STI 1911 45ACP - Difficult Inserting Magazine

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VanMan

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Got a new Trojan and Target Master and noticed for both of them it's very difficult to insert a magazine unless I depress the magazine release as I insert the last 1/3 of the magazine. The empty magazine drops clear just fine.

Is this normal in an 1911? For my CZ Shadow, the magazine slides in fine without having to depress the magazine release. Can I bevel the release where it contacts the top of magazine? Or maybe just smooth it out the lower edge?
 
I find newer mags seem to have super stiff springs in them in this decade. I never had trouble in the past with my Beretta 92fs or Springfield 1911, full mags would just slide and snick into place without trouble.

To cure my recent issues with a Colt 1911 and new 10 round Wilson mags, and Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm factory mags, I have resorted to clipping some coils off the bottom of the mag springs. This gives a little more room for compression, so I can actually get 10 rounds into the mags, and have them seat without having to resort to slamming them into the gun to lock in place. So far this has worked fine for me. YMMV.
 
it's the mag- i've got some 45 or so magazines( yes i got a bunch when i competed) and aside if it's a wilson, rogers, mec-gar or mccormick, it may do exactly as you said- i got a bunch from south america( actually ballister ) in both chrome and blue,and it's a toss-up as to which magazine will load and eject in which gun- i have 2 45s, one a colt mk4/series 70, the other a remmy rand dead stock- some insert buttery smooth but won't drop free, some are hard to insert but drop free like butter- it seem to be how much friction there is on the magazine tube-but lubing doesn't seem to help- switching followers and springs does, as does rotating the springs backwards in some
 
If it were related to stiff / overpowered mag springs, it would only be stiff at the very last portion of insertion.

Since it gets stiff right where the mag would hit the mag release button, I would look for a burr on the surface of the mag release button contact surface. Fairly common problem, probably an easy fix, but full disassembly is required.

While you're doing this, you might as well check for resistance to mag insertion with the mag release removed from the frame, with and without the trigger in place.
 
Or as t-star noted, it's possible that it's your mags. See if you can borrow someone else's mags and duplicate the problem. Though I think this is less likely given your description.
 
Yes that is normal.
Either assist like you said or insert with a bit more authority.
The catch is more abrupt meeting the flat mag vs angle on cz75.
 
It's likely the mag catch/ spring. The more you insert the mags, the more those parts will break in and the mags will go in smoother. Happened initially with my 1911's.

But it could also e the notch/ catch on the mag that needs smoothing. If it happens with every mag then it's the catch. If just some mags then it is the notch in the mag.

The people suggesting it is the mag springs do not comprehend the problem you are describing. Do not cut mag spring coils for this issue, as it is unrelated to what OP describes
 
Thanks for all your suggestions. This truly is a great forum. Some responses to the posts above:
- happens on the stock STI and Wilson mags
- happens the same on full and empty magazines

The sides of the magazines are getting scratched up (stainless is pretty soft and prone to galling), so I think it may be a bur on the magazine catch. Will have a look at that. I found this youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3cY-kPQYXM. It looks like I can remove the mag release assembly fairly easily. Is this the part I would check for the burr or sharp edge? I'm thinking it would be the the inner edge opposite from the button end.

Thanks for all your responses and help.
 
I'm not sure that is the youtube vid you are refeering to, but removing the mag release catch is super easy to do. I would do that and then slide a mag or two up into the magwell and see if they are gettting scratched or difficult to insert at all. Should show you where the problem is.
 
Same thing with my STI Trojan. The mag that came with it was good, the two STI mags I bought were a little snug when I pushed them in. I know almost nothing about 1911's but I just thought they were rubbing against the trigger hoopy thingy. I picked up a couple Kimpro Tac Mags and they seemed better.
 
VanMan said:
Thanks for all your suggestions. This truly is a great forum. Some responses to the posts above:
- happens on the stock STI and Wilson mags
- happens the same on full and empty magazines

The sides of the magazines are getting scratched up (stainless is pretty soft and prone to galling), so I think it may be a bur on the magazine catch. Will have a look at that. I found this youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3cY-kPQYXM. It looks like I can remove the mag release assembly fairly easily. Is this the part I would check for the burr or sharp edge? I'm thinking it would be the the inner edge opposite from the button end.

Thanks for all your responses and help.
Click to expand...

Both sides of the magazine tubes are getting scratched up? That could indicate that the trigger bow is not well fitted (it might be "bowed" inward). Either way, trying the mags without the mag release in the frame will tell you. If the trigger bow appears to be part of the problem, report back here and we can walk you through fitting it to your frame properly.

Or, if you're close to your retailer, I'd ask them to fix it for you. You should not have to do this on a new pistol.

Yes, pull that mag release out and check the side facing the mag tube (it has a curve). I'm not sure about that video you linked to, though. Check m1911.org for tons of great technical info.

FWIW, I doubt that stainless being the material is related to your problem. They make some pretty excellent stainless steel these days...
 
Finally got some time to tinker a bit. I removed the magazine catch and saw that there is a chamfer where it makes contact with the leading edge of the magazine. But from the looks of the wear mark, the magazine is making contact just before it (see pic #1). I filed down the chamfer a bit more and smoothed out with 400 & 600 grit sandpaper. Tried inserting the magazine and found it made a big improvement. I can feel the magazine insert smoothly until it hits the magazine release (same as before), and then a small push fully seats the magazine. Still not as smooth as my CZ Shadow, but a huge improvement compared it my Target Master (see pic #2 for tinkered with Trojan magazine release and the untouched Target Master one)
Also had a look at the magazine leading edge, and did find it to be nicked a little - could be from when I tried to force the magazine insertion before. Filed that down too and rounded it off the edges a bit. This made insertion a little more smooth too.

I wonder, did my Trojan & Target Master get an off batch of magazine release mechanisms (both shipped from the factory at the same time), or is this "normal" for 1911's? I did a web search and didn't find a lot of references to this.

Also, do I need to worry about spot refinishing the area on the magazine release I have filed/sanded down? I just gave them a wipe down with Break Free CLP for now, but wondering what other people do.

Going to be doing the same to my Target Master magazine release and the rest of my magazines. Still waiting for my registration certificates to arrive, so may as well tinker a little bit.

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VanMan said:
I wonder, did my Trojan & Target Master get an off batch of magazine release mechanisms (both shipped from the factory at the same time), or is this "normal" for 1911's? I did a web search and didn't find a lot of references to this.

Also, do I need to worry about spot refinishing the area on the magazine release I have filed/sanded down? I just gave them a wipe down with Break Free CLP for now, but wondering what other people do.
Click to expand...

Looks like you may have solved the problem. I think tinkering with 1911s is one of the best parts of ownership! Just be careful you don't go TOO far...:D

I haven't heard anything about this being a common problem, but I'm no expert. A certain amount of fitting is normal with a 1911, but that looks to be above and beyond.

The white steel you exposed should probably have something done to it. for internal situations like that, I'll most often just clean the area really well to remove all oils and solvents and then do a quick and dirty cold blue job on it. Doesn't have to be pretty since it's on the inside, but just something to control the corrosion on the exposed surface. The part that regularly contacts the magazine body will have the cold blue rubbed off in short order, but that would have happened eventually with the original finish, anyway.
 
Oh, by the way, go back and check on it after a few dozen (or hundred) mag insertions to see how your handiwork is holding up. You might find that you want to subtly recontour that curve depending on how things are wearing together.
 
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