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sheepdog293

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Hey guys,

Hoping someone can help out here. I was out shooting my GSG 16 recently and I noticed that the mags would not stay in the magwell. I checked and realized that I am missing a screw, specifically the small screw in the middle of the mag release button on the right side of the receiver. Missing this screw seems to be a big deal, as without it the paddle release has no spring tension and as you shoot the mag works itself out and releases itself.

I was wondering if anyone knows the dimensions of this screw? I contacted BlueLine online for a 'ticket' for a replacement, but haven't heard back in months. When I called to enquire I was told that they were busy and to wait my turn. I was hoping to get a replacement at my local bolt warehouse, as it seems like it shouldn't be too expensive there and I could get it tomorrow.

Thanks for any info you guys have.
 
I've taken most of my GSG-16 apart and have done a number of modifications, so in preparation for this work I've watched a few videos on the subject. One piece of advice which stuck was "don't take out that screw" as recommended by a Vancouver GSG enthusiast. He didn't say exactly why, only that it was basically the one thing on a GSG-16 you DO NOT TOUCH. So... being a curious sort, and because you're in a bothersome situation, I've popped mine out, while being careful to restrain the release button with a clamp such that it can't fly apart and ruin my day, hiding some mysterious small part in the darkest corner of my workshop.

So here's the bolt. It measures exactly 6mm end to end. I count 8 fully cut threads on 4mm of threaded shaft plus room for maybe 2 more. Sorry, don't have any sort of thread gauge. Outside diameter of the threaded portion is 2.4mm, but the thread peaks are obviously quite rounded on this bolt so likely cut to the 2.5mm standard just more rounded at the peaks. I've never really understood how the numbers work with most bolts... closest I can find on an online chart is Metric 2.5 x 0.35, if that makes sense - 10 threads in 4mm seems closest to 0.35mm pitch, called 'Extra Fine' on the charts.

GSG-16_mag_release_bolt.JPG


So anyway, thank you for posting this question. I'd be rather upset to find mine missing, and pulling it out showed that it was in fact a bit loose and could easily have become lost as yours did. I've now put it back in with a dab of blue Loc-Tite, so that's not so likely to happen, but I'll be checking it every now and then just to be sure.
 
Hey, thanks so much. This is very very helpful and hopefully I can grab a replacement local. I will be throwing some loc-tite on mine as well when I find a replacement. Did you find any springs came out when you removed the screw, as this is my follow up concern is that I may be missing a small but vital spring as well.

Also, great work on the macrophotography on this one!
 
sheepdog293 said:
Hey, thanks so much. This is very very helpful and hopefully I can grab a replacement local. I will be throwing some loc-tite on mine as well when I find a replacement. Did you find any springs came out when you removed the screw, as this is my follow up concern is that I may be missing a small but vital spring as well.

Also, great work on the macrophotography on this one!
Click to expand...

Well like I said, I put a clamp on it first. Squeezed the projecting part on the far side of the mag well, opposite the screw location. Even with that I anticipated something might come flying out, but that fear wasn't merited, nothing happened. I didn't try to dismantle the mechanism, as not knowing exactly what's happening in there with the spring, and guessing that it might be necessary to entirely dismantle the gun to get to it should something come loose, I opted to leave well enough alone this time. So no, nothing came out but the little bolt.

The close-up shot was possible thanks to my Sanyo Xacti HD1010. Picked it up years ago slightly used for $100, from a guy who outright didn't like it... which is weird because I love these Sanyo pistol-grip cameras. The macro mode offers manual focus down to 1cm. I used 2cm for this picture. Makes photographing tiny details on violins a breeze. The drawbacks would be poor battery life, pathetic actually, and the way the ribbon cable in the swing-out viewer eventually breaks. But while they work they're very useful cameras. Really miss my much older VPC-CA9, a smaller waterproof version. That thing absolutely shone as an everywhere/everything camera with great zoom quality and sound. Until the ribbon cable broke... which sucked.
 
sheepdog293 said:
Hey, thanks so much. This is very very helpful and hopefully I can grab a replacement local. I will be throwing some loc-tite on mine as well when I find a replacement. Did you find any springs came out when you removed the screw, as this is my follow up concern is that I may be missing a small but vital spring as well.

Also, great work on the macrophotography on this one!
Click to expand...

No springs should come out. Because the clam shell of the receiver is still holding it in place. I was able to push in with my thumb, and unscrew. Even with the receiver halves separated ( I got a spare receiver, nothing showed signs of flying out.

I wouldn't bother with box stores. Find a industrial fastener place. Because I cannot say I ever seen a 2.5x0.35 screw at CT, Home Hardware, Home Depot, Kent...
 
Pacific Fasteners in Burnaby might have them. I mean probably, as they stock almost every kind of bolt made.

If you want a bag of 10, you can order the right length here:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/M1-2-M3-Bla...tersunk-Phillips-Head-Screw-Bolt/184375240479

I'd think the M2.5 - 6mm would be the one to go with. Of course it'll take a month or two to get here, unlike a specialist Canadian bolt shop. Maybe McMaster-Carr? I tried to start an account with them but they didn't respond, so I tend to go out to Burnaby now and then and take insulting behaviour from the aloof staff at Pacific but eventually get what I need.
 
GerardSamija said:
Pacific Fasteners in Burnaby might have them. I mean probably, as they stock almost every kind of bolt made.

If you want a bag of 10, you can order the right length here:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/M1-2-M3-Bla...tersunk-Phillips-Head-Screw-Bolt/184375240479

I'd think the M2.5 - 6mm would be the one to go with. Of course it'll take a month or two to get here, unlike a specialist Canadian bolt shop. Maybe McMaster-Carr? I tried to start an account with them but they didn't respond, so I tend to go out to Burnaby now and then and take insulting behaviour from the aloof staff at Pacific but eventually get what I need.
Click to expand...

Problem is common 2.5mm size is .45mm pitch.
 
I'm in Calgary so I was thinking of going with Bolt Warehouse, hopefully they can help out or point in the right direction. I'm no tradesman so I am hoping if I drop by their store with the info I have from this thread that they can find the right screw.
 
It'd really help if you could lift out the part the bolt goes into... but of course that could risk disassembly in some way you could find difficult to put together again, so at your own risk. Perhaps while there pick up a few bolts with similar dimensions just to be sure. They're bound to be quite cheap. But most likely is the one with 'extra fine' threads if they have a selection.
 
So after much waiting and wanting, the replacement screw arrived from Blue Line. I had tried to source a similar sized screw from Bolt Warehouse in Calgary, but they said that gunsmithing screws threads were usually more rounded and they did not carry them.
However- once the replacement screw came from Blue Line, it came with a note - the magazine catch connector is a plastic piece, and it IS NOT THREADED. Therefore, in my mind, I could have grabbed a similar size screw from Bolt Warehouse, as the piece the screw goes into is not threaded and it might not matter if the thread profile is exactly right. Just in case anyone is searching for solutions to this problem in the future.
 
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