STI GP6-C Dropping Mags

A

aridan

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I took my GP6-C to the range for the 1st time today, and enjoyed its deadly accuracy - until after 30 or so rounds when it no longer retained the mags. :(
The mags just stopped "clicking' on insertion, and the rounds wouldn't feed. I could pull the mag out without pressing the mag release without any effort.

Short of sending the gun back, is there anything I can do to correct this? If not - I didn't buy it from Freedom Ventures, I got it from a local dealer, who do I contact in this case, the dealer or Sean?

To make it even more interesting, I'm leaving on a 2 week vacation tomorrow.
 
Has the mag release button rotated? You can push it out either way, left or right. Unless it is the Extented mag release, in which case it will come out opposite of the enlarged button. It has a cut out that needs to be facing the rear of the pistol.

I push my mag release out with a similar sized punch, so as to keep the mechanism inside the grip depressed. Then follow the punch in with the mag release to reinstall.
 
Only things I can think is the mag release button needs "fitting". The mag retention lever rides in a scallop in the mag release button shaft. This surface may need to be adjusted (ground) so the lever has more room to engage the mag.
Also, the mag retention lever spring may be going t**s up.

Either way, not good. Pick Sean's brain for ideas on what to do. Talk to the dealer on picking up any costs.

My $.02

(E) :cool:
 
Gp6

If you want, give a shout after 10 am and bring it up. The mag catch shouldn't simply stop working, so I'm happy to have a look.
 
Today I spent about an hour dry-firing with snap caps, and the mag catch seemed to be working. So I took it to the range, and only had the catch not functioning once or twice, so I hope this will go away once the pistol breaks in.

However, I do have a problem with FTEs - as in Extract, not Eject. The spent brass stays in the barrel sticking out about 1/8", with the next round jamming against it. This happens 2-3 times with each mag. Today I shot 200 rounds, with maybe 2 or 3 mags out of 20 not having an FTE. Should I just keep breaking it in, or does it sound like a possible problem with the gun? Also, could it be that my reloads are underpowered to cycle this gun reliably? FWIW, I use those reloads in my Shadow & Jericho 941 trouble-free.

TIA.
 
Look at your extractor to ensure that there is not a build-up of crud stopping the extractor from closing on the rim of the cartridge.
Geoff


QUOTE=aridan;4964473]Today I spent about an hour dry-firing with snap caps, and the mag catch seemed to be working. So I took it to the range, and only had the catch not functioning once or twice, so I hope this will go away once the pistol breaks in.

However, I do have a problem with FTEs - as in Extract, not Eject. The spent brass stays in the barrel sticking out about 1/8", with the next round jamming against it. This happens 2-3 times with each mag. Today I shot 200 rounds, with maybe 2 or 3 mags out of 20 not having an FTE. Should I just keep breaking it in, or does it sound like a possible problem with the gun? Also, could it be that my reloads are underpowered to cycle this gun reliably? FWIW, I use those reloads in my Shadow & Jericho 941 trouble-free.

TIA.[/QUOTE]
 
Well, there is no crud, but the extractor looks rusty. It was rusty when I got the brand-new gun 3 weeks ago. I didn't think much of it then, hoping it was just surface rust. Now, I'm not so sure...
 
aridan said:
Well, there is no crud, but the extractor looks rusty. It was rusty when I got the brand-new gun 3 weeks ago. I didn't think much of it then, hoping it was just surface rust. Now, I'm not so sure...
Click to expand...

Pull your extractor. Clean it and lube it. If the ammo was underpowered, you'd be having stovepipes. Your slide is moving back and that means it's extractor gave up grabbing the case at some point. If the chamber isn't pitted, and the brass isn't corroded, my guess is you have an issue with the extractor. It's a beefy design, but if you found rust, it might be pitted or somehow not pivoting properly.
 
Extractor

How do you pull the extractor? Mine is one of the original K100's sold by Marstar and I've never had to remove the extractor. It does get cruddy, especially with HP 38 powder and cast lead bullets, but some solvent and a toothbrush takes care of it.


