TM 1911-a1 dropping mags

[Sentenced2Burn]

So recently, my TM 1911-a1 has been releasing/dropping mags on its own while firing. I'll get 2 or 3 shots out before the magazine disconnects and falls to the ground. I've started keeping my pinky finger under the mag to hold it in place while I 1-hand it, but this can get uncomfortable after a while, especially since I tend to use extended mags (it does this with both stock magazines and long mags).

Before I go disassembling the trigger mechanism, I'd like to know if this is most likely a mag-catch issue or a spring issue. It "clicks" in just fine when loading, but after a few hard shots it releases.

Thanks ahead of time, I have some spare parts coming in soon hopefully.

[Drakker]

Does the mag release click in well when you put a magazine in? Like, firmly, not just a weak slow click.

Can you wiggle the magazine out without pressing the mag release and without firing the gun?

When a mag is in, does the opposite side of the mag release stick out?

[Styrak]

Sounds like you need a new magazine catch, or spring, or both. But probably the catch mostly. They can wear down.
Pistol has had a lot of use?

[Sentenced2Burn]

Originally Posted by Drakker

Does the mag release click in well when you put a magazine in? Like, firmly, not just a weak slow click.

Can you wiggle the magazine out without pressing the mag release and without firing the gun?

When a mag is in, does the opposite side of the mag release stick out?

Yeah, its locking in firmly and can't be pulled out manually without pushing the mag release. The right side of the mag-release does not stick out; it remains flush with the rest of the frame.

Originally Posted by Styrak

Sounds like you need a new magazine catch, or spring, or both. But probably the catch mostly. They can wear down.
Pistol has had a lot of use?

Yes, pistol has had a good solid year or two of gametime. I'll take the lower apart later today and examine the catch and spring and see if either are worn or deformed at all.

[Drakker]

Ok. As Styrak said, look at the magazine catch first. If it was well worn, you could probably wiggle the magazine out of the gun. As you guessed, it might be the spring that is weak, to test that you could slap your hand holding the gun from the side, firmly but not brutally. If the magazine drops and the catch looks fine, it's definitely the spring. Otherwise, if the catch looks fine, and the spring is still strong, you'll be in annoying weird problems territory, like bad seal/alignment between the magazine and the nozzle where part of the escaping gas actually pushes the magazine out of the gun.

[Sentenced2Burn]

Originally Posted by Drakker

Ok. As Styrak said, look at the magazine catch first. If it was well worn, you could probably wiggle the magazine out of the gun. As you guessed, it might be the spring that is weak, to test that you could slap your hand holding the gun from the side, firmly but not brutally. If the magazine drops and the catch looks fine, it's definitely the spring. Otherwise, if the catch looks fine, and the spring is still strong, you'll be in annoying weird problems territory, like bad seal/alignment between the magazine and the nozzle where part of the escaping gas actually pushes the magazine out of the gun.

Thinking you might be right about the seal alignment. It seems to be more problematic with my TM long mags...

So my next question is, what the hell can I do about something like that? haha.

I might try switching the feed lip/gaskets from my stock mags over to my long mags to see if there's a difference. I'm going to break out the micrometer tonight and measure out just how much of a slight misalignment there is.

Thanks for the advice. I'll continue to test it and install a new catch and spring anyway, to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. Thankfully it still operates 100% aside from this small issue.

[Drakker]

I've seen that problem only once on a fixer-upper WE hi-capa I bought in the classified. I switched the loading nozzle for a spare Marui nozzle I had and the problem went away.

But what I would do first of all is disassemble the gun and thoroughly clean everything. Sometimes its all that is needed. There might be some gunk or crap stuck somewhere preventing some parts from moving correctly.

[Sentenced2Burn]

Originally Posted by Drakker

I've seen that problem only once on a fixer-upper WE hi-capa I bought in the classified. I switched the loading nozzle for a spare Marui nozzle I had and the problem went away.

But what I would do first of all is disassemble the gun and thoroughly clean everything. Sometimes its all that is needed. There might be some gunk or crap stuck somewhere preventing some parts from moving correctly.

Interesting, hope it's not my nozzle reaching the end of its lifespan.

I keep this think in pretty pristine condition, cleaning-wise. After every game or shooting session it gets a full strip and re-grease. I'll see if I can dig up a spare nozzle and try swapping it out, looks like I'm going to have to do some trial and error.

Thanks for all the insight, now I have a list of possible causes.

[SuperCriollo]

It can be an easy fix. My hicapa had the same problem, just take the mag catch with a small flat head screw driver, then stretch the spring with an Allen key or drill bit inside to keep it straight. That did it for me, if it doesn't work, just get a new catch.

[Sentenced2Burn]

Originally Posted by SuperCriollo

It can be an easy fix. My hicapa had the same problem, just take the mag catch with a small flat head screw driver, then stretch the spring with an Allen key or drill bit inside to keep it straight. That did it for me, if it doesn't work, just get a new catch.

Thanks, I will give that a try actually.