How do you 'tune' a magazine?

hudsonvalley · February 11th, 2008, 10:45 PM

I have a Kimber Pro CDPII. I bought it on a trade

good for me....it came with a Mec-gar magazine that goes in easy, but needs a push up while I depress the mag release for it to drop out. Other mags (different brands) I have don't have this problem. Is it something that a little filing can cure? On the magazine, not the gun

.

friesepferd · February 12th, 2008, 01:13 AM

yea, a friend of mine has a kahr that wont eject mags without a bit of help.
im sure someone here will have a good solution for us

P95Carry · February 12th, 2008, 01:52 AM

It is possible - with GREAT CARE - to sometimes ease one of these kinda mags by astute file useage.

Thing is - no one wants a sloppy mag - one which sits sloppy and too low. Too much file work and that will happen.

I'd suggest, with careful use of the finest needle file ....... a miniscule amount of metal is taken off the top portion of the engagement slot - and the mag tested again for fit. Could be even half a thou is enough to relieve this problem. Easy to remove metal but - way harder to put it back so - minute stages is way to go.

Other ''tuning'' aspects, while on subject -- good to ensure 100% free movement of follower - and, totally dry inside of mag of any oil ... JMHO - only ''lube'' for inside should be dry lube and not lashings of runny oil. Which attracts crud!

Ram Rod · February 12th, 2008, 02:04 AM

I've been known to do a little filing/fitting on the notch on metal magazines before to assist with functionality. Usually this would be the lower part of the notch or they are not cut toward the back of the mag far enough. You can put a piece of masking tape tightly over the notch and insert the mag to possibly tell what direction you would need to go. Hold the mag release in while inserting the mag fully then letting go of the mag release. You'll want to be careful so as not to make the magazine too sloppy or not engage properly. In the past I've also taken the flat/single stack mags like the 1911's and squeezed them in my hand on the sides then test them until they run well empty, then try them loaded the same way. I've used a utility knife on some Glock magazines where the catch notch is not sharp or well defined also. I've also been known to use Armor-All on the synthetic magazines to aid in dropping. By no means am I suggesting taking the hacksaw and vise grips to your mags, but mass production technology does get out of calibration every now and then, especially when the Q-A department is all out sick with the flu.

Tangle · February 12th, 2008, 10:05 AM

Also, tuning can include 'stoning' and adjusting the mag lips to improve feeding, but of course, that won't help the mag release issue.

hudsonvalley · February 12th, 2008, 03:10 PM

I need to buy a good quality file set.....these American-Chinese Imports just ain't doin' it.

Ram Rod · February 12th, 2008, 10:18 PM

Dremel tools are nice for all kinds of firearms uses also!

ELCruisr · February 13th, 2008, 07:10 AM

A little metal layout fluid can work wonders here. Put a little on the suspect areas and then cycle the mag in the gun a few times. There will be a nice shiny spot where it has rubbed off. It's also fairly common practice to coat an entire mag with the stuff and then cycling. You'd be surprised where you occasionally find high spots on some mag/pistol combinations. A little judicious work can give you mags that insert/eject very smoothly.

The excess layout dye can be removed with solvent or buffed off.

February 11th, 2008, 10:45 PM	#1
hudsonvalley Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: lower hudson valley ny Posts: 480	How do you 'tune' a magazine? I have a Kimber Pro CDPII. I bought it on a trade good for me....it came with a Mec-gar magazine that goes in easy, but needs a push up while I depress the mag release for it to drop out. Other mags (different brands) I have don't have this problem. Is it something that a little filing can cure? On the magazine, not the gun . __________________ Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it -- Ronald Reagan

February 12th, 2008, 01:13 AM	#2
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	yea, a friend of mine has a kahr that wont eject mags without a bit of help. im sure someone here will have a good solution for us __________________ Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency.

February 12th, 2008, 01:52 AM	#3
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	It is possible - with GREAT CARE - to sometimes ease one of these kinda mags by astute file useage. Thing is - no one wants a sloppy mag - one which sits sloppy and too low. Too much file work and that will happen. I'd suggest, with careful use of the finest needle file ....... a miniscule amount of metal is taken off the top portion of the engagement slot - and the mag tested again for fit. Could be even half a thou is enough to relieve this problem. Easy to remove metal but - way harder to put it back so - minute stages is way to go. Other ''tuning'' aspects, while on subject -- good to ensure 100% free movement of follower - and, totally dry inside of mag of any oil ... JMHO - only ''lube'' for inside should be dry lube and not lashings of runny oil. Which attracts crud! __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

February 12th, 2008, 02:04 AM	#4
Ram Rod VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: crawford county, arkansas Posts: 5,134	I've been known to do a little filing/fitting on the notch on metal magazines before to assist with functionality. Usually this would be the lower part of the notch or they are not cut toward the back of the mag far enough. You can put a piece of masking tape tightly over the notch and insert the mag to possibly tell what direction you would need to go. Hold the mag release in while inserting the mag fully then letting go of the mag release. You'll want to be careful so as not to make the magazine too sloppy or not engage properly. In the past I've also taken the flat/single stack mags like the 1911's and squeezed them in my hand on the sides then test them until they run well empty, then try them loaded the same way. I've used a utility knife on some Glock magazines where the catch notch is not sharp or well defined also. I've also been known to use Armor-All on the synthetic magazines to aid in dropping. By no means am I suggesting taking the hacksaw and vise grips to your mags, but mass production technology does get out of calibration every now and then, especially when the Q-A department is all out sick with the flu. __________________ RamRod-----sans remords

February 12th, 2008, 10:05 AM	#5
Tangle Senior Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 5,783	Also, tuning can include 'stoning' and adjusting the mag lips to improve feeding, but of course, that won't help the mag release issue. __________________ "Plans fail, things fail, people fail; but, fear never fails - it must be defeated." - by Tangle, a long time ago.

February 12th, 2008, 03:10 PM	#6
hudsonvalley Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: lower hudson valley ny Posts: 480	I need to buy a good quality file set.....these American-Chinese Imports just ain't doin' it. __________________ Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it -- Ronald Reagan

February 12th, 2008, 10:18 PM	#7
Ram Rod VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: crawford county, arkansas Posts: 5,134	Dremel tools are nice for all kinds of firearms uses also! __________________ RamRod-----sans remords

February 13th, 2008, 07:10 AM	#8
ELCruisr Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 1,876	A little metal layout fluid can work wonders here. Put a little on the suspect areas and then cycle the mag in the gun a few times. There will be a nice shiny spot where it has rubbed off. It's also fairly common practice to coat an entire mag with the stuff and then cycling. You'd be surprised where you occasionally find high spots on some mag/pistol combinations. A little judicious work can give you mags that insert/eject very smoothly. The excess layout dye can be removed with solvent or buffed off. __________________ If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good. ~ Thomas J. Watson, Jr.

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