AR mag hard to lock in place ??

kymasabe · March 3, 2018, 08:47 PM

My third complete PSA lower and something doesn't feel right. First two were easy to insert and lock in the mag, effortless. This one, I have to smack the bottom of the mag to get it to lock in or else it falls out. Is this something I can fix myself or should I send the lower back to PSA for repair ?

DubC-Hicks · March 3, 2018, 08:53 PM

Are you loading a full mag with the bolt closed?

If you lock the bolt back, how does the mag lock in? Empty or loaded shouldn't matter here

rickyrick · March 3, 2018, 09:07 PM

Push the mag release button as far as you can with a blunt punch, once the magazine catch is pushed clear of the mag well on the opposite side, you can unscrew it to adjust it. You can also screw it in more to increase the tension as well.

That’s if it needs adjustment, kinda hard to tell remotely

HiBC · March 3, 2018, 09:10 PM

A classic error is to stuff one too many rounds in the mag. ie 21 rds in a 20 rounder. Not so good for the mag lips.If they get spread you have malfunctions.
Try loading one round less than full cap.

osbornk · March 3, 2018, 11:23 PM

I have done it twice where I put 31 in a 30 round mag and initially thought I had a problem. I felt like a fool when I discovered what I had done. #31 will go right in the mag without a problem.

Mobuck · March 4, 2018, 07:59 AM

"A classic error is to stuff one too many rounds in the mag. ie 21 rds in a 20 rounder. Not so good for the mag lips.If they get spread you have malfunctions.
Try loading one round less than full cap.
I have done it twice where I put 31 in a 30 round mag and initially thought I had a problem. I felt like a fool when I discovered what I had done. #31 will go right in the mag without a problem."
A fully loaded mag will always have the top round on the right. I always load with the top round on the right. That way when I chamber and do a mag check, the mag has a round on the left. NO "PRESS CHECKS" FOR ME, once the bolt runs home, it stays there.

kymasabe · March 4, 2018, 08:03 AM

Mags were empty, bolt closed, tried brand new Pmags and new Amend2 mags, same condition, will try to unscrew the mag catch by one turn or two and see if that helps.
I just doesn't feel the same as my other builds, the other mags would pop right in and lock in without much effort. .Right now, these I have to really smack to stay in place, and I'm not confident they're locked in securely.

jonnyc · March 4, 2018, 12:42 PM

Try the mag catch from your "bad" rifle in one of your "good" rifles. More of a chance of the catch being a problem than the lower.....not to mention an easier fix.

kymasabe · March 4, 2018, 10:02 PM

I don't have those guns anymore. So...will try to find a latch locally and try that.

marine6680 · March 4, 2018, 11:07 PM

Did adjusting the latch help?

kymasabe · March 4, 2018, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marine6680

Did adjusting the latch help?

No, adjustment did not help. One turn out was no difference, two turns out brought the button too far out.

**44 AMP** · March 5, 2018, 12:23 AM

There are two possible reasons why a mag won't lock in, besides spring tension.
1) the catch part of the mag release does not fit the hole in the mag.
2) the catch and the hole in the mag are not properly lined up.

Which of these and why is the question.

How do they lock in with the bolt open?

Remember this is a build. It's not impossible for parts to be "in spec" and still have "stacking tolerances" that cause problems.

Is it possible that the specific upper and lower you are using are giving you a tiny bit less clearance than needed for the mags to lock in smoothly, with the bolt closed?

If they only need a smack to lock in when the bolt is closed that would be my first guess. And, if that's the case, you might send the lower back and have it returned saying "there's nothing wrong with it". Might even get you stuck with the shipping bill.

good luck

marine6680 · March 5, 2018, 02:36 AM

You can try a different mag catch.

Have you tried to see if it locks in with no issues with the upper off the lower?

If the mag locks in fine with the upper off of the lower, its not guaranteed that it isn't the catch, but makes it much less likely.

If you use a new magazine, you may be able to see marks where the binding is happening.

stagpanther · March 5, 2018, 05:48 AM

Here's what I would do:

Remove upper from lower, then remove both the bolt catch and magazine catch (cock trigger and be sure safety is on). Ascertain magazine can freely move into and out of mag well. If yes, reattach magazine catch (inspecting all parts to make sure they are in good condition/assembled properly) and see if magazine can freely be inserted and removed. If yes, reattach bolt catch making sure all it's parts are in good condition and functioning properly--ascertain the magazine can still be inserted and lock into the well. If yes, reattach upper and with bolt closed--see if you can insert and remove magazine. If yes, lock bolt back, ensuring the bolt catch is properly aligned so that it's stopping the BCG at the bolt face--as well as hooking the rear of the magazine.

