[Brutus]

Back in about 2000-2001 I bought a new, old stock Springfield P9C at the Jackson show. For those who aren't familiar, the SA P9 series was a line that SA sold back in the mid-80s. They're just a straight knock-off of a CZ or Tanfoglio Witness. In fact I think they were actually made by CZ or Tanfoglio and just marked SA and sold here as such, much like the XD series is made by that company in Croatia that invented them - was originally the FS-2000, I think.

Anyhow, they made a full-size version in 9mm, .40 Smith, and .45. They made a compact version in 9mm and .40, designated the P9C. The full-size was just P9. Mine is the compact 9mm and is one of the most accurate handguns I own, not even taking into account that it's a compact.

Well, after I screwed around trying to convert the mag release to left-handed and couldn't get it to work, I put it back to right-handed and now I've got a problem with magazine height in the mag well. Specifically, the mag now sits too high and the slide hangs up on it when you hit the slide release lever to chamber a round. I don't want to get to filing and sanding on my mags because before I ever attempted to change the hand of the release all my mags worked fine. There's obviously something wrong in the mechanics of the mag catch itself that I apparently caused in my attempt to reverse it.

I still have the original owner's manual that describes, step by step, how to reverse it and it reads like the most bone-headed simple thing to do. Also, I don't think they'd have included that in the manual if they figured it was anything that was terribly easy to screw-up.

So, now I've got an inoperable pistol that is one of my favorites. It's got a great feel in the hand - it's a solid little all steel chunk with a double stack mag and checkered wood grips and it has just about the most natural feel in your hand of any pistol I've ever shot. And, as I noted before, it will shoot the friggin' lights out.

Can someone help me correct the screw-up I made? I've never done much 'smithing, but otherwise I'm very mechanically inclined. I used to work as a hydraulic mechanic/troubleshooter and hydraulic pumps, valves, etc. can be some tedious, aggravating stuff to fool with. I was very good at that, but this pistol has me stymied.

Anyone?

:yell:

 

[Xd357]

I can't help but I'd take it to a gunsmith.

 

[Will_M]

I don't think it's necessary to take it to a gunsmith. Looking at a few pictures, it seems like the mag catch is similar to a 1911 style mag catch. Try removing the whole assembly and breaking it down. Reassemble it and put it back in the gun. Sometimes it's as simple as redoing it.

What COULD be happening is the mag catch isn't fully seated. That would potentially raise the magazine catch point a little. But I'm not too familiar with the catch assembly on the P9.

If you can take a picture of the mag catch, perhaps I can help you a little further.

 

[Brutus]

I don't think it's necessary to take it to a gunsmith. Looking at a few pictures, it seems like the mag catch is similar to a 1911 style mag catch. Try removing the whole assembly and breaking it down. Reassemble it and put it back in the gun. Sometimes it's as simple as redoing it.

What COULD be happening is the mag catch isn't fully seated. That would potentially raise the magazine catch point a little. But I'm not too familiar with the catch assembly on the P9.

If you can take a picture of the mag catch, perhaps I can help you a little further.

Thanks, Will.

I may just tinker around with it some more when I have time and see if I can straighten it out myself. The only thing I have available to take digital pics with is my cell phone, so I don't know if I can get a decent enough quality pic to be of any use. I'll try it and see, though.