TM P226 slide doesn't lock back.

[Omi-san]

Originally Posted by Danke

I have a hard time wrapping my head around that being caused by the gas.

The slide stops and then recoils catching on the hold open catch with an empty mag. That is driven by the recoil spring. If the slide was blasting back so hard the energy was echoing into the return cycle you would think other parts would also be showing damage or accelerated wear.

May a casting or case hardening problem.

Illusion here has a cherry 226 build on a TM, he'd be the guy to PM.

I guess you are right. Propane or not, after 3 mags, the slide catch would only have come in contact with that metal piece 3 times. How could that even be enough to grind the edge. Shitty metal indeed.

There most be a way to fix it because the slide catch still holds the slide even if you shake the gun. It just misses the egde of the metal part after the last cycle.

[Crunchmeister]

Originally Posted by Omi-san

Would adding a spacer under the magazine spring fix the problem? Could it push the slide catch upward faster and harder before it as a chance to slip?

I've thought of this as well. It may help if the mag spring has that extra power to push the lever up. However, I'm not overly hopeful about it. Hellfire has offered to replace the slide for my gun with a new one, so that at least temporarily solves the problem for me. I have a metal slide, outer barrel, metal spring guide, and stiffer recoil spring on the way right now.

Hopefully the stiffer spring will slow the blowback part of the slide cycle enough so it's action isn't quite as violent and preserves that metal rail. If not, then I can probably get out a dremel and grind down the part in question so that the slide actually gets locked by the catch lever in the notch on the slide instead. I wouldn't recommend that on a plastic slide, as it will probably wear out the plastic quite quickly.

Man, this really sucks to have a problem like this on a brand new gun.

[Griffin]

Ok now here's a concern if you dremmel away the bits Crunch has shown in his photo's. With a metal slide installed of course, will you risk the slide catch itself being damaged because, I assume its made with the same cheap metal as the part breaking inside of the gun.

[Crunchmeister]

I just replies to your PM, Griffin. But to echo what I said in the PM, I think, depending on the quality of the metal of the slide, it should be more durable, but wear and eventual failiure is inevitable.

[ex]

Got a source for this part..I just checked all the usual suspects but no one seems to have it.

[Crunchmeister]

I contacted all the Asian suppliers, and no one had it. Contacted a bunch of American ones, and the ones I've heard back from all referred me to either WGC, UNC, or Redwolf.

Not sure where to turn here. It sort of defeats the purpose for companies to include all these exploded diagrams with part numbers if there's no place to get than damn parts. I'd contact Tokyo Marui directly, but since I can't read Japanese, I can't even find contact information on their site.

[Griffin]

Would it be possible to machine your own replacement part from a stronger material.

[Crunchmeister]

If one has the skill and equipment to do it, I don't see why someone couldn't machine a new, identical part out of stronger metal.

[Griffin]

Dam was hoping you would know someone who knows someone who could do this .

[ex]

I might know a source...I'll post when I know more. I need this part now too. My gun was working fine until this afternoon when I changed slides.

[Griffin]

That would be awesome ex- if you know someone who could do this. Although looking at the gun some more could the problem be in fact the mag spring is just not strong enough on propane to engage the slide catch in the full upright position. The first few mags seem to work but, once that small section of metal gets worn away, I think than with the slide moving as fast as it does on propane , it just cannot fully engage in time.

[KEVORKIAN]

I'm gonna try filing the slide catch...maybe give it a different angle or something.
A stronger spring in the mag would be nice but that might cause feed issues !!
Trial & error on this one!

[Omi-san]

There is a discontinued G&P metal upgrade for the p226 which included the frame, slide, barrel and that faulty metal part. Seems like it at least.

It's out of stock on all the HK retailers sites.

[Crunchmeister]

Yeah, I saw that kit too. Seems to be the only one that has that part listed as included with it of all the metal slides and kits I've seen.

I don't think the slide I bought comes with it though. At least it wasn't in the image of the upgrade kit, and wasn't mentioned in the description. My slide arrived in Canada yesterday and is now pending customs inspection. I'll let you guys know once it's here.

[KEVORKIAN]

Just finished playing around with my file & may have come up with a fix...

I filed & squared up the face of the slide catch lever & gave it a little different angle. I also cleaned up the damaged portion of the piston housing where the slide catch would catch.

3 full mags later & I have yet to have it dryfire...slide locks back just fine!

I'll monitor & report back any findings should trouble resume!

Don't ask for any pics because the close-ups posted by Crunchmeister tell all of what needs to be done!

Cheap fix if you ask me...just don't overfile = $$$$$$