Glock Mag Drops

[countertop]

I was at the NRA Range yesterday firing away with my Glock and had a weird thing happen to my mag - it fell out of my G23 after 6 of 13 shots were fired. It did it a couple of other times yesterday as well (but not everytime)

The mag is a pre-ban 13 rounder. Its my daily carry mag (as opposed to my 2 ten round backups) and so it has me a bit worried. I know I can get a new one in 4 short weeks - but I am going on vacation and was really hoping to take this with me.

I checked the mag out and nothing seemed wrong with it and a quick check of my handgun didn't turn up anything unusual. And no, i didn't hit the switch.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them before? What should I be looking at on either the mag or the gun as i examine it? I had no problems with either of the 10 rounders.

 

[RJ357]

Is it a factory mag? Also, does it have a metal liner?

Check the notch on the magazine (partway down the right front), where the magazine latch grabs it. The upper edge should be sharp and not rounded off. Also check the upper edge of the magazine latch. Look down into the mag well. Might be easier to see with the slide off. It should also be sharp.

Check the mag latch spring for enough tension. Hard to describe; might have to compare to that on a new gun. Make sure the release button pops out completely when a mag is inserted.

When an empty mag is fully inserted, there should be a small amount of free movement, up and down. In other words, the magazine should insert more than enough for the latch to engage it, and you should not have to apply pressure seating it to get the button to pop out completely.

 

[goalie]

Have you ever used after-market metal magazines in that Glock? If so, it is entirely possible that the magazine catch (which is plastic) is eroded from the metal mags to the point that the catch is unable to stay engaged with the magazine during recoil. Try this:

Empty the weapon (remove magazine and ensure clear) and lock the slide back. Now, looking down into the magazine well, push in your magazine release button. Look at the part inside the mag well that is moving when you press in the release. It should be a solid piece with sharp edges. If it is worn away at all, replacing it will most likely solve your problem.

FWIW, I had the same issue with a G17. After shooting about 10-12K trouble free rounds, I used some stupid metal after-market 30-rounder a few times. Metal magazines require a metal magazine release. glock's have a plastic mag release. A local Glock armourer fixed mine for free in about 2 minutes, and he even put in an extended release, since I mainly use the 17 as a range gun.

 

[rljan]

You may be accidently hitting the mag release button with your thumb. If everything checks out mechanically, it's probably your grip.

 

[chevrofreak]

My NFML G17 mag doesnt lock in as securely as my 10rd mags do. I have to push in on the mag, and push the mag release in harder from the right to lock it in good and tight.

Never had it fall free though, but, its my carry mag so I like it locked in as good as possible.

 

[countertop]

Is it a factory mag? Also, does it have a metal liner?

Yes and Yes

Check the notch on the magazine (partway down the right front), where the magazine latch grabs it. The upper edge should be sharp and not rounded off. Also check the upper edge of the magazine latch. Look down into the mag well. Might be easier to see with the slide off. It should also be sharp.

Notch has some wear, but is certainly not rounded. Perhaps thats' what it is. The 10 rounders are definatly in better shape. Mag well looks sharp

Have you ever used after-market metal magazines in that Glock?

Nope, I do have a G22 15 round mag that I sometimes use at the range. But thats a factory mag as well.

You may be accidently hitting the mag release button with your thumb. If everything checks out mechanically, it's probably your grip.

This has been my daily carry gun for almost 3 years. Grip is fine - or as fine as it needs to be - and nothing has changed with it in a while.

I haven't had a chance to test the mag spring out - I'll try that later tonite after the son goes to sleep (not allowed to work on my guns when he is running around - its the compromise I made with my wife) so I'll check it out then. It could be the notch, but that doesn't seem rounded enough to have caused this.

Oh well, if worst comes to worst, I'll just buy a butt load of new mags in a few weeks (well, I'll be doing that anyway) but I'd hate to have to get rid of this one.

FWIW - I also had one misfeed with this mag - the first with the gun. That same day, I had a number of other misfeeds with my 10/22 - but those are clearly the result of dirty (very very very dirty) 10/22 mags. The gunk had just locked the springs up. They are clean and working fine now.

 

[Grump]

I've had several false mag-clicks when doing slide-forward reloads...on several pistols, not just Glock. Sounds like it's locked in but it's not really. One good bump and MAYBE out the mag goes. It seems to be not so much worn engagement surfaces as it is the corners meeting on that microscopic radius between the surfaces.

It has never happened on a slidelock reload.

If the slide is forward, insert the mag firmly. I've forgotten, and gone back for a second press. Hearing another click confirms the false lock happened.