Mag Drops After Each Shot

13848 Views 60 Replies 27 Participants Last post by justdrivin, Jan 26, 2009

PaLCP

Discussion Starter · Sep 16, 2008

I bought my LCP around 6 weeks ago and the first trip to the range was fine; it went BANG each and every time. I think I put 100 rounds through it. Since there wasn't really much to hold onto, I bought some Bersa finger extensions which fit on the bottom of the magazine, albeit with a little gap. Things were fine with these extensions at first, but then the magazine started dropping after every round fired, DOHH. I thought maybe the forward pressure from the finger extensions was causing this, so I took the Bersa extensions off. With the magazines back to stock configuration, I went back to the range and to my disappointment, the magazine dropping continued!

Has anyone else had this issue? I have to send it back to Ruger to have them look at this. I think maybe I wore down the magazine catch. Other than the Bersa extensions, I recall slamming the magazine in a few times, which I know Kel-Tec tells people NOT to do with the P3AT.

1 - 20 of 61 Posts

kraigster414

· #2 · Sep 16, 2008

How does it shoot with a different mag installed?

LCP_Dogg

· #3 · Sep 16, 2008

Dude, yeah you can NOT slam the magazine in on these little guns (like this turkey does at 0:28:

). It will break or wear down the magazine catch.

RobR369

· #4 · Sep 17, 2008

you are not accidently hitting the mag release during your grip of the recoil? Maybe Keep an eye on that.. My son does the same thing everytime with my P22. Some how after he pulls the trigger, he catches the mag release. I have tried to watch closely while he is shooting, and for the life of me, cant see or figure out how he is doing it. I know, that the release on the P22 is totally different then the release on the LCP but thats something i would check out before sending it back to Ruger... Please keep us informed. thanks

Zach and Holly

· #5 · Sep 17, 2008

Strange...can you pull the magazine out with your hand without touching the release?

kraigster414

· #6 · Sep 17, 2008

You shouldn't be slamming mags in but you don't have to be shy about it either in the LCP. This is/was more of an issue with the P3AT and that's why everyone welcomed the addition of an after-market metal mag catch sold by one enterprising soul - it made all the difference in the world. I am not hard on my LCP but I am not that gentle either.

mroid

· #7 · Sep 17, 2008

RobR369 said:
you are not accidently hitting the mag release during your grip of the recoil? Maybe Keep an eye on that.. My son does the same thing everytime with my P22. Some how after he pulls the trigger, he catches the mag release. I have tried to watch closely while he is shooting, and for the life of me, cant see or figure out how he is doing it. I know, that the release on the P22 is totally different then the release on the LCP but thats something i would check out before sending it back to Ruger... Please keep us informed. thanks

That was my first thought also. I think I did that once or twice with my LCP also.

tigertonytigger

· #8 · Sep 18, 2008

I was thinking you are hitting the mag. release also. I have taken my LCP out of the holser and hit the button and out comes the mag. That is the last thing i want to happen for when I need it and out comes the mag. and all I have is one in the chamber.

Sassi

· #9 · Nov 26, 2008

I have this same problem. I have tried to manually pull the magazine out. It won't come out by hand. I do not "slam" the magazine in. I have gone out of my way to make sure my thumb does not hit the release button. For me the problem began after firing about a hundred rounds in my LCP. This was about the time I added the finger extensions onto my magazines. I plan to try a magazine without a finger extension and see if this problem continues. Folks it is a fact...this is happening to some of us. Quit making it sound like we are the ones screwing things up. My magazines also seem to wiggle around more than you would expect. These are my only problems and concerns regarding my LCP. I will address this to Ruger in a letter whenever they decide to have me send mine back to them.

jocko

· #10 · Nov 26, 2008

PaLCP said:
I bought my LCP around 6 weeks ago and the first trip to the range was fine; it went BANG each and every time. I think I put 100 rounds through it. Since there wasn't really much to hold onto, I bought some Bersa finger extensions which fit on the bottom of the magazine, albeit with a little gap. Things were fine with these extensions at first, but then the magazine started dropping after every round fired, DOHH. I thought maybe the forward pressure from the finger extensions was causing this, so I took the Bersa extensions off. With the magazines back to stock configuration, I went back to the range and to my disappointment, the magazine dropping continued!

Has anyone else had this issue? I have to send it back to Ruger to have them look at this. I think maybe I wore down the magazine catch. Other than the Bersa extensions, I recall slamming the magazine in a few times, which I know Kel-Tec tells people NOT to do with the P3AT.

My bet is that you have a bad magazine catch, or possably there is to much excess polymer on the bottom of the grip preventing the magazines from going all the way in and locking properly. Those catches are damn durable and you can slam them but in time you will damage the release, but I am not talking about 10 times or 50 times.It will take awhile.

If you gun has not been sent back for the recall, just bear with it until it goes back and then be sure to put a letter of instructions in with the gun telling them about the mag issue. They will replace the catch.

skywagon

· #11 · Dec 3, 2008

Mine does this also and they told me on the phone they need to put in a stronger mag release spring. Be sure they know about it before the recall .

rfmanning

· #12 · Dec 23, 2008

The recall came out right after I purchased my LCP. Receiving it back, the magazine would not lock in place. I don't remember it locking or not locking before I sent it off. I decided to look at the magazine catch. I pulled the slide off and using a flashlight, I found a roll pin sticking out of the top of the magazine catch inside the magazine well. A push with a flatpoint screwdriver seated the pin. Whatayaknow, the magazine seats and locks just fine. Hmmmm.

Bob

DesertPunisher425

· #13 · Dec 23, 2008

LCP_Dogg said:
Dude, yeah you can NOT slam the magazine in on these little guns (like this turkey does at 0:28: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TV-IsoL0Ms). It will break or wear down the magazine catch.

