SR22 Magazine malfunction

[user]

Wondering whether I'd be able to fix this myself. I've got one magazine out of the half-dozen I bought, that won't lock the slide back when empty. I don't know what the mechanism is that makes that work, and figured I'd ask for some hints. The other magazines all do the job properly, so I figure it ain't the gun. Any ideas?

 

[Richbaker]

Call Ruger, they'll probably send you a new one...

 

[MCPO]

This has been discussed in other gun forums. Appears a few Magazines, from the factory, had the thumb pieces installed upside down. Take a mag that works and compare the thumb pieces with the non functioning mag (won't lock slide back).

http://rugerforum.net/ruger-rimfires/51012-sr22-pistol-range-report-some-problems-5.html (Post #62)

 

[GeorgeP]

Wondering whether I'd be able to fix this myself. I've got one magazine out of the half-dozen I bought, that won't lock the slide back when empty. I don't know what the mechanism is that makes that work, and figured I'd ask for some hints. The other magazines all do the job properly, so I figure it ain't the gun. Any ideas?

In a nutshell, the lock back mechanism is the tab on the side of the mag...part of the thumb slide. Look up inside the mag well and you'll see what the tab presses on to push the slide lock in place. Be sure the tab hasn't gotten broken off, that it goes all the way to the top of the grove, that the mag spring is as strong as the others, and the tab hasn't gotten the top edge clipped or rounded off. If it came from Ruger, let them replace it. If you like to tinker/hack, take the mag apart and clean it really good, ensuring the tab is working as it should.

 

[user]

Yup, that was the problem, all right. Took out the baseplate & switched the thumb-doogit around, and that cured it. Thanks, y'all!