If the procedure fails at any of the steps--you should be able to isolate the reason why. My guess is odds are you have a simple alignment problem with a couple of lower parts that should be very easy to fix. If you haven't done this kind of thing before Brownell's has good "how to" videos to guide you through. It's never a bad idea to have spare parts on hand. Bolt catches take a pounding by the carrier and I've spent hours chasing other solutions when the real answer lay with one of them.

kymasabe · March 5, 2018, 05:06 PM

Well, just had a nice conversation with Palmetto State Armory, they're sending me two return labels so I can send back my upper and my lower, they'll reassemble the two halves there and see which one is out of spec. They're not happy with the fact that my rear pin is damn near impossible to get in or out so...thinking I may have defective/out of spec lower. Unfortunately, there's a 15 day minimum wait once the receivers get there, plus repair, plus shipping back, and if they replace my lower and has new serial number, will have to go thru my FFL again, which is another $23, which they claim they'll reimburse me for but...I guess I'll be AR-less for a month. Again.

Mobuck · March 5, 2018, 07:24 PM

".thinking I may have defective/out of spec lower. "

You might but push pin movement is often difficult until things get happy with each other. I have several AR's that require some "persuasion" on the push pins.

marine6680 · March 5, 2018, 07:40 PM

A little tightness can mean less play between receivers.

As long as it isn't overly difficult, I do not mind it being a little tight... You should still be able to push it through with a good hard push of the thumb at least though.

Big Shrek · March 7, 2018, 05:03 PM

That's the wonderful thing about repairs, at least PSA actually fixes the issue!

You oughta try scheduling a Chevy recall repair...Ye Gods!
First they set you an appointment 3-4 months away at the nearest dealership,
then, reschedule at least once...kicking it back a few more weeks,
then a repair that's supposed to take an HOUR, takes them three days...
they do something incorrect, like forgetting to hook the gas gauge back up
and you have to go back and wait ANOTHER day for them to fix their screwup.
You then find out later that it's a 30-minute job if they would just give you the dang part...

This is why it's a bad idea to buy Chevy Minivans...

rickyrick · March 7, 2018, 06:51 PM

I have one that the push pins don’t like me. But has gotten better with time.

March 3, 2018, 08:47 PM	#1
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	AR mag hard to lock in place ?? My third complete PSA lower and something doesn't feel right. First two were easy to insert and lock in the mag, effortless. This one, I have to smack the bottom of the mag to get it to lock in or else it falls out. Is this something I can fix myself or should I send the lower back to PSA for repair ? __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

March 3, 2018, 08:53 PM	#2
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Are you loading a full mag with the bolt closed? If you lock the bolt back, how does the mag lock in? Empty or loaded shouldn't matter here __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

March 4, 2018, 08:03 AM	#7
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Mags were empty, bolt closed, tried brand new Pmags and new Amend2 mags, same condition, will try to unscrew the mag catch by one turn or two and see if that helps. I just doesn't feel the same as my other builds, the other mags would pop right in and lock in without much effort. .Right now, these I have to really smack to stay in place, and I'm not confident they're locked in securely. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

March 4, 2018, 12:42 PM	#8
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Try the mag catch from your "bad" rifle in one of your "good" rifles. More of a chance of the catch being a problem than the lower.....not to mention an easier fix. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

March 4, 2018, 10:02 PM	#9
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	I don't have those guns anymore. So...will try to find a latch locally and try that. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

March 3, 2018, 09:07 PM	#3
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Push the mag release button as far as you can with a blunt punch, once the magazine catch is pushed clear of the mag well on the opposite side, you can unscrew it to adjust it. You can also screw it in more to increase the tension as well. That’s if it needs adjustment, kinda hard to tell remotely

March 3, 2018, 09:10 PM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	A classic error is to stuff one too many rounds in the mag. ie 21 rds in a 20 rounder. Not so good for the mag lips.If they get spread you have malfunctions. Try loading one round less than full cap.

March 3, 2018, 11:23 PM	#5
osbornk Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2012 Location: Mountains of Appalachia Posts: 1,598	I have done it twice where I put 31 in a 30 round mag and initially thought I had a problem. I felt like a fool when I discovered what I had done. #31 will go right in the mag without a problem.

