Changed out the mag release button on my PT145

[daytonaredeye]

I had suffered the "Mag drop while firing" problem so Taurus sent me a new mag release button. I installed it and immediately put a full mag in - not what you want to do. I couldn't get the mag back out. Turns out the "shelf" which holds the mag in place is built a little large. So, I went to Home Depot and bought me a set of small needle files.

After removing the bullets, one-by-one, I then set about filing down the mag hold shelf - while the mag still seated. Had to depress the follower, hold it down, and sequentially file away. Took about 3-4 hours total time but I took breaks about every 30 minutes as it really hurt my hand keeping the follower depressed. Anyway, finally got it filed enough to get the mag back out and then did a little final shaping of the shelf and now can reliably seat and remove mags at will.

I would highly recommend using an empty mag - even one with the base plate, spring and follower removed - to test your work if you attempt this. The hardest damned part of all this was keeping the follower depressed while I filed!! Below are pix of the mag release buttons - new one on top, old one on bottom. Notice how much of the shelf has to actually be filed away for it to actually release your mag. Anyway, another learning experience for me and, perhaps more importantly, the knowledge that the mag release button is hand fit for my particular gun!

Now I know why Les Baer and the other custom gun makers charge into the $1000s for hand fit guns!!

I will let you all know how it works when I get back to the range. The pic on left is before filing of new button, the right hand pic is after I filed. Remember, new button on top in each picture.

[daytonaredeye]

Oops, spoke too soon. Put one of my other mags into the gun after I got if filed down for the first and the second mag became stuck. Had to file it down some more with the second mag in place (but after bullets safely removed, of course) but fortunately since I had filed most of the overhang down with the first, only took about 20 minutes of continued filing to get the second one out. Then I finished it some more to smooth it out. Now, both mags seat firmly and release properly.

[bre346]

Good grief! That's an unexpected chore. I admire your patients and skill.

Now the mags work OK. You did good.