1911 magazine trouble

S

sammy69

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