Anybody ever done this to a Mag Brake?

[tdogg]

So I was at the range today practicing Bill drills and I got hung up during a mag change.  I fumbled the mag and tried to insert it into the mag well at a funny angle and this happened.







Somehow I caught the mag brake steel with the magazine during insertion and it got shoved up into the frame.  Needless to say that ended my day at the range with the 97BD.  I got home and pulled it out and hammered it straight and re-installed it.  Can't say I've ever heard this happening on the forum and I can't figure out how I managed to do it?

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Toby

[1SOW]

First one I've seen that did that.  Yipes.
Is the 97 mag well different than a 75's in some way other than size?

[Tok36]

Neat. This is the first time i have seen this. Glad you got it back into shape.

I am guessing that the mag break was out of spec before this happened?

[tdogg]

I can't think of any differences in the mag well between my SP01 and the 97BD.  I recall that the main spring plug is longer on the 97BD but I think it takes the same main springs.  That would also imply that the mag brake is longer too but I didn't confirm.

Prior to this happening it was functioning fine.  Mags dropped free and there was no reason to believe that anything was out of spec.

I still can't figure out how this happened?  It's metal on metal when you insert the magazine.  I could see this happening if there was metal on rubber or something else that was "sticky" that could grab the mag brake upon mag insertion.  I'm going to have to try and replicate it I guess.

Cheers,
Toby

[1SOW]

I'd pull the grips and do a slew of slow and fast inserts--best with the mag that was used when this happened.
Weird.

Added:  Thinking about it,  normally the tab is behind the bottom pin AND the a small portion of the full-width spring steel is recessed below the TOP edge of the magwell.  If it was somehow raised slightly, or the tab wasn't behind that pin allowing it to move inward,  then maybe a mag could catch on the bottom edge.  Sounds like a stretch unless it had been out recently or maybe just the pin had been pulled and reinserted? 

[tdogg]

I'm pretty sure that if the mag brake wasn't seated fully into the frame slot it would act as a mag brake because it would have to be bowed inward and not let the mag drop free.  If it wasn't in the slot (if it wasn't installed correctly and was in the mag well area) then I'd assume you wouldn't be able to install a magazine at all even if it was flush with the rear of the mag well (not enough clearance for both a magazine and the mag brake steel).

My mags were all dropping free up until it happened.  I was on my 4th or 5th full mag when it occurred. 

When I was assembling the gun after I fixed it, I checked both magazines with the grips off to see how it could have happened and couldn't figure it out.  Nothing seemed out of the normal with either mag or the mag well area.

I've definitely had this apart multiple times during the various upgrades and detail stripping.  Maybe there was something out of place?  I don't know how this happened?

Cheers,
Toby

[75Plus]

I've definitely had this apart multiple times during the various upgrades and detail stripping.  Maybe there was something out of place?  I don't know how this happened?

During the times you had the mag brake out did you by any chance intentionally straighten the loop that the hammer spring pin goes through? If so that may be the stariing point of the problem. It is hard to say, from the picture, if it was straightened during the failure or before hand.

This may be a good time to bring this tool up again.

[tdogg]

75Plus,

I've never straightened the tab at the end of the brake.  I can't say it looks any more straight now than it did when I first pulled it apart.  Is it supposed to be more curled at the end?  Is the main spring plug retaining pin supposed to go under this bent portion of the mag brake?  I've always just compressed the main spring and inserted the mag brake, then compressed the main spring again and inserted the retaining pin.  I couldn't tell you if I was putting the retaining pin under the mag brake or not?  I just make sure that the mag brake is flat and fully inserted into the guide slot in the mag well.

Your tool makes this task look easy.  I've seen the tool before but not the video of it in action.  Looks Good!

Cheers,
Toby

[75Plus]

The mag brakes from the factory, for the full sized pistols, have a 360 degree loop. The compact models are curved similar to the one in your picture. A lot of the guys cut some of the loop off so it is easier to work with. With the little tool in the video the brake will fall out under its own weight when the pin is pulled. The compact models are still a bit tricky though, because the plug has to be pressed deeper into the frame to get them out or back in.

[Tok36]

^^Thank you for the video Jo, enlightening. I was doing it all wrong last time i attempted it.

[Firemanjones]

All I can say is WOW. Time for a new one.

[razorfish]

Many USPSA shooters change the stock mag brake to the stainless mag brake offered by CZ Custom. It's a ten dollar part that minimizes the chance of folding up your stock mag brake. Also the stainless version by CZC is generally a drop in cure for people having issues with factory magazines hanging up.


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[angus hobdell]

I actually did this on a  stage at the African Championships many years ago, hence the reason for the solid mag breaks.

[tdogg]

I didn't know that the stainless brake was a solution, I thought it was for weight loss (to make weight in IDPA).  Maybe my next order I will try it out.  For now I will run my hammer flattened mag brake.

Cheers,
Toby

[Tok36]

I didn't know that the stainless brake was a solution, I thought it was for weight loss (to make weight in IDPA).  Maybe my next order I will try it out.  For now I will run my hammer flattened mag brake.

Cheers,
Toby

If you ever decide to sell that Custom Hammer Flattend Mag Break you let me know.