1911 magazine trouble

sammy69 · November 17, 2008, 12:40 AM

I shoot lots of IDPA and USPSA with my 1911's and am having trouble with a few magazines. I have 4 Wilson 47d's, 3 Les Baer 7 round, 2 Wilson Elite Tactical and a Kimber 7 rounder. The trouble is one of the Baer and both Wilson Elite Tactical magazines do not drop free. I have 3 1911's and they all fail to drop free on all pistols. I believe they are dragging on the magazine catch if that makes sense. I think I can fix the problem if I gently work the area above the catch cut on the magazine with a light hammer. What do you think?

kraigwy · November 17, 2008, 01:57 AM

polish the suckers. I start out with 200 grit sand paper and go all the way to 800. Finer if you want. You an make them smoother then a prom queens thigh, the puppies will drop then. Coat them with a light oil and you're good to go.

**Unclenick** · November 17, 2008, 02:22 AM

Check the width of the magazines. Adjust your calipers jaws to just gently kiss the sides of the magazines when you move them through. Compare that measurement to working magazines. I think you may find that dropping has gradually sprung them a little. You may have to pull the followers and springs and use soft jaws on a vice to squeeze them back to original form.

WESHOOT2 · November 17, 2008, 01:13 PM

I often see trigger bows interfering with the magazines.
Then it's mag catches.

Try a different mag catch? Swap 'em around?

sammy69 · November 17, 2008, 09:01 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have tried swaping the catches but the same problem is the result. I am going to try marking the magazine that is the hardest to get out with a sharpie and fine just where it is dragging. I will post picts and ask for further advise. Thank you all again for helping.

Slopemeno · November 18, 2008, 02:47 AM

Take your mag catch out and see if the mags drop free. Chances are, the mag catch is traveling too far, and restraining the mag. You can buy an over-sized mag catch lock from Brownells, carefully fit it, and that should cure your issue.

Back in the ol' days, we would carefully cut a short piece of round stock that would fit inside the mag catch spring, and trim it so you could just turn the lock to retain the mag catch.

drail · November 18, 2008, 11:38 PM

+1 on the mag catch being your problem. It's not impossible that the magazines are the problem but it is very unlikely.

WESHOOT2 · November 20, 2008, 09:58 AM

and look down the empty mag well and check if the trigger bow extends outside its channels

drail · November 21, 2008, 05:28 PM

And while you're looking in there see if the disconnector is protruding into the magwell. Seen that one one a few times. Trigger bow is the usual culprit.

November 17, 2008, 12:40 AM	#1
sammy69 Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Posts: 67	1911 magazine trouble I shoot lots of IDPA and USPSA with my 1911's and am having trouble with a few magazines. I have 4 Wilson 47d's, 3 Les Baer 7 round, 2 Wilson Elite Tactical and a Kimber 7 rounder. The trouble is one of the Baer and both Wilson Elite Tactical magazines do not drop free. I have 3 1911's and they all fail to drop free on all pistols. I believe they are dragging on the magazine catch if that makes sense. I think I can fix the problem if I gently work the area above the catch cut on the magazine with a light hammer. What do you think?

November 17, 2008, 01:57 AM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8,594	polish the suckers. I start out with 200 grit sand paper and go all the way to 800. Finer if you want. You an make them smoother then a prom queens thigh, the puppies will drop then. Coat them with a light oil and you're good to go. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Oct '78 Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

November 17, 2008, 02:22 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 9,137	Check the width of the magazines. Adjust your calipers jaws to just gently kiss the sides of the magazines when you move them through. Compare that measurement to working magazines. I think you may find that dropping has gradually sprung them a little. You may have to pull the followers and springs and use soft jaws on a vice to squeeze them back to original form. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Patron Member

November 17, 2008, 01:13 PM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 12,910	before you start hacking away at metal I often see trigger bows interfering with the magazines. Then it's mag catches. Try a different mag catch? Swap 'em around? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 20, 2008, 09:58 AM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 12,910	and look down the empty mag well and check if the trigger bow extends outside its channels __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 17, 2008, 09:01 PM	#5
sammy69 Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Posts: 67	Thanks everyone for the replies. I have tried swaping the catches but the same problem is the result. I am going to try marking the magazine that is the hardest to get out with a sharpie and fine just where it is dragging. I will post picts and ask for further advise. Thank you all again for helping.

November 18, 2008, 02:47 AM	#6
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,109	Take your mag catch out and see if the mags drop free. Chances are, the mag catch is traveling too far, and restraining the mag. You can buy an over-sized mag catch lock from Brownells, carefully fit it, and that should cure your issue. Back in the ol' days, we would carefully cut a short piece of round stock that would fit inside the mag catch spring, and trim it so you could just turn the lock to retain the mag catch.

November 18, 2008, 11:38 PM	#7
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	+1 on the mag catch being your problem. It's not impossible that the magazines are the problem but it is very unlikely.

November 21, 2008, 05:28 PM	#9
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	And while you're looking in there see if the disconnector is protruding into the magwell. Seen that one one a few times. Trigger bow is the usual culprit.