Sticky magazines

[Oak]

I just bought a 1911 style pistol, and hope someone here can help me with a small problem. When I push the mag release button an empty magazine does not just slide out of the gun. It slips down about 1/2" and stops. Sometimes it will slide out the rest of the way when I release the button.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Oak

[indigent]

Here is what I would look at. If you can, completely disassemble the pistol. Pay attantion to the trigger bow. If it appears as if the 2 metal sections that are perpendicular to the trigger are pushed too close togather you might have found your problem.

Anyone else feel free to correct me if Im wrong, or on the wrong path. Its still early and my brain is kinda fuzzy.

http://tinypic.com/fu70c3.jpg

[eljay45]

Does it happen with all of your mags? Are they all the same brand? You might just need to try a different brand of mag.

[Oak]

Thanks for the ideas. Sorry I took so long getting back. I field stripped the pistol and cleaned it thoroughly, especially the mag channel. By shining a bright light into the channel while pressing the mag catch, I can see that if I press too far the catch protrudes into the channel a bit. I'm thinking that's my problem, 'cause if I'm real careful all my mags drop free when empty if I don't press too far. What kind of nightmare will I get into if I remove the mag catch and file away some of the left side of the catch so that it won't protrude into the mag channel if I push it in all the way? In other words, does it do any harm to remove a bit of metal from the mag catch that is inside the left side of the frame? While I've got it out I'll probably stone the other side to smooth out magazine insertion.
What do you think?
Oak

[sheepdog]

What kind of nightmare will I get into if I remove the mag catch and file away some of the left side of the catch so that it won't protrude into the mag channel if I push it in all the way?
Okay, first, I am NOT A GUNSMITH or even a very good "fixer." But when I have this problem, I do exactly that. I file and polish a bit, retry, file and polish a bit, retry...you get the idea...until it is fixed. I'm sure there is a danger of doing something wrong if you remove too much metal, but I haven't done that yet and besides, a new mag catch is only a few bucks. A 1911 shooting friend taught me to also check for burrs then polish the exterior of the catch where it slides in the frame, the interior of the hole in which the spring/catch rides, the exterior of the spring with fine polishing compound. Caution: do NOT polish the ledge that bears against the hole in the magazine! It all makes my mag changes quicker. Being a lefty, I need the mag catch to work easily.

[Oak]

Thanks for the reply Sheepdog. I am also a Lefty and we need all the help we can get. I'll give it a try as soon as I get a chance and post the results.
Oak

[Critter]

Depends on how much is protruding. You wnat to be sure you do not go to the ledge that stops the mag catch on the left side/button side of the gun. I have that problem with Brown mag catches from time to time. I insetr the shortest 4-40 set screw into the mag catch spring, insert that end in first and then reassemble the catch lock. Test it by looking down the chamber and then remove what needs to be, whether it be form the set screw or the mag catch. This normally ends the over extension problem post haste and at very little cost.