P97 magazine drops

ruger97DC · October 29, 2012, 03:35 PM

Good day all, I bought my P97dc roughly 11 years ago firing it occasionally over the years but more frequently now I have a gun range near me. My only concern at the moment is that when I load a mag ( doesn't matter how many rounds in it ) it seems to drop the for the 1st couple of shots then tap and rack and it is fine after that, and yes I tested it out this weekend at the range and it does it with both of my magazines, I checked to see if my rather large hand was inadvertently hitting the release button but it is nowhere near it, I am thinking about replacing the mag latch and spring, any gunsmiths or P97 owners out there have any input on the subject.

Mosin44az · October 29, 2012, 10:45 PM

I am neither a smith nor a P97 owner but I did have a Taurus that did a similar thing, occasionally popping out. Look up the mag well and see how far the catch is sticking out. Might not be far enough. Your mag catch replacement idea is a good one.

ruger97DC · October 30, 2012, 07:38 AM

That's what I was thinking, just need to find tools that will fit down there to pull the spring.

chris in va · October 30, 2012, 10:52 AM

First things first, take a q-tip and clean off your mag catch in the magwell. You'd be surprised how much junk accumulates in there.

Clean the inside of the magazines while you're at it.

After that, Ruger will fix it for you.

FrankenMauser · October 30, 2012, 02:05 PM

Yep, start by cleaning.

Auto-shuckers poop where they eat, and some of that crap makes its way into the mag release/catch. The design of the P-series' fairly unique mag release/catch allows it to keep from fully seating against its stops in the grip frame if there's too much crud.

If cleaning doesn't help, contact Ruger or see if you can get the parts yourself (Midway, Numrich, Brownells, etc). But, keep in mind that the release/catch is two parts, plus the spring; and Ruger tweaked the design at some point (~1999?).

October 29, 2012, 03:35 PM	#1
ruger97DC Junior Member Join Date: October 28, 2012 Posts: 2	P97 magazine drops Good day all, I bought my P97dc roughly 11 years ago firing it occasionally over the years but more frequently now I have a gun range near me. My only concern at the moment is that when I load a mag ( doesn't matter how many rounds in it ) it seems to drop the for the 1st couple of shots then tap and rack and it is fine after that, and yes I tested it out this weekend at the range and it does it with both of my magazines, I checked to see if my rather large hand was inadvertently hitting the release button but it is nowhere near it, I am thinking about replacing the mag latch and spring, any gunsmiths or P97 owners out there have any input on the subject.

October 30, 2012, 02:05 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Yep, start by cleaning. Auto-shuckers poop where they eat, and some of that crap makes its way into the mag release/catch. The design of the P-series' fairly unique mag release/catch allows it to keep from fully seating against its stops in the grip frame if there's too much crud. If cleaning doesn't help, contact Ruger or see if you can get the parts yourself (Midway, Numrich, Brownells, etc). But, keep in mind that the release/catch is two parts, plus the spring; and Ruger tweaked the design at some point (~1999?). __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 29, 2012, 10:45 PM	#2
Mosin44az Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 2,585	I am neither a smith nor a P97 owner but I did have a Taurus that did a similar thing, occasionally popping out. Look up the mag well and see how far the catch is sticking out. Might not be far enough. Your mag catch replacement idea is a good one.

October 30, 2012, 07:38 AM	#3
ruger97DC Junior Member Join Date: October 28, 2012 Posts: 2	That's what I was thinking, just need to find tools that will fit down there to pull the spring.

October 30, 2012, 10:52 AM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	First things first, take a q-tip and clean off your mag catch in the magwell. You'd be surprised how much junk accumulates in there. Clean the inside of the magazines while you're at it. After that, Ruger will fix it for you.