P95 Mag Release

P95 Mag release problem
I have an old P95, and the mag release seems to be somewhat jammed. It's operable, but requires the thumb strength of the Gods. Does anyone have any hints about making the thing a little more pleasant to use? I've tried Hoppe's gun oil, and a light machine oil, but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions welcome, and thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum.
Have you ( no kidding ) blown it out with compressed air?

It's been so long since I owned one, I can't remember how ( or IF ) it comes apart.

Both sides are hard to press?

coyotesgator2 said:

Both sides are hard to press?

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Yes sir. I'm a guitar player, and have fairly strong hands, so when I said it was hard to release, I wasn't exaggerating. It's almost painful to the thumbs, and both sides are like that.

hittman said:

Welcome to the forum.
Have you ( no kidding ) blown it out with compressed air?

It's been so long since I owned one, I can't remember how ( or IF ) it comes apart.

Click to expand...

I don't have an air compressor. If I took it to my mechanic's shop, they might let me use a blowgun. How would I access the innards to blow it out? I think the grip & frame module is injection molded around the works.

From what you are describing, I don't think that's your problem, but I would still encourage you to give compressed air a shot.

It seems more likely to me that the three pieces (spring and both release levers) are not properly assembled? I would look up how to remove and reassemble the mag release to verify... It's not difficult, but it is pretty difficult for me to describe here.

I think I had a similar problem, self-inflicted until I discovered the need to push a little bit forward also.

NC FNS said:

I think I had a similar problem, self-inflicted until I discovered the need to push a little bit forward also.

Click to expand...

I have a Sig P320 (In the Lord's caliber!) that was the same way, but the trick was to work the release about a hundred times to loosen it. Maybe the P95 needs the same exercise. I don't know if the wife will appreciate it a second time...

"In the Lord's caliber!" I like that!! Never seen that one before.
Remember watching a suspect running from the cops through a Chik-Fil-a and a dude opens up his truck door and slams the guy down.
He jumps out and yells, at the perp, "You don't do that in God's parking lot!"

The P95 mag release has to be pushed forward towards the muzzle NOT in towards the magazine well like almost every other SA pistol made. I figured I would state the obvious first since it is a weird design.

^^ This ^^

I had to go pull one out of my gun cabinet to just see... it is more of a natural twist than actually pushing forward. I think something is wrong with the spring on the OP's . There is a way of course to take it apart but I don't remember how. I did this on an older P89 when I realized the difference in magazines between the original P89 and the newer ones was about 2 thousands of an inch in where the mag release was located and caught the cut out on the mag.

blume357 said:

I had to go pull one out of my gun cabinet to just see... it is more of a natural twist than actually pushing forward. I think something is wrong with the spring on the OP's . There is a way of course to take it apart but I don't remember how. I did this on an older P89 when I realized the difference in magazines between the original P89 and the newer ones was about 2 thousands of an inch in where the mag release was located and caught the cut out on the mag.

Click to expand...

.040 difference between P15 and P18 factory 9mm mags. Sn 304-69999 is the cutoff point.

I checked my grip on the gun when trying to release the mag, and find that I do, in fact, push forward as well as toward the grip on the release. I tried pushing forward more, no joy. I may have to try to find a shop manual of some sort to take the mag release apart, as has been suggested a couple of times.

Owners manual probably on line at Rugers web site.
May find You Tube video to help as well.

hittman said:

Owners manual probably on line at Rugers web site.
May find You Tube video to help as well.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll check it out.

The manual doesn't really tell the truth about the mag release for the P-guns. You simply push the release forward. Not really in at all. It has to pivot forward to come out of the hole in the front of the magazine.

The pic I posted shows the left release and flat spring. Pretty simple setup so either it moves forward or it doesn't.

There used to be a tear down post that is stickied but I don't think the pictures show or links work anymore. Maybe.


Good luck and Keep the P-guns alive!!!

Found this which seems pretty good but right at the end (10:20) he talks about but doesn't actually remove the mag release. The 95 is a bit harder because the grip is solid and you have to go up the magwell to apply pressure on the spring.

I really think it is simply you are pushing in instead of forward.

Do post a follow up and we will try to help more. Few P-nuts on here that still care about the old P-series.

WOW! I see a trip to a gunsmith in my future...( spoken in a Christopher Walken voice ) I have bad luck with stuff like this, so I think I'll let a pro check it out. I can see pins and springs flying all over the place if I try that. Thanks for sending the video.