I recently acquired a 1911 build done by Coal Creek Armory in Knoxville, TN. The gun started life as a Springfield Armory GI, and had a fairly extensive amount of work done. Overall quality of work was good. The one thing on the gun that bothers me is this-
The magazine catch sits inside the frame on the right side by 0.34". I've tried several different magazine catches in this gun, and they all sit inside the frame and this magazine catch will install in other 1911's correctly, so I have to assume that the recess that the magazine catch lock engages is not cut at the proper depth.
The inside of the magazine catch has been relieved to allow magazines to seat correctly and drop free so the issue is primarily cosmetic, but it does bother me.
So, two questions:
Is there another possible cause that I'm overlooking?
Is there an aftermarket magazine catch that is oversized that it will fill this gap when properly fit?
Better write up of the overall gun with pics is here -
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?p=3028686#post3028686
Fairly common, but not usually as bad as yours. I started a thread about that several months back. Now that George/EGW are diving in with some great new parts, maybe they'll offer up one with extra material for fitting to a flush no gap fit.
The 10-8 mag release I installed in my Kimber protruded a bit from my frame until I filed it flush. Maybe it will be a better fit for you. I don't know if it's oversized on purpose. Try giving them a call.
Is bet the hole on the LEFT side of the frame is counterbored too deep. You could try a ring slipped on the mag catch shoulder before it is inserted that could keep it from over inserting. Perhaps a small spring wire lock ring with the right diameter.
I think where the mag release sits is determined by the location of the cutout for the mag release lock
If that's so, you can have the recess machined further our until the mag release will be flush on the back side, but you'll have to build up the lock or fill in the other side of the recess of the frame where it's machined too far in. Someone with good tig welding or silver brazing skills should be able to do this.
Either that or flat grind the whole right side of the frame until it's flush for the mag releas- don't think you want to do that !
Nowlin mag catches tend to be a bit longer. Unfortunately, that's all I can tell you because the one you have is sittin' awfully deep and all my parts and tools are packed up right now so I can't measure one for ya. Maybe someone here has a Nowlin catch handy and can measure it.
I don't think the catch slot in the frame decides anything but where the catch lock sits WRT the right side of the frame. The spring on the catch lock pushes the catch to the left until the shoulder on the catch bottoms on the bore on the inside of the frame on the left. That is what decides how far the catch can insert. Remove the catch and spring and insert the catch. What stops it?
Joe is absolutely correct and his idea is valid also. A wire slip ring will do the trick.
One other thing that could do it would be if the head of the magazine release screw has a burr on it and doesn't go all the way into the release body. His photo shows the head of the screw in the right place but the release is not fully extended flush with the frame. the slot in the screw looks a bit buggered too.
Hah... hadn't even considered it but the OPs photo may be of the pistol without a mag in the well... perhaps with a mag in place the catch may be flush. Or closer to flush.
Quote:
perhaps with a mag in place the catch may be flush. Or closer to flush.
No appreciable difference with a magazine inserted. I will be trying your ring idea, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Quote:
One other thing that could do it would be if the head of the magazine
release screw has a burr on it and doesn't go all the way into the release
body.
I do have spare mag release screws, can't hurt to try that.