JeffWard Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 I picked up one of LF Arms' extended mag releases this week. I've been looking for an extended mag release for a while for my USPSA Limited Gun, and debating back and forth the advantages/disadvantages. Costa built theirs, but it was impossible to find.Now LF Arms (www.lf-arms.com) has this one, so I jumped on it. And so far... VERY happy.Solid steel stock with a nice melonite finish. The finish is flawless, even for a part where 90% of it is inside the gun. The fit is perfect (see pictures). It looks and feels like the mag release S&W should have put on the gun all along...Many aftermarket extended releases (for 1911/2011 guns) have an issue of being TOO big, so you can inadvertently drop a mag when you don't intend to. I highly doubt this will happen with the LF Arms version. I'm going to run some drills with it this weekend, and shoot a match Tuesday night to make sure... but so far, I'm really impressed.I have BIG hands... so the Apex FSS trigger puts the trigger the right distance forward, and the large backstrap stippled deep to make it BIGGER, fit my hands well. I've never had to rotate the gun a LOT in my hand to release the mag, but it's a subtle shift that can change you grip from mag to mag. With the LF Release, I don't think I'm going to have to rotate the gun AT ALL (see pictures). The tip of my thumb fell on the factory release, but I couldn't get enough pressure on it with a thumb tip to reliable drop mags. With the LF Arms release, I can put plenty of pressure on the release to drop a mag, with no shift!If you've got shorter fingers, and find you need to rotate the gun a BUNCH, or even drop mags with your trigger finger... this release will be a god-send. JeffWard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavy Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Thanks for the tip. Just ordered one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMike Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Nice write up Jeff! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle7735 Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 The costa catalyst is no longer really affiliated with Costa anymore. Now sold by Stephen Pineau from the 21st century gunfighter website.http://21cg.us/shop/index.php/catalyst.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffWard Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 If you're shooting an M&P in Limited or Open... this is a MUST have for <$30 Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavy Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Just got mine. Shot it today. This is a great addition. Fit and finish are perfect. Very nice product! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewberry Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 This looks sweet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacketjoed Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Been looking for a metal one for a while now, this looks like perfect! Just ordered one. Nice find Jeff!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishnHuntIN Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Did you have any issues with inadvertently dropping mags? Seems like that's always the complaint I hear about extended releases. I have to break my grip quite a bit (small hands) to engage the release, so this looks like it's worth a shot. Hard to be for 33$ shipped! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffWard Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 NO problems with inadvertent drops. The release is no wider... just longer than the factory release. I'm shooting my third competitive match with it Sunday. It's taking a while to rebuild THOUSANDS of reps of muscle memory to STOP twisting the gun! I'm keeping my palm planted now and just slightly re-gripping with my fingertips to make drops, so the position in the palm (the critical part) is consistent. LOVE this extension. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishnHuntIN Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 NO problems with inadvertent drops. The release is no wider... just longer than the factory release. I'm shooting my third competitive match with it Sunday. It's taking a while to rebuild THOUSANDS of reps of muscle memory to STOP twisting the gun! I'm keeping my palm planted now and just slightly re-gripping with my fingertips to make drops, so the position in the palm (the critical part) is consistent. LOVE this extension. Jeff Sweet, thanks for the response! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkm Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Bought one of these and tried it out this weekend. Doesn't really work for me being a lefty and all. Great product though wont have a hard time reselling it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnuke146 Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Received mine today, fit is great, slid right in, no drag when pushing it or on mags, feels great can get to it without adjusting grip now, I have the small brass SSS magwell and does not touch table when laying flat, very happy. Ordered it Friday showed up monday[emoji106] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxdc Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Have had mine for a few weeks... Great item!!! With my springer precision slide racker and SSS limited magwell I will never eject a mag during a table start!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlockCanMan Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 How much further does this extended mag release stick out? Will it still be IDPA legal, or does it stick out too far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Those do look interesting. Does anyone know off the top of their head if they are production legal? I need to check the rulebook before ordering one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gakracker Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Are they somewhat universally holster friendly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFArmse Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 For IDPA they are legal for ESP but not SSP class. The extended size release will clear any holster that does not cover the mag release button however it really depends how close the holster is to your body whether or not it interferes with the button. We also make a standard size release that offers the same performance, serrations and feel of the extended but is the same dimention as the factory part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig N Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 For IDPA they are legal for ESP but not SSP class. The extended size release will clear any holster that does not cover the mag release button however it really depends how close the holster is to your body whether or not it interferes with the button. We also make a standard size release that offers the same performance, serrations and feel of the extended but is the same dimention as the factory part. How far out from the frame is it, as measured per the IDPA clarification? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFArmse Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Per IDPA rules it cannot be larger than 0.2". Out extended release is 0.16" and if course the standard length is the same as the factory part. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig N Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Per IDPA rules it cannot be larger than 0.2". Out extended release is 0.16" and if course the standard length is the same as the factory part. Hope this helps. Thanks it does help. I'm going to a major match in June and changing guns right now so the info is most helpful. I received mine yesterday. I have short fingers/small hands for a man and have always had to break my grip and shift the gun to hit the mag release. I don't have to shift at all with your mag release. It's perfect for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwc5 Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 This looks like a "must have" - THANKS for the info !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rack&roll Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Those do look interesting. Does anyone know off the top of their head if they are production legal? I need to check the rulebook before ordering one. I would have to say no, not USPSA production division legal. Externally different, and not OEM manufacture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Alpha Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 For IDPA they are legal for ESP but not SSP class. The extended size release will clear any holster that does not cover the mag release button however it really depends how close the holster is to your body whether or not it interferes with the button. We also make a standard size release that offers the same performance, serrations and feel of the extended but is the same dimention as the factory part. Just received my order and it is just what my short thumbs needed! Superb quality.. may shoot with it in my tier III IDPA match this weekend. Thank you LF Arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howa4au Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Got one for both 5" pros. Love them. Great product. Shoot IDPA ESP and USPSA Limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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