Fitting a 1911 Mag Catch Lock

[Knuckle Dragger]

I'm putting in an extended mag release on my 1911 and also have a new mag catch lock.

The mag catch lock fits fine into the magazine catch, but when I insert the two of them into the frame, I cannot rotate the catch lock to lock the pieces into the frame. Is the mag catch lock a piece that typically requires fitting? Do I just save a little off the tab until it rotates?

Thanks!

 

[warwickben]

Are you compressing it the right amount?
Try both halfs by then selfs.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Thanks, that helped a lot. The new mag catch had a tight fit and was sticking just enough that I couldn't seem to get it engaged correctly. Once I compressed the catch the right amount it still stuck until I worked it in a little.

 

[warwickben]

Cool glad I could help.

I allways found its easy to take out hard to put back.

 

[Gammon]

In his monthly column in Front Sight our resident gunsmith from Brazos Customs once reccommmended polishing the inside of the spring channel of the mag catch to smooth its operation.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

In his monthly column in Front Sight our resident gunsmith from Brazos Customs once reccommmended polishing the inside of the spring channel of the mag catch to smooth its operation.

I actually considered polishing the mag catch itself. I used some layout fluid, but didn't find any areas of obvious wear.

 

[warwickben]

I actually considered polishing the mag catch itself. I used some layout fluid, but didn't find any areas of obvious wear.

I had debur one cause it was holding up the follower.