WE M4 Magazine seating incorrectly

[Strelok]

Title says it all. I have a WE XM177E2, using the 20 round magazines. I have to insert them and wiggle it front and back for it to lock in properly. The front of the mag lips seem to be indenting from something, and the gun won't engage the bolt catch. Any particular reason for this or a fix?

Thanks!

[KEVORKIAN]

Originally Posted by Strelok

Title says it all. I have a WE XM177E2, using the 20 round magazines. I have to insert them and wiggle it front and back for it to lock in properly. The front of the mag lips seem to be indenting from something, and the gun won't engage the bolt catch. Any particular reason for this or a fix?

Thanks!

Same thing happened to mine...I had to shim the hop chamber/barrel towards the front of he receiver! I also filed the feed ramp on the underside of the hop chamber where it was striking just in front of the mag feed lip. I find this funny because I also have the latest WE M16VN and it doesn't not do this at all!

I also had trouble with the mag that came with the XM, it would not fit into the magwell of any of my WE guns...I did manage to figure that one out but it required a rubber mallet & some trial/error fitting!

Looks like the QC of the latest WE releases has somewhat taken a downward turn for the worse!

[Strelok]

Hmm, interesting. Its nothing super problematic but it keeps me curious at best. Can you explain some of the process you used for shimming, and whatever you did that involved the rubber mallet? I really hope to fix this thing as soon as possible!

Thanks!

[MaybeStopCalling]

I fixed my bolt catch by shimming the catch using an AEG shim, and gluing part of a plastic card to the bottom of the catch where the magazine contacts the catch. It's been a perpetual issue with WEs. Also replaced the bolt catch spring with a BIC pencil spring that I trimmed down, and everything (particularly the shim) got a coat of white lithium grease.

It took 200 rounds before my M4 loosened enough so that the magazine seated easily. I still tap the bottom to make sure its locked though, dropping one on my bare foot is one mistake I refuse to ever make again.

[uncle_benny12]

Weird, the 20 round magazine that came with my XM177 fits perfectly fine, but the spare 30 round mag that I bought has the same fitment issue where I have to wiggle it back and forth for it to lock in.

[GSK88]

Originally Posted by uncle_benny12

Weird, the 20 round magazine that came with my XM177 fits perfectly fine, but the spare 30 round mag that I bought has the same fitment issue where I have to wiggle it back and forth for it to lock in.

I had the exact same problem. 20 rounders are fine but one 30 rounder (GG Closed bolt convert) I have to smack pretty damn hard to get it in. The other, a factory OB mag locks in fine but unless I have the chamber open when inserting the mag it won't fire.

[Boyso]

Did you check if the feedlips and rubber thingy behind it were screwed down tight?

[Stealthee]

Do you have this problem with any other mags or just the one 20 rounder?

With the open bolt kit installed, I had the same problem where I'd have to smack in my magazine every time. I later found out it was the loading nozzle that was defective and that it had a little more surface area on the bottom so it was harder for the magazine to go up. I replaced my nozzle and I no longer have to smack it in anymore.

[Strelok]

I'm getting about 4 more magazines today, so i'll be able to check then.

I ended up filing down the area where the magazine contacts/is bitten into and haven't had any issues as far as firing goes. Now its just getting the magazine catch to work. The paddle is too short.

[MaybeStopCalling]

Originally Posted by Strelok

I'm getting about 4 more magazines today, so i'll be able to check then.

I ended up filing down the area where the magazine contacts/is bitten into and haven't had any issues as far as firing goes. Now its just getting the magazine catch to work. The paddle is too short.

Use an AEG shim on the pin holding the bolt catch in place, trim the spring behind it and sand it down like this [The flat area you already see sanded, not the red labeled part):


(Image from Turok)

Worked for me.

[Strelok]

Hey! That looks promising.

So to clarify; You want me to remove the extension on the inner part and not file down the red area as shown? Hm, Alright, i'll give that a shot and see if I can get any noticable results.

[MaybeStopCalling]

I didn't seem to be very clear, but here's the post I got it from: http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showpos...&postcount=920

I found the AEG shim was the most important aspect of it all, as the bolt catch would tilt backwards and forwards instead of engaging by pivoting side to side. So once the shim was in, with a bit of moly grease or white lithium it improved markedly since that backwards and forwards play was gone. After about 100-200 shots, it started working completely. Polishing the sides of the bolt catch also helps, but at the expense of ruining its brand new look.

EDIT: (I completely forgot this part) I ended up using a BIC pencil spring since I screwed up and managed to mangle the existing spring. Lastly, in my particular case the catch was still iffy, so I glued part of a plastic card onto the bottom of the Bolt Catch's arm using a Gorilla Superglue.