Posted: 10/7/2010 6:21:21 PM EDT
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Few months ago I krylon'd a beater 1911 that's going to be a gift for my best friend. Putting it back together, I noticed an interesting problem - mag release does not want to drop the magazine. Push the button in all the way, and the magazine remains stuck inside the gun - it will not drop free. This happens with Wilson, Kimber, Metalform, CMC, and no-name mags, both empty and full.
If I take the mag release out, the mag does not stick. Slides into and out of the gun perfectly. So, says I, I changed the dimensions of the release with spraypaint. (BTW, the release was out of the gun when the krylon-ing was taking place, I did that part separate) Before I go and order a new mag release, I swap out the old one with a new one from my personal 1911 build (the mags drop free perfectly on this one). I experience the same problem. 
The dimensions of the mag tube in the frame have not changed, the magazine release doesn't appear to be the problem, and the failure occurs across all brands of magazines, in any condition of loading. Whacky. Any ideas? Thanks. |
| RIA lower. This will be my third build on an RIA lower, and all the mags drop free. Even this one dropped the mags clean prior to the kryloning. Which made me think the paint changed the dimensions of the mag tube or release, but a clean release yields the same problem, and the mag drops free without the release installed. |
| The mags drop free without the release installed because there is no pressure from the mag catch on the mag that would push it against frame wall. Its more than likely too much paint built up inside the frame somewhere and I would try removing paint before removing anything from the mag catch itself since the catch is probably not the problem. You don't really see inside the tube anyhow so just take out any spray/overspray from inside the frame and I'll bet the mags will drop free once again. |
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Sounds like the "button" side of the mag catch is probably binding against the mag. Take enough metal off the inside of the mag catch with a chainsaw file, and I'll bet you'll find the mags drop free after that.
Is this an extended-length mag catch? This usually happens because the extended button can allow you to press the mag catch too far into the frame. |
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Quoted:
Sounds like the "button" side of the mag catch is probably binding against the mag. Take enough metal off the inside of the mag catch with a chainsaw file, and I'll bet you'll find the mags drop free after that. Is this an extended-length mag catch? This usually happens because the extended button can allow you to press the mag catch too far into the frame. I believe its the paint. The OP said: Even this one dropped the mags clean prior to the kryloning. So if it dropped free before the paint than it has to be the paint. He also tried a catch from his other 1911 and it still stuck. I would bet any money its too much paint built up inside the frame anywhere the magazine is touching.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Sounds like the "button" side of the mag catch is probably binding against the mag. Take enough metal off the inside of the mag catch with a chainsaw file, and I'll bet you'll find the mags drop free after that. Is this an extended-length mag catch? This usually happens because the extended button can allow you to press the mag catch too far into the frame. I believe its the paint. The OP said: Even this one dropped the mags clean prior to the kryloning. So if it dropped free before the paint than it has to be the paint. He also tried a catch from his other 1911 and it still stuck. I would bet any money its too much paint built up inside the frame anywhere the magazine is touching.I'd believe it's the paint too...except the mags drop free without the release in place. Anybody got any idea how to remove krylon (baked at 400 for 2 hrs) from the mag tube of a 1911? Seems like that'll be my next step. |
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I'd believe it's the paint too...except the mags drop free without the release in place.
Exactly, and it binds with the stock mag release and the release from a DIFFERENT 1911 as well according to your post. It also dropped free BEFORE you painted it only with the release in. The release is putting pressure on the mag and pushing it against the painted frame and I'm willing to bet every mag release would do it as it currently sits.Why would it work before painting but bind afterwards? I'm going to keep watch on this thread to see what happens after the paint is removed on the inside of the frame. |
| I'd still suggest trying to remove a bit of metal from the button side of the inside of the mag release. Not only is it the cheaper part to work on, but you won't have to remove the paint from inside the magwell, and if it turns out not to be the problem, it won't hurt anything anyway. |