1911 magazines do not drop free

golfnutrlv · January 22, 2013, 03:17 PM

So, maybe this has been discussed before, but need some tips.

Some of my 1911 magazines do not drop free from my Kimber Custom II. It happens with different magazine brands. (I have Wilson combats, Kimber tac-Mags and one Chip McCormick)

All the mags are used, some have been used in 2 different 1911's. They will drop about 1/2 inch, then stick. They have to be removed manually the rest of the way. This happens with both of my Wilson combat 10 rounders, but not with any of my 8 round 47D's.

I have heard of the bending the feed lips together, but this has not worked for me.

Ideas?? Hate to lose magazines this way.

AZAK · January 22, 2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

All the mags are used, some have been used in 2 different 1911's. They will drop about 1/2 inch, then stick. They have to be removed manually the rest of the way.

Perhaps a bit of clarification: have these mags that stick stuck in both 1911s? Since new? Or if they developed the stickiness are they consistently sticking in both at the same time? Are there rub marks on the mags that stick that are consistent with each other? Will a fully loaded sticky mag drop free or only when empty? Have you cleaned your mags recently? Replaced the mag springs?

Quote:

I have heard of the bending the feed lips together, but this has not worked for me.

Altering your feed lips could result in some rather undesirable results. A lot of thought has gone into designing the feed lips; different manufacturers have different designs for their own reasons.

AZAK · January 22, 2013, 04:00 PM

And if you want some "light reading" on 1911 magazines, here is a good start:

http://how-i-did-it.org/magazines/

Note at the beginning of the page there is a link to a second article.

golfnutrlv · January 22, 2013, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Perhaps a bit of clarification: have these mags that stick stuck in both 1911s?

Yes. I do not have the other 1911. Sold some time ago.

Quote:

Since new? Or if they developed the stickiness are they consistently sticking in both at the same time?

No problems when new. They develop after normal wear, shooting, being dropped etc (not dropped excessively)

Quote:

Are there rub marks on the mags that stick that are consistent with each other?

Not that I can see. They all look the same. Some just won't drop free.

Quote:

Will a fully loaded sticky mag drop free or only when empty?

Sometimes. The weight of the ammo helps, but most still get stuck.

Quote:

Have you cleaned your mags recently? Replaced the mag springs?

Have not cleaned them, as they have not been used recently. None of the mags are old enough to warrant new sprimgs IMO. They will all lock the slide open.

Thanks for the info, keep it coming.

RickB · January 22, 2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Quote:
I have heard of the bending the feed lips together, but this has not worked for me.

Altering your feed lips could result in some rather undesirable results. A lot of thought has gone into designing the feed lips; different manufacturers have different designs for their own reasons.

Not so much altering, as restoring. I have had mags, in three different calibers, spread at the top. Not the feedlips themselves, but the "ears" that are forward of the dogleg bend that forms the lips. Sometimes it's almost imperceptible with the eye, so I'll set a caliper for the width of the bottom of the mag tube, run the caliper to the top of the tube until it sticks, and then carefully apply a plastic mallet to splayed-out area.
This most recently happened with a Mec-Gar 10mm mag, but I used to have to check all of my McCormick Power10s prior to a match, as at least one or two would always splay a bit, every week.

Rondog · January 22, 2013, 04:55 PM

Have you looked in the magwell to make sure there's no grip screws that are too long and dragging on the mags?

Ben Towe · January 22, 2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Have you looked in the magwell to make sure there's no grip screws that are too long and dragging on the mags?

^Do this. If nothing can be seen amiss, scrub the magwell and mag bodies. I have had some luck polishing magazines as well.

oldgunsmith · January 22, 2013, 11:52 PM

I wouldn't be bending the feed lips on a magazine that feeds well. You might just change that. Dykem blue will tell you where it's dragging. Not a bad idea to get in the habit of going through the motion of stripping it out with the other hand every time you hit the release button anyway. If it falls out, no problem. If it doesn't, you already have it covered without even having to think about it.

polyphemus · January 23, 2013, 01:39 PM

Simply take the grips(stock) off and then work the magazine in and out,observe
where it binds and take corrective action.You say you have been altering your
magazines so you have to use a new one to check proper function,I would have
replaced the magazine catch before bending anything.

**James K** · January 23, 2013, 04:52 PM

Magazines, especially poorly made ones, can bulge over time from the cartridge column being compressed between the feed lips and the follower.

Normally, there is enough room in the magazine well to allow for that, but if the mag well is too tight on that pistol, you will have problems with mags dropping free. I don't recommend thinning the magazine walls because that will make the bulging worse. You have a choice of using a file or emery paper to widen the mag well or sending the gun back to the factory.

Jim

polyphemus · January 23, 2013, 05:30 PM

"Magazines, especially poorly made ones, can bulge over time from the cartridge column being compressed between the feed lips and the follower. "
Anyone have a picture of this?Please kindly post.