Isn't he a member here? Not very polite.

But on a side note, some constructive criticism to the gentleman in the video: finger off trigger until ready to fire... that means not in the trigger guard when loading.

mpd563

· #14 · Dec 23, 2008

PaLCP said:
I bought my LCP around 6 weeks ago and the first trip to the range was fine; it went BANG each and every time. I think I put 100 rounds through it. Since there wasn't really much to hold onto, I bought some Bersa finger extensions which fit on the bottom of the magazine, albeit with a little gap. Things were fine with these extensions at first, but then the magazine started dropping after every round fired, DOHH. I thought maybe the forward pressure from the finger extensions was causing this, so I took the Bersa extensions off. With the magazines back to stock configuration, I went back to the range and to my disappointment, the magazine dropping continued!

Has anyone else had this issue? I have to send it back to Ruger to have them look at this. I think maybe I wore down the magazine catch. Other than the Bersa extensions, I recall slamming the magazine in a few times, which I know Kel-Tec tells people NOT to do with the P3AT.

My guess would be that when you added the finger extensions to the mags and began shooting the gun with the new finger extensions in place the recoil of the gun was causing a lot of downward pressure on the magazine which eventually wore the mag catch down to where it will no longer hold the magazine in place. After all, it was metal bearing down on plastic. Metal will win that fight every time. That is why I personally do not like the finger extensions on any gun that uses plastic mag catches. I have had a Glock 27 for over 12 years now and I never wanted or added the extensions to its mags. I had a P3AT before the LCP and I never added any extensions to it. And since I will not be using it I will probably sell the new finger extension mag that Ruger sent me with my returned LCP.

jocko

· #15 · Dec 23, 2008

I don't think it is mag extension that is causing the issue. Those polymer mag catches are on alot of guns. I have one on my kahr PM9 with 17,800 rounds on it and it has never popped a magazine. I do not slam my magazines but I also feel you can slam you lcp magazines many many times before you will wear anything out. I had thousands of rounds through my 3 kt's and never had one mag issue and they were all polymer.

Now if you have an after market pinkie extension, it might indeed be interfering with the lockup of the magazine but if you are having the same problems with stock ruger magazines, then you have a bad catch or possable the spring keeper that holds the magazine release in place is not in right. It's not ur magazines IMO.

Slamming these magazine a 100 times won't wear out the mag release, but error on the side of caution, just push the button in when inserting. They ain't race guns, so why the rush and most people over 80% never even carry a back up magazine with them, so again why the rush..

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mpd563

· #16 · Dec 23, 2008

Jocko here's my thinking on this. He had not had any trouble with the mags falling out until he installed the pinkie extensions and began shooting the gun with these in place. Yes the polymer mag catches are very strong but in my opinion never meant to have the kind of stress they would have placed on them as in this situation. Just imagine the kind of downward pressures that are placed on the catch when the gun fires and recoils. Normally the gun would kinda just shift around in the hand without the extensions installed, but with them installed the pinkie extensions would hold the gun in place in the hand, which normally is a good thing, but in this situation the mag catch is what takes the full pressure when the gun recoils. And like I said, its metal bearing down on plastic! To me it sounds like the pressure damaged the catch to the point that it can no longer hold the mag in place during recoil. Thats my opinion anyway.

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jocko

· #17 · Dec 23, 2008

he should have no problem checking that out, just pull the mag release out it will show the kind of wear u are talking about. I just think alot underestimate the durablility of the polymer ma release, and in this fellas case we are not talking about a gunt hat has had 15,000 rounds through it where wear could be an issue, but this gun is new with hardly any rounds through it. If he sends it back they will fix it and my bet they will just replace the entire mag release with new spring also. I think he could save alot of time if he just called Ruger and ask themt os end a new mag release and spring BUT I think I would hve alook down inside that grip to see if possable the mag release spring is out of its position. He has nothing to loose by trying to fix it him self, at best he can fail and then just wrap it upa nd send it back to Ruger..

and again ur thinking could be dead right to... We are both trying tour eyeballs on... Kinda like calling a doctor and telling him you have this pain on the lower right side, WHAT IS IT????

oops just read valian report where he talked to Ruger today about the magazine catch and indeed they have made an upgrade change. It could possably be the same issue he had an corrected himself, with he roll pin not being inserted in all the way properly.

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DaveLee

· #18 · Dec 23, 2008

I have had the exact same problem (and reported it here several times)

Magazines with finger extensions fall like ripe apples from my LCP - doesn't matter if they are Ruger magazine extensions or third party. I've tried different ammo, different ways to grip the pistol, and having other people shoot - same results. The magazines, if they have a finger extension, they fall out. No extension - no problem,

I don't slam magazines either.

My was shipped back to Ruger for the recall last week with a note - we'll see if they fix it.

mpd563

· #19 · Dec 24, 2008

DaveLee said:
I have had the exact same problem (and reported it here several times)

Magazines with finger extensions fall like ripe apples from my LCP - doesn't matter if they are Ruger magazine extensions or third party. I've tried different ammo, different ways to grip the pistol, and having other people shoot - same results. The magazines, if they have a finger extension, they fall out. No extension - no problem,

I don't slam magazines either.

My was shipped back to Ruger for the recall last week with a note - we'll see if they fix it.

Again, his works fine without finger extensions and trouble with the extensions. To me it sounds like the finger extensions are causing the problems. I personally will not use them on mine.

MNBud

· #20 · Dec 26, 2008

Tagging this posting just to follow results. I'm anxious to hear from someone who's gun went in with this issue.

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