Colt Mustang Pocketlite - Mag Popping Out of Frame

[Kramer Krazy]

Did some searching, but want to get a few more opinions before I actually buy any parts......I picked up a slightly used, carried often, blued Mustang Pocketlite last week. The thing originally looked terrible. The frame had been painted with a spray can with very little prep and was flaking off easily, it has a few scratches, the rear site was to the right about 1/8"-1/4", but the barrel and breechface made me believe that it hadn't seen many rounds fired through it. Turns out, it was an ex-cop backup gun. I bought it, took it apart and took some laquer thinner to the frame to remove the paint. Surprisingly, the original finish is still in decent shape. I cleaned it up a little, oiled it, knocked the rear sight back into position, loaded a magazine, and went to a nice secure place to test fire it.

The first round kicked the mag out of the frame a little and the slide didn't catch the second round. I pushed the mag back into the frame and fired two more rounds when the mag popped back out. Two more shots, and the mag popped out, again. I went home, removed the mag catch and cleaned the retaining lip of some built-up crud, searched the internet and found a reference to weak mag catch springs, and slightly stretched the mag catch spring to try to troubleshoot the issue of the mag popping out.

I shot it, again, last night, and I could run through 2-4 mags without a problem, but occasionally the mag would pop back out of the frame (I held it in place with my pinkie). I inspected the only mag I have for the gun and there is not any extreme wear, rounding of edges, nor any dents in it. Other than this mag issue, it ran flawlessly and I can shoot some decent groups at 10 yards when trying, and it fed HP and FMJ without a problem.

So......time for a new mag catch spring? Is this a common issue and should I buy a spare spring or two? Any words of wisdom on this issue? TIA

 

[Onmilo]

Wolff Gunspring produces and extra power magazine catch spring that should solve the problem if pop out occurs with more than just one magazine.
If you only have the one magazine try replacing it first.
The catch notch on the magazine has probably become dented or excessively worn.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Just to finish this thread for anyone who actually knows how to use the "search" function on the site.....

Out of curiousity, I decided to check the mag catch spring on my Colt Officers model (would be practially the same size spring as any 1911) and compare it to the Mustang. Turns out the spring in the 1911 is the same outer diameter and same number of coils per inch, but the 1911 spring is about 2-3 coils longer. The Mustang spring is listed as $4-$5 in Brownells catalog, but the 1911 spring is much cheaper. I had an order ready for Midway, so I just ordered a Wilson Combat 1911 mag catch spring for $0.99 from Midway. When it came in, I tried to leave the spring about 1-2 coils longer than the stock Mustang spring, but only accomplished to shove the screwdriver tip into my finger when trying to install the spring. :banghead: I ended up cutting the spring down to the correct length after two other attempts at leaving it a little longer, I put the cut end into the catch as to not bind on the retainer, and now the magazine goes into the frame with a very positive *snap*. The spring is noticeably stronger than the stock one and after taking it to the range, the gun has no issues at all, now. The gun will now be carried on a regular basis.

 

[MICHAEL T]

your not suppose to tell that secret Now people won't sell them cheap because the mag keeps poping out. Dam you Kramer

Enjoy you pistol wolff sells complete spring kits and steel guide rod with single recoil spring. Makes life easiler on reassembly I also say get the +5%(?) mag spring I carry CorBon 90grHP in mine Remember with short barrell you give up about 50 to 75fps over say PPK/S or Bersa any larger 380.
DO NOT remove grips and rotate safety down Spring and pin behind safety will shoot long long way. You will find spring But rest? and you can't but anymore new.. Take apart if you must first time in big plastic bag.

 

[warmrain]

Michael T,

Good to see you here (I am new...)

Kramer,

I have a similar problem. My Mustang retains the slush magazines with ball ammo, but dumps the pinky rest magazine. With self defense ammo it dumps them all (I've tried 4 magazines).

I'm doing the same thing as you did (and Michael T suggested). First I tried a new Wolff (5% stronger) magazine catch spring but it made no difference. I also acquired another magazine release to be sure that was not the problem.

I wrote to Wolff upon hearing that they will make a spring to your order and they told me to order a 1911 spring and cut it to length.

I measured the 3 springs (original, Wolf and 1911) and came up with these dimensions:

Original - Wolff - 1911
Wire Diameter:: 0.021" - 0.021" - 0.027"
Coil Diameter: 0.142" - 0.142" - 0.148"
Length: 0.6" - 0.626" - 0.735"
Coil Count: 11 - 11 - (@ 0.6") 12

Magazine Release: 0.023"

So this is my next move. I think it was smart to install the cut end into the bottom of the magazine release and keep the closed end at the retainer screw end.

I highly recommend the Wolff stainless guide rod and single recoil spring and it is fairly priced.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

 

[MrGreenMachine]

I had the same exact problem on a government model 380. Dropped magazines right and left. Tried new springs no. Finally took it to a local smith and he let in the mag catch on the left frame so it could engage the magazine better. Problem solved. Here's a pic of the area. i couldn't get a good closeup but the catch is let in a little over a 1/32 into the frame. Not quite a full 16th.

 

[warmrain]

I was thinking of doing the same thing OR welding up the catch lip and reshaping it with more material...

 

[warmrain]

Michael T,

I took your advice (and that of Wolff Springs and my Gunsmith) and cut a 1911 spring down to the same length. This totally solved the problem.

It needs to be 12 or 12-1/2 coils, 13-1/2 coils will stack up and prevent assembly.

When a 1911 spring is cut to that number of coils it is the same length and diameter as the standard Mustang spring. The only difference is the wire diameter.

Thanks for helping me fix this! I tested all my magazines (including the formerly troublesome finger-rest magazine) with several SD ammos and all went well.