Accidental Mag Release on HK45

[zacbol]

So, as embarrasing as this is to admit, I've lately been having issues with accidentally hitting the magazine release on my HK45 while shooting. I'll be shooting and whoomp, the magazines falls out. Needless to say this is *not* a good thing.

This had happened maybe once or twice in the thousand or so rounds I'd put through the weapon previously, but at the most recent class I attended, Insights Intensive Handguns SKills (AAR here) I started having the problem almost every time I came up to the line. I suspect it was exacerbated by "improvements" to my grip in which I took an even higher grip and placed my support hand further forward on the gun (my thumb is actually ahead of my index finger on the slide). The issue was so distracting I ended up buying a Glock and 1000 rounds of 9mm ammo just to be able to get my money out of the class.

I took another trip to the range last night and had the issue happen again. It doesn't happen on every mag (and no, it's not *one* particular mag) but it happens often enough that I couldn't really trust the weapon in a defensive situation until I figure it out. I persused the net a bit, but only found one other person who had this issue.

As far as I can tell, I *think* I'm hitting the left side mag release with the meat of my non-dominant palm during recoil. Interesting, I *never* have the problem while wearing gloves. Additionally, I would think that my dominant middle finger, which is positioned under the ambi mag release would prevent it from being actuated accidentally. I *can* correct the problem if I take a low grip on the gun, but obviously this is counterproductive in terms of recoil management and the gun ends up going off to the left during recoil rather than straight up and down.

Are there any ways to make the mag release smaller? (I think that could potentially fix the issue). Right now I'm sitting with about 2000 rounds of 45 ACP I purchased for the class and a gun I can't really trust. I will make quite a few more range trips, trying to analyze and correct the problem, before I give up and sell it (which will make me very as as I *love* the gun), but any help would be appreciated.

[skyugo]

take a dremel to the mag release. or just a file...

[Greg Bell]

Stop doing that.

[zacbol]

Thanks for the input! I'd rather not take a dremel to the gun but I can't say that hasn't crossed my mind. I also wonder if szomething like the Bowie Tactical Vickers package might address it. As I recall part of the package addresses the issue some have had with their trigger finger rubbing on the bump near the mag release. I wonder 8f in solving that issue it might also solve mine. Really i'd just like to fix my grip, but if its t the cost of compromising my grip it is not worth it. I keep dry firing trying to figure out how the hell its happening and I'll be damned if I can figure out.

[Magic_Salad0892]

Just out of curiosity:

Have you shot a P30, if so, does this issue still happen on the 9x19mm variant?

[zacbol]

Yes, I have shot a P30. A few times. And, no, I never had this issue. Of course, I didn't have this issue other than once or twice (out of 1000+ rounds) on the HK45 until my most recent class. I have been thinking I should rent the P30 at my local range again and see if it starts happening there too (They don't have an HK45 to compare with mine, that said I'm fairly convinced it's not the fault of the gun, but rather operator error)

[Magic_Salad0892]

I think it's a recoil management issue, with that style of magazine release.

It happens to me too on the HK45, and USP 45 models.

On the HK45C it goes away though.

[zacbol]

I think it's a recoil management issue, with that style of magazine release.

It happens to me too on the HK45, and USP 45 models.

On the HK45C it goes away though.

Thanks! That's really comforting. At least, I'm not totally alone! Hmm, so does it happen to you on the P30? Next time I'm at the range I'm going to rent one and compare and experiment a whole bunch. I wonder what is difference about the HK45c (for example is the release smaller) or is just the other ergonomics of the gun that cause you to place your hand elsewhere on it.

What I still find weird is that it seems to not happen at all when I'm wearing tactical gloves--which is a solution (of sorts) for the range and if I want to use it in classes. But unless I sleep with them on, it's not going to help much if I want to use the gun for home defense, etc.

[wesprt]

Feel your pain, had the same thing happen to me when I first shot one. Shifted grip a little and it wasn't a problem but the bottom of the release wore on my finger incessantly.

I'd own an HK45 yesterday if they had made it with a button release like every other auto pistol manufacturer of the last decade. Trying to be different is not always trying to be better. I admit my experience with it is limited to shooting drills with a couple of boxes of ammo but can anyone name a single benefit of that PITA release over a button?

[Magic_Salad0892]

Thanks! That's really comforting. At least, I'm not totally alone! Hmm, so does it happen to you on the P30? Next time I'm at the range I'm going to rent one and compare and experiment a whole bunch. I wonder what is difference about the HK45c (for example is the release smaller) or is just the other ergonomics of the gun that cause you to place your hand elsewhere on it.

What I still find weird is that it seems to not happen at all when I'm wearing tactical gloves--which is a solution (of sorts) for the range and if I want to use it in classes. But unless I sleep with them on, it's not going to help much if I want to use the gun for home defense, etc.

It doesn't happen to me on the P30 actually. Or any of the 9x19mm variants.

''can anyone name a single benefit of that PITA release over a button?''

It's cooler. And the Europeans are used to it. It's not a bad thing, pretty easy to use fast.