Reaching the magazine release - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

ForGreatJustice · 06-08-2005, 03:47 PM

I'm having trouble reaching the magazine release. My thumb is just a leeeetle too small to really drop the mag effectively. Most of the problem lies with the fact that the mag catch is "buried" so deep into the grip. Even though I can cover the catch with my thumb, I can't get enough leverage to push the catch in.

You'd think an extended mag release would be just the ticket, but I had bad experiences with Glock extended mag releases. Anytime I wore my gun longer than 3 hours or so, the mag would inevitably pop out. Not acceptable for carry equipment. I 'm wondering. Has anyone had this same problem with the XD extended mag release? Is it recommended on a serious gun?

And if the mag release is prone to popping the mag, would a backstrap reduction allow me to get more thumb on the mag release? There's actually a significant amount that the XD backstrap could be reduced it looks like...

ajamesp51 · 06-08-2005, 03:54 PM

I have had a mag pop out twice when I ran into a counter and some how the button got pushed.

How about not using your thumb take advantage of the dual sided mag release. I use either my trigger finger or my middle finger brought back to push the button. You can get real fast with this method and you dont have to twist the pistol in your hand to get your thumb around to push the button in.

ForGreatJustice · 06-08-2005, 04:05 PM

I'm sitting here trying it...it's wierd. With my "weak" hand, I can use my index finger but not my thumb. With my strong hand, I can kinda use my thumb, and not my index finger! I don't know why my trigger finger is so weak. The mag catch spring on the XDs is really powerful. Good for reliability... not so good for ergonomics.

Could the spring be tighter from one direction than the other?

**turbo2ltr** · 06-08-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajamesp51

I use either my trigger finger or my middle finger brought back to push the button.

+1

NMshooter · 06-08-2005, 08:20 PM

I have also learned to use the trigger finger on my right hand to drop the magazine. In fact I've become so used to it, the last time I shot my 1911 I had trouble dropping the magazine with my thumb! I agree with the others who've said that the trigger-finger drop is much quicker...and you never need to worry about your finger being on the trigger during a mag change

ForGreatJustice · 06-08-2005, 08:22 PM

Seems to work pretty well with my middle finger, but I still have to shift my grip to get my index and middle on to the mag release. I'll try it for a while, but I'm lazy, and re-training the hand is a bitch. It takes a lot of time to build a habit that you can use in combat. In the meantime, I'll also explore the two options above.

BTW, a full .45 GAP mag is under SO much tension, that the magazine release is impossible to disengage when a full mag is loaded! I have to use two hands to do it. Eck.

Shnozzer-xd-9 · 06-08-2005, 08:44 PM

Ajames is right on. I used to always use my thumb until one day I had an epiphany and said to myself, "Why the hell don't I just use my middle finger?" Helps out on speed tremendously.

JimLongley · 06-09-2005, 12:00 PM

The only reason I haven't taken advantage of the ambi-release on my XD is that I still carry primarily 1911s w/o ambi's and I don't want to get confused.

ttheobald · 06-09-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForGreatJustice

I'm sitting here trying it...it's wierd. With my "weak" hand, I can use my index finger but not my thumb. With my strong hand, I can kinda use my thumb, and not my index finger! I don't know why my trigger finger is so weak. The mag catch spring on the XDs is really powerful. Good for reliability... not so good for ergonomics.

Could the spring be tighter from one direction than the other?

Try your middle finger (the one you "give the finger" with). I'm a lefty, and when using Glocks that's how I release the mag.

T

**Old School** · 06-09-2005, 01:00 PM

I too have wee hands and use the middle finger on my trigger finger to eject the mag.

06-08-2005, 03:47 PM	#1
ForGreatJustice XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Central FL. Posts: 93	Reaching the magazine release I'm having trouble reaching the magazine release. My thumb is just a leeeetle too small to really drop the mag effectively. Most of the problem lies with the fact that the mag catch is "buried" so deep into the grip. Even though I can cover the catch with my thumb, I can't get enough leverage to push the catch in. You'd think an extended mag release would be just the ticket, but I had bad experiences with Glock extended mag releases. Anytime I wore my gun longer than 3 hours or so, the mag would inevitably pop out. Not acceptable for carry equipment. I 'm wondering. Has anyone had this same problem with the XD extended mag release? Is it recommended on a serious gun? And if the mag release is prone to popping the mag, would a backstrap reduction allow me to get more thumb on the mag release? There's actually a significant amount that the XD backstrap could be reduced it looks like... __________________ -Dammit. There goes my .50 CHOAD

06-08-2005, 03:54 PM	#2
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,027	I have had a mag pop out twice when I ran into a counter and some how the button got pushed. How about not using your thumb take advantage of the dual sided mag release. I use either my trigger finger or my middle finger brought back to push the button. You can get real fast with this method and you dont have to twist the pistol in your hand to get your thumb around to push the button in. __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

06-08-2005, 04:05 PM	#3
ForGreatJustice XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Central FL. Posts: 93	Hrmm...a possibility. I'm sitting here trying it...it's wierd. With my "weak" hand, I can use my index finger but not my thumb. With my strong hand, I can kinda use my thumb, and not my index finger! I don't know why my trigger finger is so weak. The mag catch spring on the XDs is really powerful. Good for reliability... not so good for ergonomics. Could the spring be tighter from one direction than the other? __________________ -Dammit. There goes my .50 CHOAD

06-08-2005, 08:20 PM	#5
NMshooter XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hobbs, NM Posts: 46	I have also learned to use the trigger finger on my right hand to drop the magazine. In fact I've become so used to it, the last time I shot my 1911 I had trouble dropping the magazine with my thumb! I agree with the others who've said that the trigger-finger drop is much quicker...and you never need to worry about your finger being on the trigger during a mag change __________________ Not all who wander are lost.

06-08-2005, 08:22 PM	#6
ForGreatJustice XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Central FL. Posts: 93	Will give it a shot. Seems to work pretty well with my middle finger, but I still have to shift my grip to get my index and middle on to the mag release. I'll try it for a while, but I'm lazy, and re-training the hand is a bitch. It takes a lot of time to build a habit that you can use in combat. In the meantime, I'll also explore the two options above. BTW, a full .45 GAP mag is under SO much tension, that the magazine release is impossible to disengage when a full mag is loaded! I have to use two hands to do it. Eck. __________________ -Dammit. There goes my .50 CHOAD

06-08-2005, 08:44 PM	#7
Shnozzer-xd-9 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 241	Ajames is right on. I used to always use my thumb until one day I had an epiphany and said to myself, "Why the hell don't I just use my middle finger?" Helps out on speed tremendously. __________________ \"No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.\" - Thomas Jefferson

06-09-2005, 12:00 PM	#8
JimLongley XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 822	The only reason I haven't taken advantage of the ambi-release on my XD is that I still carry primarily 1911s w/o ambi's and I don't want to get confused. __________________ Gun control is very small groups - OFFHAND.

06-09-2005, 01:00 PM	#10
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,632	I too have wee hands and use the middle finger on my trigger finger to eject the mag. __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

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