In Defense of the "Heel Release" Magazine

[SwampWolf]

I'm not aware of any contemporary American company making a pistol with a "European-style" magazine release located on the butt of the gun but it has three arguable advantages over a "conventional" release, (one that is located behind the trigger and activated usually with the thumb of the hand holding the gun, ala Model 1911).

(1) It's ambidextrous all the time for everybody.

(2) It's easier to manipulate when wearing gloves in cold weather, lessening the prospect of ejecting the magazine inadvertently.

(3) And, most importantly, the heel release is much less likely to inadvertently dump a magazine by the holstered pistol bumping or rubbing up against something. It is slower to reload and slower to clear a malfunction with but the need for speed in a reload is somewhat offset by the huge magazine capacity most modern autos have. Too, today's autoloaders are much more reliable than were those in the past. It could even be argued that a heel release that kept the magazine in the gun is way faster to fire the first shot than a conventional type release that lost its magazine along the way because it was so easy to depress. And Lord help you if that pistol had a "magazine safety".

This is not an argument for the heel-release type magazine, per se (at last count I have twenty semi-auto handguns and only one is so equipped -a Ruger MKII .22 auto). I'm only making the point that it does have some at least potential advantages. I certainly wouldn't have any angst depending on one to save my hide.

 

[tactikel]

Totally agree, a better system once you get used to it.

 

[barnetmill]

Out of production american pistols have them.

 

[Tom-R2]

I bought a Beretta 92S in 1983 and carried it as a duty pistol until I retired from the streets in 2008. It has the mag release on the left side down at the heel of the butt. I never had a problem with it. I would pull my spare magazine off my belt, and use the thumb of my left hand to activate the mag release, and immediately slide the mag up once the old one cleared. It was pretty fast. I'm left handed, but shoot right handed, I used my baton/PR24 with my left hand, but couldn't carry it on my right side because it would interfere with the pistol and holster. So I carried it on my left side and developed a left handed draw of the baton that completely confused a baton/PR24 instructor that hadn't seen me use it. Some folks criticized it, but I didn't care then, nor do I care about their criticisms now. It worked and served me for a long time. This isn't my pistol, but it does show the mag release. I'm sure lots of readers here are at least familiar with this earlier model.

 

[12Bravo20]

My Kel-Tec CP33, PMR30, and CMR30 all have heel mag releases. I like them better than the heel release on my Ruger MkII. The Kel-Tec heel release is big and easy to use.

 

[mgmorden]

I do prefer the button release, but I've got several guns (a Ruger Mk 1, a Makarov, a P-83 Wanad, and a CZ-52) that have the heel release. It doesn't bother me that bad on them. And merely for the sake of being a classic I'd rather the new P210's still have the heel release.

 

[chicharrones]

I’d rather that all my pocket guns had a heel release.

 

[lysanderxiii]

I'm not aware of any contemporary American company making a pistol with a "European-style" magazine release located on the butt of the gun but it has three arguable advantages over a "conventional" release, (one that is located behind the trigger and activated usually with the thumb of the hand holding the gun, ala Model 1911).

(1) It's ambidextrous all the time for everybody.

(2) It's easier to manipulate when wearing gloves in cold weather, lessening the prospect of ejecting the magazine inadvertently.

(3) And, most importantly, the heel release is much less likely to inadvertently dump a magazine by the holstered pistol bumping or rubbing up against something. It is slower to reload and slower to clear a malfunction with but the need for speed in a reload is somewhat offset by the huge magazine capacity most modern autos have. Too, today's autoloaders are much more reliable than were those in the past. It could even be argued that a heel release that kept the magazine in the gun is way faster to fire the first shot than a conventional type release that lost its magazine because it was so easy to depress. And Lord help you if that pistol had a "magazine safety".

This is not an argument for the heel-release type magazine, per se (at last count I have forty handguns and only one is so equipped -a Ruger MKII .22 auto). I'm only making the point that it does have some at least potential advantages. I certainly wouldn't have any angst depending on one to save my hide.

The heel release is far and away superior for magazine control during magazine change, and why European militaries preferred it over the button release. I idea of loosing your magazine was an anathema to early self-loading pistol users, as magazine were not necessarily interchangeable and serialized to the pistol.

And the heel release, with the release of the magazine into the non-firing hand, place empty magazine in pocket, withdraw fresh magazine and insert, reloading sequence, was still much faster than reloading a revolver.

 

[C0untZer0]

My Rohrbaugh R9

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've owned a number of pistols with heel releases over the years...P-38, SIG 220, SIG 225 (special contact offering), AMT Backup, Ruger Mark II, and the H&K P7

The P7's heel release differed from most as it was activated by pushing it forward. The magazine was retained by a cut-out on it's spine as opposed to the magazine base plate...it's faster, a lot faster

 

[TTv2]

Count me in as one of those who doesn't hate the heel mag release. The standard mag release is usually going to be better, but then there's tiny pistols like the Beretta 950 that has the button in a place where only the left hand's thumb can reach it and at that point there's no reason to use that style of mag release over the heel release.

I assume the reason Kel Tec went with the heel release on the PMR and CP33 was because the mags are plastic.

 

[CajunBass]

I've never thought it was that big a deal either.