Canuck223 said:
Pull your extractor. Clean it and lube it. If the ammo was underpowered, you'd be having stovepipes. Your slide is moving back and that means it's extractor gave up grabbing the case at some point. If the chamber isn't pitted, and the brass isn't corroded, my guess is you have an issue with the extractor. It's a beefy design, but if you found rust, it might be pitted or somehow not pivoting properly.
Click to expand...
 
aridan said:
Thanks, Dave. Do you mean to take it out of the slide? If so, could you recommend any links on detailed disassembly? My search for both K100 & GP6 wasn't successful... TIA.
Click to expand...

Easy peasy. Just press a small punch or allen wrench into the hole at the rear of the part, pressing the detent down to clear the rear of the extractor, and gently pull towards the front of the slide. The spring is semi-captive and is held inside the extractor itself. re-installation is simple, as the part just slides in and all you have to do is gently press the detent down until the ring at the back of the extractor clears and can slide over.

I like the design.
 
Canuck223 said:
Easy peasy.
Click to expand...
It was, just like you said. I took it apart this morning & cleaned the extractor's flats on 1000grit with some G96. It does appear to move easier than before, can't wait to take it to the range to find out if this solves my problem. I do notice some front-to-back play, probably because the extractor is not of a pinned design, but hope that's OK. I gave it a drop of oil, is that wrong?

I looked at some K100 videos, and it appears that the mag can be secured easily with just a finger push. I have to slap mine in quite forcefully...

Lastly, saw the rear sight pin drifting out when I started cleaning. I usually put a drop of Crazy Glue when this happens, is there a better solution? I don't want it to be permanent, just secure enough so I don't have to check too often...
 
aridan said:
Lastly, saw the rear sight pin drifting out when I started cleaning. I usually put a drop of Crazy Glue when this happens, is there a better solution? I don't want it to be permanent, just secure enough so I don't have to check too often...
Click to expand...

It's a flaw of the Eliason design, and the main reason I recommend just upgrading the basic GP6 with the fiber optic front sight and Dynamic fixed rear. Eliason sights suck.

My suggestion is to take the slide to Arwen Ace and see if he can peen the sight pin on both ends to stake it in place.
 
Canuck223 said:
My suggestion is to take the slide to Arwen Ace and see if he can peen the sight pin on both ends to stake it in place.
Click to expand...
Thanks Dave, where do I find Arwen Ace? Does he do any other gunsmith magic, like installing adjustable sights onto a GSG 1911?

BTW, forgot to mention: the gun was shooting way too low & to the left as shipped. Took 7 clicks up & 3 clicks right to straighten it out.

NM, all I had to do was search User Name, sorry...
 
aridan said:
Thanks Dave, where do I find Arwen Ace? Does he do any other gunsmith magic, like installing adjustable sights onto a GSG 1911?

BTW, forgot to mention: the gun was shooting way too low & to the left as shipped. Took 7 clicks up & 3 clicks right to straighten it out.

NM, all I had to do was search User Name, sorry...
Click to expand...

While AA does seem to specialize in shotgun parts manufacture and installation, I've not yet had a gunsmithing job that he wasn't equipped for or willing to look at.
 
I haven't put a lot of rounds through my GP6C yet but I found that in order to get the mags to latch consistently, all I had to do was insert the mag fully and then give the mag base pad a slightly forward push. I found that this works on my pistol every single time. Why it works I don't know. Once the mag latches, it stays latched. I'd prefer it if the mag latched every time by just inserting it straight but at least I have a work around that is consistent.
 
Fusilier said:
I haven't put a lot of rounds through my GP6C yet but I found that in order to get the mags to latch consistently, all I had to do was insert the mag fully and then give the mag base pad a slightly forward push. I found that this works on my pistol every single time. Why it works I don't know. Once the mag latches, it stays latched. I'd prefer it if the mag latched every time by just inserting it straight but at least I have a work around that is consistent.
Click to expand...

I wonder, did they change something with the gun, or is this a new/different manufacturer of mags? I don't have any problems with mine, as far as mags go!
 
gp6 mags

Fusilier said:
I haven't put a lot of rounds through my GP6C yet but I found that in order to get the mags to latch consistently, all I had to do was insert the mag fully and then give the mag base pad a slightly forward push. I found that this works on my pistol every single time. Why it works I don't know. Once the mag latches, it stays latched. I'd prefer it if the mag latched every time by just inserting it straight but at least I have a work around that is consistent.
Click to expand...

This is all I did with my magazines and they are a joy to insert even fully loaded .
Now who of you is going to pay me the beer for all this hard work :cheers:

P1020921.jpg
 
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