Removing Material From A Mag Release

[BigDave]

Without getting into too much detail, can you file/grind metal (.010-.020") off of the curved part of a mag release? What, if any problems, would the cause?

[38super]

If the mag tube is dragging, only remove enough for the mag tube to clear when the mag release is depressed. Altering the uplock step that retains the mag tube will cause feeding probs. This is caused by excessive angular transition between mag lip release and barrel feed ramp. Usually the top round will ram into the feed ramp and cause a stutter or fully stall the slide. Mag releases made from soft material (delrin or soft MIM) will wear out in time (esp if you practice reloads with a weighted mag)

HTH

[diehli]

BE's decapping pin trick seems to be the ticket if you're pushing the button too far in and keeping the mag from dropping freely. If the idea is to prevent over-depression, try that before you start grinding.

[BigDave]

Its a mag tube clearance issue - not the actual catch itself.

[shred]

You could always consider squashing the offending mag tube (if it's just one) gently in a vice. Many STI & SV mags are too long front-to-back to drop freely, especially with the new slightly-smaller grip frames.

[BigDave]

Sorry, single stack frame. STI Trojan - guess that was important.

[Duane Thomas]

I recently took material off the "curved part" of the mag release (nearest the button itself, inside the gun) for a student who was having this very problem. We're not talking about taking material off the shelf that holds the magazine in place. That's on the other side of the mag well from the area we're talking about. A bit of work with a dremel tool and the guy's mags were dropping fine. No fuss, no muss, no problems caused. So the answer to your question is "Yes." I'd suggest frequently reinstalling the mag button to make sure you're not taking off too much material, just enough that the curved portion of the mag button follows the interior contour of the mag well when fully depressed, and doesn't actually protrude into the mag well.

[PistolJim]

I've done the same as Duane to 3 Kimbers to get the mags to drop free all the time. No problems.

Jim

[OpnBlstr]

I've done the same as Duane to 3 Kimbers to get the mags to drop free all the time.

I do this to almost all of the 1911 pistols I work on for people.

Why can't a manufacturer just make a release that is already properly relieved? It's not like none of them have had some spare time in the past 97 years to figure this out. Even brand new Wilson parts I buy need the grinder.

I've done so many of them I can stick it in the vise, shape and polish, and have it reinstalled in under 5 minutes - no trial fitting required and it looks like factory finish. This means that I'm doing entirely too many of them and Kimber/SA/all-the-others need to redesign the part.

[BigDave]

Thanks guys.