1911 mag issue

[greyling22]

I've got a taurus 1911 that I have had no problems with, and I recently was given the factory new magazine to an sti trojan (made by act mag). mag spring is much stiffer than the factory taurus mag, but otherwise they appear identical.

here is the problem: with the slide locked back on the empty sti mag, I can't get the slide release to operate without using 2 thumbs and a lot of force. insert taurus mag, flawless operation.

It appears the springs are too stiff or something. anybody have a helpful solution? (throw gun in trash, taurus sucks, my friend had a taurus revolver that didn't work, etc are not "helpful" mine has worked great and I'm not in the market for new 1911 at this time)

 

[rbernie]

The stiff slide release is a function of the stiff mag springs. Just drop the mag and then drop the slide.

 

[greyling22]

will the spring "break in" with time and function like the rest of my mags?

 

[1814rob]

Load your new mag one round short of full. Leave it a couple of days that way to allow the spring to take a set (shrink). This should help on that mag. To add to some other posters dropping the empty mag and installing a full new one before releasing the slide is normal operation for this weapon.

 

[Jim Watson]

Repeat, there is no requirement to drop the slide over an empty magazine.
Take out the magazine, close the slide by hand - the jar of slamming the slide on an empty chamber is hard on the machinery - and dryfire the hammer down. Easy to do and removes the possibility of confusion of whether a gun with magazine in place is loaded or empty.

 

[greyling22]

all good points and advice. thank you.

 

[Jim K]

Whether it is worth it or not depends on whether the new mags are OK otherwise, but M1911 mag springs can be found used for around $2.50.

Jim

 

[greyling22]

well it is brand new, so I"ll see how it performs. I didn't know that about the springs. thanks.

 

[log man]

Jim Watson gave the absolutely correct answer and would suggest everyone read it a few times and adhere to the principles presented. It's worth it!

LOG