Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 25
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Hope, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    319
    Rep Power
    117

    Default Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Greetings all ... am having difficulty loading/dropping magazines in a Colt 1991 80 series that I just purchased. I am the second owner but the first owner never fired the pistol. Couple of things:

    1. Magazine release is very stiff. I did remove (was difficult as opposed to removing the magazine release on my Remington R1) and cleaned it up assuming maybe it was crude up but it didn't appear to be.

    2. Magazines won't insert unless the Mag Release is depressed.

    3. When dropping a magazine, they can be difficult to remove at times ... seem to be stuck.

    4. Have tried both the Colt mags and Remington R1 mags ... problems are the same in both.

    Not sure if the issue is with the Mag Release ... appreciate any suggestions you might have.

    Thanks,
    Rainier

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    North Penn area, Pennsylvania
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,664
    Rep Power
    21474854

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Check mags for rub marks. Blackening with a permanent marker helps. Remove and check the mag latch. Easy to do. Sometimes they have a bit of a burr , or flash from casting. The grip screws are also a common problem.
    I don't speak English , I talk American!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Hope, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    319
    Rep Power
    117

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Will check the grip screws ... hadn't thought of that. Same Colt mags load well in my Remington R1 so I don't think it is a mag issue. Also, have inspected them and am not seeing/feeling any burrs.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Kersey, Pennsylvania
    (Elk County)
    Posts
    78
    Rep Power
    7796195

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Quote Originally Posted by abner13 View Post
    Check mags for rub marks. Blackening with a permanent marker helps. Remove and check the mag latch. Easy to do. Sometimes they have a bit of a burr , or flash from casting. The grip screws are also a common problem.
    Sometimes so are the grip screw bushings.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Posts
    3,146
    Rep Power
    21474850

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    When you had the release removed, did you slide mags in and out? That would tell you if it is grip screws or bushings or something in the latch. I am hearing a problem with the spring pressure of the latch, or a casting issue that is affecting this.
    Last edited by gghbi; January 6th, 2019 at 08:46 PM.
    Illegitimus non carborundum est

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Hope, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    319
    Rep Power
    117

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Quote Originally Posted by gghbi View Post
    When you had the release removed, did you slide mags in and out? That would tell you if it is grip screws or bushings or something in the latch. I am hearing a problem with the spring pressure of the latch, or a casting issue that is affecting this.
    Unfortunately I didn't. Need to remove the Mag release again and see how the Mags load. I can tell you that the Mag release is very stiff and difficult to depress.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Posts
    3,146
    Rep Power
    21474850

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    another image
    Illegitimus non carborundum est

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Mohnton, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    7,178
    Rep Power
    21474854

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    One little note, try a plastic follower. The sticking on release is the slide lock catching on the follower and possibly the follower sticking forward out the mag body and catching the ramp. Round top stamped followers might work also, the L shaped traditional follower can cause the most trouble. The slide stop and the mag catch and the ramp all have tolerances that can make one style of follower work better than the others. When things are in the sweet spot it doesn’t matter what follower is used. This is my personal experience with Colt 1911s.
    The Gun is the Badge of a Free Man

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Mohnton, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    7,178
    Rep Power
    21474854

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Quote Originally Posted by Rainier42 View Post
    Unfortunately I didn't. Need to remove the Mag release again and see how the Mags load. I can tell you that the Mag release is very stiff and difficult to depress.

    Check it for burrs any roughness. Don’t fly the spring across the room and do use the proper screwdriver. You don’t want it dropping mags by accident but you shouldn’t have a permanent dent in your thumb either.
    The Gun is the Badge of a Free Man

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Hope, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    319
    Rep Power
    117

    Default Re: Difficulty Loading/Dropping Magazines on Colt 1911

    Ok, just removed the Mag release and all mags slide in and out with no problems ... no hangups at all. Am thinking there is an issue with the Mag release. Should I be thinking about buying a new one or can this one be fixed?

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Loading .45 colt
    By RJH245 in forum Ammunition & Reloading
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: October 4th, 2014, 07:39 AM
  2. Replies: 12
    Last Post: April 15th, 2012, 11:58 PM
  3. dropping the slide on a 1911 dry
    By MicroMonkey in forum Pistols
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: September 21st, 2011, 07:15 PM
  4. Getting started loading 45 Colt.
    By Berks_Iraq_Vet in forum General
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: August 2nd, 2009, 11:08 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •