Does any of the membership have an illustration on how to fit a magazine catch? I recently ordered an EGW standard magazine catch and it won't work in my series 70 Colt. When installed, the magazine feels "sticky" when inserted. Also, the mag won't positively "click" into place when seated, rather, it needs a slam on the mag base pad to seat.
I thought that someone may have an illustration of what to look for and what area may need some fitting.
But is the one you received the standard one or the EGW catch that reportedly holds the magazine up a little higher?
The only way I know of to find out if the problem is with the catch, frame or magazine is to take the measurements shown here:
The 9/16" OD thin-wall brass tubing (from K & S Engineering) is available at good hobby shops or some craft or hardware stores. An ordnance blueprint of the catch is available in our Tech Issues section, 14th link down. While none of these measurements are simple to take, it's the only way I know to find out where the problem really lies.
Not sure what you mean by the magazine feeling "sticky".
I think I know what "sticky" means. The magazine in question may not have quite the lead-in bevel I'd like to see, which means that it rather abruptly pushes the mag catch outward as you insert the magazine. Once the catch has been "popped" out enough for the magazine to complete insertion, the breakaway is pretty sudden.
One "cure" is to relieve the lead-in on the mag catch surface so that the magzine bevel is less important, but is very easy to go too far with this and have a catch that won't secure the magazine.
Floor plate bumpers vary widely in their dimensions. I have one brand of magzine that has a bit of extra material where the bumper wraps over the toe of the mag; this magzine requires a bit of trimming to get full insertion.
If you try GI magazines or Colt seven-round magazines, I suspect both these problems will be significantly alleviated.
Looks like I need a degree in engineering. I use Tripp/Cobra 8 round and 7 round mags. The mag catch is an EGW standard, not the one that holds the mag higher.
What is most disappointing is that this gun was returned to me by a very, very well known custom gunsmith, who did a complete build on the gun, to the tune of approx $1,700. I won't say the name, but if I did everyone would recongize it.
I got the gun back, in December 2010, and the catch he installed, a Wilson Combat extended, didn't work right. The gun would not feed properly, and the mag catch never properly locked in place. I immediately called and he said to return the gun, which I did. When I got the gun back, he said the catch was defective and he ordered a new one. The old mag catch, a standard Colt, worked fine. He said he never had this happen before and that mag catches were drop in parts, needing no fitting (???). He ordered another Wilson mag catch and sent it to Ion Bond for refinishing. I waited 5 more months, until he had a complete gun to send to Ion Bond. Got the mag catch sent to me last week and guess what, it didn't work. I called the 'smith again and he said he was really sorry.
I then ordered the EGW standard catch and it doesn't work right. The stock Colt mag catch, and a new mag catch I ordered from Colt work fine. Looks like the extended mag catch isn't in the cards.
Really disappointed in this guy, as it shows he never properly checked this firearm out prior to sending it me originally in December, 2010.
Steve Morrison is the only guy I will ever work with again.
Sometimes a mag catch will "drop in," but mag catches should not be considered "drop-in parts," most particularly those that deviate* from the original.
Though some deviation, e.g., to prevent mag trapping, is constructive.
I have used several of the extended mag catches, but none from EGW. The ones I have used seem to be the same wether Wilson or others. They usually do drop in, but sometimes and little whittling here and there on them might be necessary for a proper fit.
As for the magazines. The older type magazines without the lead-in dimple are more stiffer to insert than the ones that have it. This was a standard modification some years ago. I made a nylon jig and used my plunger tube crimping pliers (vise grips) with a homemade screw to dimple some of mine.
I think I'd compare the new mag catch with the Colt mag catch, and see if there are any differences.