Magazine Retention

[Hauptmann6]

Yesterday the mag came out of my mak that I carry. Something hit the release in the car. I didn't notice till I was in the house...

Anyone know of a way to make the release harder?

[Brian Dover]

Don't have my Mak in front of me so take this advice with a grain of salt. Since the mag release tension is caused by a leaf spring, I suppose you could bend the spring a bit more. Also, you could remove a bit of metal on the release where it rides over the magazine base, so that the release comes just a little farther forward.

Of course these fixes will require taking the gun apart futher than field stripping, so make sure you can get the gun re-assembled without difficulty before undertaking the job. Nothing more disheartening (for me at least) than having to take a firearm to a professional 'smith, and paying full-boat for work I shouldn't have started in the first place.

[Teakwood]

I do not suggest jumping into adjustment toi the main spring. However, one could try a little careful shaping of the foot, but a replacement may be a better idea.

The problem may be the magazine or you may not have had the mag seated well. Look at the back of the mag near the heal and you will see a small protrusion. This catches on the shelf of the lower portion of the mainspring. See if it is worn. Also, try a different mag.

If all else fails, replace the mainspring.

[Hauptmann6]

I figured out how I did it. My holster was farther forward than normal and it was hitting the seatbelt latch.

I will look into the mag heels though.

thanks

[pjb1]

Wow, this happens with a Mak too?!

I always thought a heel release would be better than the usual thumb release. I've had several guns with thumb releases drop their mags. Not the sort of thing you want to happen when pulling a gun to scare off a goblin! ;Q

I have to work at my release to get the mag out; hard to imagine even a seatbelt latch tripping it. Maybe your spring is weak. Also as someone else noted, maybe you didn't really seat the mag. Do you pull on it after you seat it? Always a good habit to get into.

[Hauptmann6]

yup it was fully in ect. I sat down and slid the butt down the seatbelt latch and it hit the release.

[richardoldfield]

Tighten the grip screw a little but not too much. This should eliminate the problem. If you over tighten the grip screw the mags will not go in or eject very well. Regards, Richard :)

[Teakwood]

Originally posted by richardoldfield
Tighten the grip screw a little but not too much. This should eliminate the problem. ...:)
I doubt that tightening of the grip screw will have any afect. The spring is held in place mainly by a retainer.

[richardoldfield]

Teakwood, if you doubt me tighten the grip screw as tight as it will go and observe the effect it has on the Mak's magazine insertion and extraction. Let me know your findings. Regards, Richard :)

[FM TIM]

I found that my grip screw extended into the magazine well. It was actually rubbing against the magazine. Same effect. Repair was easy - slightly shorten the grip screw.