Help! Magazine release when feeding cartridge. - The Firearms Forum

Greg · 02-21-2004, 01:37 AM

Maybe you have a suggestion. I am having a problem with CMC power magazine on my 1911. Please don't respond back telling me to get a Wilson. Nothing wrong at all with them, but I do not think it will help the problem.

I read on many reviews(on many brands) that people were having problems with their magazines with the slide not staying open on the last round (even with top brand name magazines-of which mine has also). I was very pleased that this was not the case with mine at all, and it stayed open well, and closed well when released. My problem is, that with ammo in the clip, and more tension on the spring, when I manually run the slide back, or when the gun does so on its own after a shot, it wants to drop the magazine. These magazines have such a strong spring in them to ensure feeding, that I think when the coil rises past magazine catch when it feeds a cartridge, that it pushes it out from the inside. I think there there are also less coils in the magazine so the spring rises with the coil having a stronger angle. I have compared the magazine catch of mine with the Colt Series 70 government, and they seem to protrude the same amount on the catch, so I don't know what is up. Any ideas? Would a stronger mag release spring help?

Smoky14 · 02-21-2004, 06:57 AM

Greg: I would try a different mag, borrow one at the range. I have a friend with a RI 1911 and the solution to a similiar problem was a Wolff mag spring. His origional mag spring was so tuff that you could hardly load the mag and it took two hands to lower the slide from lock back.

Where are you in NM? I may be close enough to loan a mag.

Welcome aboard

Smoky :hat

CountryGunsmith · 02-21-2004, 07:12 AM

Yes. A stronger mag catch spring might help. Bear in mind this will make it proportionately harder to thumb-release the mag.

Xracer · 02-21-2004, 07:53 AM

Does this happen only with this brand of magazine?

Check the magazine catch detent in the magazine....does it have any burrs or does it appear to be worn or misshapen? If you have a magazine that works well, compare the two detents for size, shape and placement.

Also, remove the the magazine catch from the frame and check the profile of the catch & catch lock....do they show signs of wear or burnishing?

And now for a bit of 1911 heresy.......for all of the high-$$$$, super-duper custom aftermarket mags out there, I use run-of-the-mill, WWII Surplus GI magazines.....and have never had one fail me yet.

02-21-2004, 01:37 AM	#1
Greg V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 117	Help! Magazine release when feeding cartridge. Maybe you have a suggestion. I am having a problem with CMC power magazine on my 1911. Please don't respond back telling me to get a Wilson. Nothing wrong at all with them, but I do not think it will help the problem. I read on many reviews(on many brands) that people were having problems with their magazines with the slide not staying open on the last round (even with top brand name magazines-of which mine has also). I was very pleased that this was not the case with mine at all, and it stayed open well, and closed well when released. My problem is, that with ammo in the clip, and more tension on the spring, when I manually run the slide back, or when the gun does so on its own after a shot, it wants to drop the magazine. These magazines have such a strong spring in them to ensure feeding, that I think when the coil rises past magazine catch when it feeds a cartridge, that it pushes it out from the inside. I think there there are also less coils in the magazine so the spring rises with the coil having a stronger angle. I have compared the magazine catch of mine with the Colt Series 70 government, and they seem to protrude the same amount on the catch, so I don't know what is up. Any ideas? Would a stronger mag release spring help? -->

02-21-2004, 07:12 AM	#3
CountryGunsmith Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep Piney Woods of East Texas Posts: 5,116	Yes. A stronger mag catch spring might help. Bear in mind this will make it proportionately harder to thumb-release the mag. __________________ The autonomic nervous system provides for involuntary muscle function - the work of breathing, digestion, and so forth. On some folks, that's a pure waste of ingenuity.

02-21-2004, 06:57 AM	#2
Smoky14 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Nowhere NM Posts: 656	Greg: I would try a different mag, borrow one at the range. I have a friend with a RI 1911 and the solution to a similiar problem was a Wolff mag spring. His origional mag spring was so tuff that you could hardly load the mag and it took two hands to lower the slide from lock back. Where are you in NM? I may be close enough to loan a mag. Welcome aboard Smoky :hat

02-21-2004, 07:53 AM	#4
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Does this happen only with this brand of magazine? Check the magazine catch detent in the magazine....does it have any burrs or does it appear to be worn or misshapen? If you have a magazine that works well, compare the two detents for size, shape and placement. Also, remove the the magazine catch from the frame and check the profile of the catch & catch lock....do they show signs of wear or burnishing? And now for a bit of 1911 heresy.......for all of the high-$$$$, super-duper custom aftermarket mags out there, I use run-of-the-mill, WWII Surplus GI magazines.....and have never had one fail me yet.