Reliability questions for a defense weapon

[pwang]

Got a S&W PC1911 and wanted to use it for self defense but finding the magazine does not come out freely at times after it was send back to S&W for a replacement trigger and grip bushing problem and I think they put in a new mag catch which I have to file down and fit it to mag can be inserted freely.

The following are what I think maybe causing the problem but not sure if it need to be send back again and what is the correct way to fix the problems?

1. The mag have markings on both side made by the trigger bow which is extened outwards intead of flushed to the rail.

2. The mag have marking on the lower right by the lower right grip screw bushing protruding (change to other bushings and it still protrudes a little).

The mag will fall out only if hold straight and slide is closed. If the slide is locked open and tilt a little, it come out half way at times and it should just slide out but something is catching but not sure what (trigger bow, mag release, grip screw bushing).

Any suggestion and help is greatly appreciated.

[1911Tuner]

Howdy pwang.

You've either got:

A...Magazine width out of spec.

B...Trigger bow or trigger track out of spec, or...

C...Magwell out of spec.

D...Grip screws protruding into the magwell and rubbing the mag, or...

E...Tolerance stack between A and B that causes it to hang.

You might try lightly squeezing the magazine in a vise...lightly...to lose a couple thousandths off the width, or find a few magazines that'll drop free.

FWIW, the odds of your needing a speed reload in a defensive situation are
slim. I actually prefer that my primary magazine drop a little and stop short of falling out. Allows a....hmmm..."tactical" reload and still lets me hang onto a partially spent magazine without havin' to scramble for it.

[pwang]

Tuner,

A. The mags are CM power mags and they work fine before the trip to S&W.

B. The trigger bow should be tuned so that they are inside the tracks?

C. The mag well is too thin on the side where the bushing protrudes?

D. The grip bushing protuding, is there a way to fix that without putting on shims and do you think I should send it back to Smith and have they tune the trigger bow and the bushing problem?

Howdy pwang.

You've either got:

A...Magazine width out of spec.

B...Trigger bow or trigger track out of spec, or...

C...Magwell out of spec.

D...Grip screws protruding into the magwell and rubbing the mag, or...

E...Tolerance stack between A and B that causes it to hang.

You might try lightly squeezing the magazine in a vise...lightly...to lose a couple thousandths off the width, or find a few magazines that'll drop free.

FWIW, the odds of your needing a speed reload in a defensive situation are
slim. I actually prefer that my primary magazine drop a little and stop short of falling out. Allows a....hmmm..."tactical" reload and still lets me hang onto a partially spent magazine without havin' to scramble for it.

[Hawkmoon]

I'm no Tuner, but allow me to address a couple of these comments:

B. The trigger bow should be tuned so that they are inside the tracks?
"Should"? Of course. But you said the mags dropped with the original trigger, and you said there are marks on the mag tube where the trigger bow is dragging. Clearly, whoever installed the new trigger didn't check it when he dropped it in. If you can detail strip your pistol, you could gently spread the sides of the bow slightly, but go slowly so you don't create a lot of drag in the channels.

C. The mag well is too thin on the side where the bushing protrudes?

D. The grip bushing protuding, is there a way to fix that without putting on shims and do you think I should send it back to Smith and have they tune the trigger bow and the bushing problem?
You could remove the bushings and grind or file a few thousandths off the back, then reinstall.

Personally, I'd send it back to S&W and raise a ruckus. You paid good money to have their "gunsmiths" "upgrade" your pistol, and it seems what you got was somebody who just reached into a box and threw some parts at it. S&W should do better than that, and you should nat have to monkey around to correct their mistakes.

[John]

I would take a file and file down the offending bushing inside the mag well. Nothing to it.