Mags won't drop

[Skillet_1911]

Recently began having trouble with my mags not dropping out of my 1911. I've been running Tripp research and Wilson ETM mags. Wouldn't be an issue if I didn't use then for USPSA. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks

[wgj3]

In my experience, when I had mags that generally dropped free and then began to not drop free, it was because the feed lips had begun to spread a little and caused just enough drag to keep the mag from falling...

Take each mag and depress the follower as far as you can by hand. Then squeeze the feed lips together a bit. Not a ton, but a firm squeeze. I generally used a set of pliers. Repeat until mag starts falling again...

[yukonjon]

I vote feed lips as well. If you have a mag that drops free and one that doesn’t, see if you can use a micrometer to see a difference.

[GregJ]

Yes, feed lips have spread.  Do this.  Pull the guts out of the mag (follow, spring, base pad), insert into empty gun, and press mag release.  Mag tube should cleanly drop free. 

 

If it doesnt, you can always take a sharpie and "paint" the feed lip area, and insert/drop multiple times.  Should be able to easily see where the interference is.

 

I usually use a straight edge to see how badly they are bent out, then press that edge against side of bench, and check again with straight edge, and by insert/drop empty tube until it drops freely.

[Skillet_1911]

Thank you for the info. 

[zzt]

If the above does not work, take out the mag catch and clean it.  BTW, I'm a little surprised you got both the Tripps and the ETMs to run in the same gun.