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My new 22/45 has some of the basics done: mag safety removed & MkII bushing in, bolt lock detent/spring removed, LCI metal tab & spring removed, VQ sear en route. It fires and fxns fine.

My problem is that when ejecting mags there is too much friction for them to fall out under there own weight. I have run them back & forth in the well repeatedly to try and smooth things, and have looked for the contact points, which seem to be the front/center guide ridge and perhaps the lateral ridges. I am reluctant to to take a file/paper to these ridges or the well without hearing from others.

What are common causes of mags not dropping free (after mag safety is removed)?

Is the VQ mag eject part worthwhile?

I want the mags to eject cleanly because this gun is used in local steel matches that occasionally have strings of 18 shots or so, and I want the speed advantage in reloads.

Thanks

Ben

Looking for contact/drag points is a good first step. You won't be able to use the VQ mag eject device with a 22/45. The device mounts in a metal framed pistol where the mag spacer fits in the frame. The mag spacer replaced the heel ejection latch and uses the same two pins for mounting. A 22/45 frame is molded without this feature since the originals always had a thumb magazine release.

Remove a magazine bottom block and follower and install the metal frame into your pistol. Depress the mag release button. Does the metal body fall free from the frame? If it does then your magazine bottom blocks are too large and interfering with the fit in the frame. If they don't drop free by gravity then something else is catching the mag body - maybe the spur on the back side of the factory trigger? Do you have an RP model 22/45? If you do are the grip mounting screws too long and catching the mag body?

R,
Bullseye

Bullseye is the technical expert here and his suggestions are to the point.

I have found that my mags slide-in and drop-o0t of my 22/45 more smoothly after a light wipe with a Hoppe's silicon cloth. It does a nice finish-up on the exterior after a field strip / clean, too. I am sure this is not going to resolve your problem. Just an observation if you are looking for a speed advantage.

It was the front/lateral guide ridges. I used stripped mags as suggested by Bullseye, with a bright flashlight at the other end. There was a contact point on each front/lateral guide ridge, near the bottom. A bit of fine-file work did the trick, and they drop free now.

Thank you

Ben

I'm glad to hear you have the problem solved to your satisfaction. By reducing the potential contact points you can more easily evaluate the situation and correct the problem. Your reloads in the steel match should go smoothly now, have fun running some rounds through your new pistol.

R,
Bullseye