replacing mag release spring on a 1911?

S

StephenT

New member
Hi all, I've just picked up an old 1911 yesterday and tried it out at the range this evening. I was very impressed by its tackdriver accuracy at 25 yards. BTW, the frame is by Essex Arms, the slide says Rand Remington of Syracuse NY and it has a Series 70 barrel in it, so it's a part gun. It has that nice old-timer flat blued finish and a tight slide, which is why I picked it up. And it wasn't too expensive either.

Anyway, I had some trouble with the magazine popping out after a few shots. This would cause the next cartridge to not feed. It was not consistent, but occurred often enough, so I'd like to fix the problem. The fellow at the range thought the spring for the mag release button was not strong enough. How big a deal is it to replace that part? Is it something that the average gun owner can accomplish? If so, I can drop by a gunsmith or gun store, and try to buy the part. I would leave the gun with a gunsmith, but I have to go abroad for work in a week for a prolonged period, so I'd rather take care of the gun now if at all possible. Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Replacing the spring is easy.


Unload the pistol - double check.

Holding the pistol with the right side up, you will see a "screw" in the magazine release, it ain't a screw but a slotted pin. Do not try to unscrew the pin.

Depress the magazine release until the left end is flush or close to being flush with the frame. Using a small bladed screw driver, carefully turn the slotted pin to the left about 1/4 - 1/3 turn. That will release the tit on the pin from a notch in the frame and the magazine catch will come out of the frame to the right.

Turn the pin back until it is unlocked from the magazine catch and will slide out. Replace the spring with a stronger one, re-insert the pin, depress the pin and lock it in its catch in the magazine release. Replace the release in the frame, keeping the left end at the same depth as when you removed it, turn the pin util the tit catches in the frame and you are done.

Simple....
 
Stephen one other thing to take a look at is the magazine release it self, make sure the corner on the mag release is not rounded off and it locks into the magazine good.
 
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