 

[starling]

deffinitly superior in a pocket gun. No accidental mag dumps when carrying or shooting. Full size can be more of an issue with extendo magazines depending on if its a push or pull type heal release.

Honestly... drop free mags are kind of overated IMO. I dont make a habit of dumping mags onto the ground as its a vital component to a firearms reliability.... kind of disrespectful. Gotta take care of those babies. Looks cool in movies though so everyone thinks its a must. I get it. Lots of John Thick types out there.

 

[sparkyv]

With every firearm, I adapt to its manual of arms. For CC, I train on one specific firearm model that works best for me and do not rotate so as to minimize confusion and error in a stressful situation. At the range, anything goes since I am under no stress.

Count me in as one of those who doesn't hate the heel mag release.

I've never thought it was that big a deal either.

 

[Zerodefect]

"Slower to reload and clear" trumps the other issues.

Most normal mag releases are ambi friendly. Flippable, or trigger finger able.

A hybrid IWB holster eliminates the mag button press issue. If necessary, punch a hole in the leather there.

If I make a OWB holster from 090 kydex. I include a guard for the button. Formed to contact the frame, before contacting the button.

Sometimes I do install a stiff button spring.

Generally, heel release, is something I'll allow only on pistols I'd never carry a reload for. Or a quirky cool relic, like an HK P7.

 

[Speedo66]

I had a Spanish .32 with a heel release and lanyard ring.

Never considered it a problem, just an interesting variant.

 

[Tallball]

When I was a young man I sometimes carried a Makarov with a heel release.

I've had a bunch of heel-release pistols since then. I don't even know how many. I'm a sucker for oddball old handguns.

They're slower to manipulate than the button kind, but at the range or plinking I don't care very much. Overall I prefer the button kind, but it's NBD either way.

I'm a heretic and don't think that a "combat reload" while someone is trying to mug me is ever going to happen, so I don't care one way or the other for a carry pistol.

I've owned the Makarov since the late 80's and it still functions perfectly, heel mag and all.

Makarov380

• Tallball
• Jan 23, 2018

 

[reddog81]

I don’t hate the heel mag release but I do find them kind of annoying.

They might be ambidextrous, but only because they are equally annoying for lefties or righties.

On my various guns I can’t really see how manipulating a tab on the bottom of the gun is easier than pushing a button on the side.

 

[usp9]

Seecamp, Colt Woodsman, Walther TPH, Makarov, Keltec, HK P7 PSP, PX22, Sig P230/232, Ruger MKI. Maybe one or two more I've forgotten I had. I guess I got used to the method. Some really great guns come with a heel release of some type. I see no great shakes for one method over the other. HK did change the early PSP release due to unintended mag releases but quickly solved the problem fully. I did discover my Seecamp with a loose mag once. It can happen but then I've been carrying a long time. I use both methods with a high degree of confidence. If I had to pick a preferred method, it would be the ambi-paddle style of HK and Walther, which seems to be all but fool proof.

I don't think reload speed is a huge factor in a magazine. Reliability is the only factor I really care about.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've owned a number of pistols with heel releases over the years...P-38, SIG 220, SIG 225 (special contact offering), AMT Backup, Ruger Mark II, and the H&K P7

The P7's heel release differed from most as it was activated by pushing it forward. The magazine was retained by a cut-out on it's spine as opposed to the magazine base plate...it's faster, a lot faster

Non-drop free magazines are not such a bad thing when they are $150 each.......

 

[briansmithwins]

I don’t hate the heel mag release but I do find them kind of annoying.

They might be ambidextrous, but only because they are equally annoying for lefties or righties.

On my various guns I can’t really see how manipulating a tab on the bottom of the gun is easier than pushing a button on the side.

I infer that you don't have short thumbs.

I prefer a heel release to a button that's so far forward I can't get to it with my thumb, making me rotate the whole pistol in my grip.

My personal solution is to mostly have pistols with paddle mag releases which have most of the advantages of a heel release and of a thumb button.

BSW

 

[jar]

I have never had a preference for one style over the other, but I seem own and carry far more heel release than button release.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The standard mag release is usually going to be better, but then there's tiny pistols like the Beretta 950 that has the button in a place where only the left hand's thumb can reach it and at that point there's no reason to use that style of mag release over the heel release.

The point of the button in the grip is to get your hand out of the way to allow the magazine to drop from the grip freely. The correct technique is to press the release with the left thumb with your fingers open. If the mag gets stuck, the fingers are ready to close and strip it out of the magwell

 

[9mmepiphany]

Honestly... drop free mags are kind of overated IMO. I dont make a habit of dumping mags onto the ground as its a vital component to a firearms reliability.... kind of disrespectful. Gotta take care of those babies. Looks cool in movies though so everyone thinks its a must. I get it. Lots of John Thick types out there.

I'm going to gather from this that you haven't attended a defensive pistol class/training. After being instructed to not point guns at other people and keeping your finger off the trigger when not shooting, the next issue instructors have to bring up to students is to let their mags fall to the ground when reloading.

If you have a gun who's magazine can't be dropped on the ground and remain reliable, it's time to pick a new gun

 

[9mmepiphany]

Or a quirky cool relic, like an HK P7

It is a bit quirky, but it's superior performance outweighs that quirkiness. I carried one as a duty gun for a while and never had an issue qualifying with it.