Ok...So after trying to find the factory instructions for reversing the FNP magazine catch for a couple of days. I finally broke down and decided to deal with it myself.
It's pretty simple and was not to hard to figure out.
I wish I had a better digicam, that was up to taking macro pictures of the procedure, But I'm afraid I'll just have to describe it to you.
1.) Make sure the weapon is UNLOADED!
2.) Remove the Slide assembly as per the standard method for stripping the pistol for cleaning.
3.) Look down the mag well while working the Magazine Catch. the Magazine Catch internal bar will be obvious.
4.) A channel is molded into the inside front strap of the grip and runs just under the across the frame bar of the magazine catch inside the mag well. This is the Magazine Catch Spring removal channel.
5.) The magazine release is held in place by the spring that actuates the mag catch (The Magazine Catch spring looks like the letter N with a hook on both ends.) the N spring is silver and you will be able to see the top of it, sticking up just behind the magazine catch. the top hook of the N spring will be hooked over the top of the magazine catch bar. (What you probably will not be able to see, is that the bottom hook of the N spring is hooked over the bottom surface of the Magazine Catch bar in exactly the same fashion.)
6.) You will need a long, thin flat head screw driver and some sort of hook. A thick paper clip can be bent into a hook but a dental pick is what I used.
7.) Take the screwdriver and insert it up the mag well from the bottom of the frame (Were the mag goes in.), taking care not to scrape or touch the insides of the mag well, as this might mar the polymer. While visualizing the screwdrivers progress from the top of the mag well. The Magazine catch spring channel extends below the magazine catch bar about 5mm to 6mm and forms a square just below the magazine catch bar. This is where you want to gently press the flat head of the screw driver. The flat head of the screw driver will push the hook of the N spring off the bottom of the Magazine catch bar.
8.) While maintaining a gentle pressure on the screw driver to hold the bottom N spring hook off the magazine catch bar. Slide your hook or dental pick strait down the Magazine Spring Channel from the top of the Mag well and hook the top of the N Spring. if the bottom hook of the N Spring is properly depressed. A gentle upward pull will slide the N spring up the Magazine Catch Spring Channel and out the top of the Mag well. (Do not pull on the N spring hard enough to bend it! If it doesn't move with a gentle pull, then you do not have the bottom catch off and need to reposition the head of your screw driver.) (Also take care not to lose the N spring upon removal.)
9.) The Magazine catch bar may now be removed from the frame.
10.) Reverse the magazine catch. Making sure the line on the release button side points strait down the angle of the bottom of the trigger guard.
11.) Press the N spring into the top of the Magazine catch spring channel. Slide the N spring down the channel until it goes though the notch in the Magazine catch bar. Press the N spring downward until the bottom hook of the spring re-engages the bottom of the magazine catch bar. (you may need to use gentle pressure with the head of the screw driver to do this. Again gentle pressure and patients are the watch word here. (DO NOT BENT THE SPRING.) It will be obvious to you when the spring engages.
Thats all there is to it. You can now dump mags from the strong side like a H&K USP or Walther 99.
With the thick grip of the FNP pistols, I've found the strong side option to be the better method of magazine release. As it does not alter the shooting grip nearly so much as conventional thumb release.
Evo
It's pretty simple and was not to hard to figure out.
I wish I had a better digicam, that was up to taking macro pictures of the procedure, But I'm afraid I'll just have to describe it to you.
1.) Make sure the weapon is UNLOADED!
2.) Remove the Slide assembly as per the standard method for stripping the pistol for cleaning.
3.) Look down the mag well while working the Magazine Catch. the Magazine Catch internal bar will be obvious.
4.) A channel is molded into the inside front strap of the grip and runs just under the across the frame bar of the magazine catch inside the mag well. This is the Magazine Catch Spring removal channel.
5.) The magazine release is held in place by the spring that actuates the mag catch (The Magazine Catch spring looks like the letter N with a hook on both ends.) the N spring is silver and you will be able to see the top of it, sticking up just behind the magazine catch. the top hook of the N spring will be hooked over the top of the magazine catch bar. (What you probably will not be able to see, is that the bottom hook of the N spring is hooked over the bottom surface of the Magazine Catch bar in exactly the same fashion.)
6.) You will need a long, thin flat head screw driver and some sort of hook. A thick paper clip can be bent into a hook but a dental pick is what I used.
7.) Take the screwdriver and insert it up the mag well from the bottom of the frame (Were the mag goes in.), taking care not to scrape or touch the insides of the mag well, as this might mar the polymer. While visualizing the screwdrivers progress from the top of the mag well. The Magazine catch spring channel extends below the magazine catch bar about 5mm to 6mm and forms a square just below the magazine catch bar. This is where you want to gently press the flat head of the screw driver. The flat head of the screw driver will push the hook of the N spring off the bottom of the Magazine catch bar.
8.) While maintaining a gentle pressure on the screw driver to hold the bottom N spring hook off the magazine catch bar. Slide your hook or dental pick strait down the Magazine Spring Channel from the top of the Mag well and hook the top of the N Spring. if the bottom hook of the N Spring is properly depressed. A gentle upward pull will slide the N spring up the Magazine Catch Spring Channel and out the top of the Mag well. (Do not pull on the N spring hard enough to bend it! If it doesn't move with a gentle pull, then you do not have the bottom catch off and need to reposition the head of your screw driver.) (Also take care not to lose the N spring upon removal.)
9.) The Magazine catch bar may now be removed from the frame.
10.) Reverse the magazine catch. Making sure the line on the release button side points strait down the angle of the bottom of the trigger guard.
11.) Press the N spring into the top of the Magazine catch spring channel. Slide the N spring down the channel until it goes though the notch in the Magazine catch bar. Press the N spring downward until the bottom hook of the spring re-engages the bottom of the magazine catch bar. (you may need to use gentle pressure with the head of the screw driver to do this. Again gentle pressure and patients are the watch word here. (DO NOT BENT THE SPRING.) It will be obvious to you when the spring engages.
Thats all there is to it. You can now dump mags from the strong side like a H&K USP or Walther 99.
With the thick grip of the FNP pistols, I've found the strong side option to be the better method of magazine release. As it does not alter the shooting grip nearly so much as conventional thumb release.
Evo