Skadoosh · January 23, 2013, 05:35 PM

Do your mags drop free with the grip panels removed?

golfnutrlv · January 24, 2013, 01:48 AM

Thank for the info guys.

Of the 6 mags I am having issues with, 2 of the 6 will drop free with no grips present, and the slide locked open. 1 of the other mags will drop free with no grips, but only with the slide closed.

I did loosen the grip screws when I re-installed the grips, same mags gave same results.

Might try to smooth out the mag bodies a little, see if this makes any difference.

polyphemus · January 24, 2013, 08:18 AM

Did you check the bushings?If one or more are protruding that'll cause the
magazine to bind.Mic the magazines see if you can determine a pattern.

Brian48 · January 24, 2013, 11:02 AM

I would also check the mag to see if the trigger bow is rubbing against it. A common trick I've seen is bending the bow slightly inward to reduce rubbing against the frame, thereby allowing a smoother trigger. If it's bent too far inward, then it rubs against the mag and can result in the behavior you've described.

January 22, 2013, 03:17 PM	#1
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,345	1911 magazines do not drop free So, maybe this has been discussed before, but need some tips. Some of my 1911 magazines do not drop free from my Kimber Custom II. It happens with different magazine brands. (I have Wilson combats, Kimber tac-Mags and one Chip McCormick) All the mags are used, some have been used in 2 different 1911's. They will drop about 1/2 inch, then stick. They have to be removed manually the rest of the way. This happens with both of my Wilson combat 10 rounders, but not with any of my 8 round 47D's. I have heard of the bending the feed lips together, but this has not worked for me. Ideas?? Hate to lose magazines this way. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

January 22, 2013, 04:00 PM	#3
AZAK Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2008 Location: the object towards which the action of the sea is directed Posts: 2,019	And if you want some "light reading" on 1911 magazines, here is a good start: http://how-i-did-it.org/magazines/ Note at the beginning of the page there is a link to a second article. __________________ The lowest paid college major/degree in this country after graduation... Elementary Education. Now, go figure...

January 22, 2013, 11:52 PM	#8
oldgunsmith Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 181	Not Uncommon I wouldn't be bending the feed lips on a magazine that feeds well. You might just change that. Dykem blue will tell you where it's dragging. Not a bad idea to get in the habit of going through the motion of stripping it out with the other hand every time you hit the release button anyway. If it falls out, no problem. If it doesn't, you already have it covered without even having to think about it.

January 23, 2013, 04:52 PM	#10
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,399	Magazines, especially poorly made ones, can bulge over time from the cartridge column being compressed between the feed lips and the follower. Normally, there is enough room in the magazine well to allow for that, but if the mag well is too tight on that pistol, you will have problems with mags dropping free. I don't recommend thinning the magazine walls because that will make the bulging worse. You have a choice of using a file or emery paper to widen the mag well or sending the gun back to the factory. Jim __________________ Jim K

January 23, 2013, 05:35 PM	#12
Skadoosh Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2010 Location: Virginia Beach/Norfolk VA Posts: 1,622	Do your mags drop free with the grip panels removed? __________________ NRA Life Member (2003) If you cannot defeat your enemy in the crucible of truth, there’s nothing left but a cauldron of hate.

January 22, 2013, 04:55 PM	#6
Rondog Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Posts: 28	Have you looked in the magwell to make sure there's no grip screws that are too long and dragging on the mags?

January 23, 2013, 01:39 PM	#9
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 230	Simply take the grips(stock) off and then work the magazine in and out,observe where it binds and take corrective action.You say you have been altering your magazines so you have to use a new one to check proper function,I would have replaced the magazine catch before bending anything.

January 23, 2013, 05:30 PM	#11
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 230	"Magazines, especially poorly made ones, can bulge over time from the cartridge column being compressed between the feed lips and the follower. " Anyone have a picture of this?Please kindly post.

January 24, 2013, 01:48 AM	#13
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,345	Thank for the info guys. Of the 6 mags I am having issues with, 2 of the 6 will drop free with no grips present, and the slide locked open. 1 of the other mags will drop free with no grips, but only with the slide closed. I did loosen the grip screws when I re-installed the grips, same mags gave same results. Might try to smooth out the mag bodies a little, see if this makes any difference. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

January 24, 2013, 08:18 AM	#14
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 230	Did you check the bushings?If one or more are protruding that'll cause the magazine to bind.Mic the magazines see if you can determine a pattern.

January 24, 2013, 11:02 AM	#15
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,233	I would also check the mag to see if the trigger bow is rubbing against it. A common trick I've seen is bending the bow slightly inward to reduce rubbing against the frame, thereby allowing a smoother trigger. If it's bent too far inward, then it rubs against the mag and can result in the behavior you've described. __________________ Proud to have served.