best extended mag release for 1911

[z06pilot]

What is the best idpa legal mag release for a 1911?

[Joe4d]

well the title of your thread and the actual question you posted are two different questions.

For your topic question: Half a dozen of one six of the other. They are all almost identical.

For the question in your thread. The factory one or a normal sized factory one from a decent company like Wilson, Caspian or Ed Brown. Again Half a dozen of one six of another.

Extended mag buttons are basically bad. Eventually you will either hit hit with your week hand on recoil and drop a loaded mag in the dirt. Or the the other problem is over pushing the button really fast which jams on the side of the magazine preventing it from falling until you let up on the button. Human nature being what it is when you push the button and the mag doesnt fall you will push it harder, not let up. I know some people use them. And I actually like the ones with the oversized buttons because the buttons prevent over pushing them but they arnt IDPA legal. Even the people who use the extended ones and dress them to minimize jamming a mag in will probably admit to no real advantage. Think about it you are still going to push the same size button in flush with the frame. How is a 1/4" longer button gonna make any difference in time ?

[z06pilot]

well the title of your thread and the actual question you posted are two different questions.

For your topic question: Half a dozen of one six of the other. They are all almost identical.

For the question in your thread. The factory one or a normal sized factory one from a decent company like Wilson, Caspian or Ed Brown. Again Half a dozen of one six of another.

Extended mag buttons are basically bad. Eventually you will either hit hit with your week hand on recoil and drop a loaded mag in the dirt. Or the the other problem is over pushing the button really fast which jams on the side of the magazine preventing it from falling until you let up on the button. Human nature being what it is when you push the button and the mag doesnt fall you will push it harder, not let up. I know some people use them. And I actually like the ones with the oversized buttons because the buttons prevent over pushing them but they arnt IDPA legal. Even the people who use the extended ones and dress them to minimize jamming a mag in will probably admit to no real advantage. Think about it you are still going to push the same size button in flush with the frame. How is a 1/4" longer button gonna make any difference in time ?

I thought that perhaps a larger button would require me to shift my grip a bit less, saving a little bit of time. I suppose that I could use one of the oversized buttons that you mentioned for uspsa, and then just switch back to the factory button for IDPA.

[Joe4d]

Spend the $30 on dummy magazines and just practice slamming your reloads. You'll be a lot further ahead of the game than changing buttons around.

[ChuckS]

I thought that perhaps a larger button would require me to shift my grip a bit less, saving a little bit of time. I suppose that I could use one of the oversized buttons that you mentioned for uspsa, and then just switch back to the factory button for IDPA.

I have used the Ed Brown mag releases that are 0.060" longer than normal. They let my strong hand stay put while hitting the button and they have never caused an unplanned magazine departure and I have fairly large hands. I did relieve the recess so I wouldn't snag the mag as Joe described. Give it a try, it might be enough. I did try the paddle release and I found that there were all sorts of ways to entertain your squad with unplanned mag launching.

Later,

Chuck

[Steve J]

What is the best idpa legal mag release for a 1911?

Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Nighthawk: They are all basically the same externally, but the most important part is the key or lock, because the internal dimensions are not the same. I can tell you for a fact that the Ed Brown will not work with the key from a Colt or Les Baer. The Nighthawk comes with all the internals (key and spring). If you order someone elses, you might have to get a key from the same house. Most will also have to be fitted internally - metal removed from the rounded edge next to the button so that when fully depressed it conforms to the curvature of the inside of the magazine well. That's very important, otherwise you can lock the mag in place if you depress the release fully. You will also most likely have to dress up some rough edges around the opening for the key, so it won't drag. I like my stuff to glide. I also like mine with a reduced power spring from Wolff. They make four different levels. I like the Wolff #3.

I thought that perhaps a larger button would require me to shift my grip a bit less, saving a little bit of time. I suppose that I could use one of the oversized buttons that you mentioned for uspsa, and then just switch back to the factory button for IDPA.

Remember it can only be longer. Larger is not IDPA legal. All the of the above makers of "tactical extended" releases make ones that are IDPA legal. These also make oversize buttons that are not IDPA legal.

I still have to shift my grip to reach the button, but the slightly longer button and reduced power spring make the release far more postive and faster. Also there is no way it can be depressed accidentally. It's not that long or light.

Edited April 19, 2009 by Steve J

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: I like the Chip McCormick extended mag release for IDPA. For USPSA I am going to try a Wilson extended mag release with the paddle on it. I will shape the paddle so it won't touch my hand or release the mag when I do a table start. Thanks, Eric