CZ 52 Magazine release catch popping the floor plate off

[Sean32817]

Long time CZ 52 owner but first time poster here.

I'm having a problem with the magazine latch catching on the floor plate and popping it off.

When I insert a magazine - loaded or unloaded - I notice that sometime the catch doesn't clamp over the bottom of the mag, but instead, ends up clipping onto the edge so that it's even with the floor plate.

There's no rhyme or reason behind this happening - I've got four mags and they'll all take turns having this problem - I can put the same mag in several times in a row and sometimes the latch catches it properly, other times it doesn't.

This is causing a problem because if I slap the mag in too hard that causes the floor plate to go flying off and if I don't catch the problem before shooting that'll also cause the magazine to self-destruct.

I've tried searching for the problem and while I've see folks on various forums talk about the floor plate flying off while shooting, I haven't seen anyone identify the latch not fully catching as the issue, much less provide a solution.

I did try searching the forums here but no luck so if this has been addressed sorry for the repeat.

Don't know if this matters but the one having this problem is a 1954 make.

I did ask this in the general forum but they closed the thread and said I should post here before I could get an answer.

I have checked that the floor plate is installed correctly and the spring is properly set in its notch.

I feed them a mix of commercial ammo without the penetrators and the all brass case, the mil surplus with the brass case and steel cores and of course the original hot, all steel ammo with the brown coating and steel core that comes on the stripper clips.

If it was only happening while firing I would say it was the hot ammo doing it but what caused me to post was when I was testing everything and two mags flew apart from me slapping them in.

Thank you in advance for any solutions you can provide.

[rdcinhou]

Wow!  Sounds like a real problem.  My CZ 52 hasn't had anything like that but I've only ever shot modern conventional brass-cased ammo from the better manufacturers.

Have you done a deep-dive search using 52 from the top level of this sub-board?

While doing pre-buy research on a model, I try to read up on all the problems that everyone has ever encountered with that model.

That is one of several reasons why I haven't yet added a Scorpion EVO to my collection.

Perhaps you could post a few photos of your mag release and the bottoms of your mags so those of us with CZ 52s could compare.

Please read up on the FAQs for posting photos that are pinned at the top of the Forum.

I find that using the Tapatalk on my phone is the best way to capture, process and then post to the Forum.

Ideally post a photo that is 800 pixels wide otherwise it overruns the display width and makes it troublesome for people to review and comment.

When you do get around to posting photos, I won't be able to compare against my CZ 52 and respond right away as I am on a remote field assignment and I infrequently make a trip back home to be with my collection. 

My next trip is scheduled for Oct. 10th.

I'm interested in helping you solve the problem.

[eastman]

Are these real CZ mags or the supposed "factory" mags that a lot of online sellers stock?

I bought one of the "cz mfg" mags and that is a piece of junk.

[Sean32817]

I picked up my CZ 52s back in the 90s when the gun shows got flooded by Russian surplus so I'm betting the magazines are originals.

Here are photos of the magazine in the proper and improper position.  As you can see, when properly aligned the latch is resting flatly on the bottom of the plate, securely holding it in place.  The second photo shows when it is not properly aligned and the latch is level with the plate and thus likely to knock it free with sufficient pressure.

[Sean32817]

Do I somehow have a unique CZ 52 and no one has ever seen this before?

[eastman]

Mine has never done that.

Instead, mine liked to walk the extractor pin out of the slide and then throw the extractor spring somewhere it will never be found. The extractor itself never traveled far.

[rdcinhou]

It seems that the only way what you describe is happening is if the little "leg" at the base of the magazine spring is not staying put in the base plate slot. A little gentle bending with a small set of needle nose pliers should remedy that.

Here is a photo of mine.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Sean32817]

Mine has never done that.

Instead, mine liked to walk the extractor pin out of the slide and then throw the extractor spring somewhere it will never be found. The extractor itself never traveled far.

Sigh, yeah - had that happen on one of mine too.

It seems that the only way what you describe is happening is if the little "leg" at the base of the magazine spring is not staying put in the base plate slot. A little gentle bending with a small set of needle nose pliers should remedy that.

No, the leg in the spring is fine - as you can see from the photo I added, the issue is that the magazine catch isn't clamping over the plate but instead, hitting the lip of the magazine and ending up level with it.

[rdcinhou]

Perhaps then you might try bending the forward piece of the magazine catch to make it more perpendicular to the rest.

Looking closer at your photo it looks more like its at 95-96 degrees instead of 90 degrees like mine.

[Sean32817]

Your's does look like it's got a tighter crimp to it.