March 4, 2018, 07:59 AM	#6
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"A classic error is to stuff one too many rounds in the mag. ie 21 rds in a 20 rounder. Not so good for the mag lips.If they get spread you have malfunctions. Try loading one round less than full cap. I have done it twice where I put 31 in a 30 round mag and initially thought I had a problem. I felt like a fool when I discovered what I had done. #31 will go right in the mag without a problem." A fully loaded mag will always have the top round on the right. I always load with the top round on the right. That way when I chamber and do a mag check, the mag has a round on the left. NO "PRESS CHECKS" FOR ME, once the bolt runs home, it stays there.

March 4, 2018, 11:07 PM	#10
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Did adjusting the latch help?

March 5, 2018, 12:23 AM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	There are two possible reasons why a mag won't lock in, besides spring tension. 1) the catch part of the mag release does not fit the hole in the mag. 2) the catch and the hole in the mag are not properly lined up. Which of these and why is the question. How do they lock in with the bolt open? Remember this is a build. It's not impossible for parts to be "in spec" and still have "stacking tolerances" that cause problems. Is it possible that the specific upper and lower you are using are giving you a tiny bit less clearance than needed for the mags to lock in smoothly, with the bolt closed? If they only need a smack to lock in when the bolt is closed that would be my first guess. And, if that's the case, you might send the lower back and have it returned saying "there's nothing wrong with it". Might even get you stuck with the shipping bill. good luck __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 5, 2018, 02:36 AM	#13
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	You can try a different mag catch. Have you tried to see if it locks in with no issues with the upper off the lower? If the mag locks in fine with the upper off of the lower, its not guaranteed that it isn't the catch, but makes it much less likely. If you use a new magazine, you may be able to see marks where the binding is happening.

March 5, 2018, 05:48 AM	#14
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,784	Here's what I would do: Remove upper from lower, then remove both the bolt catch and magazine catch (cock trigger and be sure safety is on). Ascertain magazine can freely move into and out of mag well. If yes, reattach magazine catch (inspecting all parts to make sure they are in good condition/assembled properly) and see if magazine can freely be inserted and removed. If yes, reattach bolt catch making sure all it's parts are in good condition and functioning properly--ascertain the magazine can still be inserted and lock into the well. If yes, reattach upper and with bolt closed--see if you can insert and remove magazine. If yes, lock bolt back, ensuring the bolt catch is properly aligned so that it's stopping the BCG at the bolt face--as well as hooking the rear of the magazine. If the procedure fails at any of the steps--you should be able to isolate the reason why. My guess is odds are you have a simple alignment problem with a couple of lower parts that should be very easy to fix. If you haven't done this kind of thing before Brownell's has good "how to" videos to guide you through. It's never a bad idea to have spare parts on hand. Bolt catches take a pounding by the carrier and I've spent hours chasing other solutions when the real answer lay with one of them. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

March 5, 2018, 05:06 PM	#15
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Well, just had a nice conversation with Palmetto State Armory, they're sending me two return labels so I can send back my upper and my lower, they'll reassemble the two halves there and see which one is out of spec. They're not happy with the fact that my rear pin is damn near impossible to get in or out so...thinking I may have defective/out of spec lower. Unfortunately, there's a 15 day minimum wait once the receivers get there, plus repair, plus shipping back, and if they replace my lower and has new serial number, will have to go thru my FFL again, which is another $23, which they claim they'll reimburse me for but...I guess I'll be AR-less for a month. Again. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

March 5, 2018, 07:24 PM	#16
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	".thinking I may have defective/out of spec lower. " You might but push pin movement is often difficult until things get happy with each other. I have several AR's that require some "persuasion" on the push pins.

March 5, 2018, 07:40 PM	#17
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	A little tightness can mean less play between receivers. As long as it isn't overly difficult, I do not mind it being a little tight... You should still be able to push it through with a good hard push of the thumb at least though.

March 7, 2018, 05:03 PM	#18
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	That's the wonderful thing about repairs, at least PSA actually fixes the issue! You oughta try scheduling a Chevy recall repair...Ye Gods! First they set you an appointment 3-4 months away at the nearest dealership, then, reschedule at least once...kicking it back a few more weeks, then a repair that's supposed to take an HOUR, takes them three days... they do something incorrect, like forgetting to hook the gas gauge back up and you have to go back and wait ANOTHER day for them to fix their screwup. You then find out later that it's a 30-minute job if they would just give you the dang part... This is why it's a bad idea to buy Chevy Minivans... __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.

March 7, 2018, 06:51 PM	#19
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I have one that the push pins don’t like me. But has gotten better with time.