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Mag release reviews

5.2K views 24 replies 15 participants last post by  MannlicherFan  
#1 ·
Figured I'd start a comprehenaive list of mag releases. It's one of those odd parts that doesn't get as much air time, but a shooter will interface with it a lot.

Volquartsen, this is my go to release it's in my opinion the best all round design for hunting and shooting my personal favorite by far. It can be accidentally triggered in heavy brush, but in my years of hunting it's only happened once.

Powere custom ti, this is an ok release, it catches on the mags and can cause some hang ups, I trimmed mine down 1/8 of an inch and radiused it which helped immensely. For the price, I'd rather have the vq but it's not a bad release.

Tac sol, I tried hunting one of these when they first came out it makes for quick magazine changes but man alive it was really easy to knock magazines out while hunting. Eventually it found its way onto my brother's rifle that we shoot Rimfire 3 gun with, it's fast and in this type of shooting it's awesome. There are two on different rifles in my safe, for a discipline with quick mag changes they are nice.

Clark, it's a bar of steel sticking out of an old school release. It was back in the day when there was only three companies making parts for a 10/22. It catches everything and dumps the mags easily, but it's probably only good for bench/prone but back in the late 90s it was cool.

Rim fire technologies, even though they're gone now it seems like there's a few companies making similar parts. Tactical Innovations and a few eBay companies to name a few. Main motivation for purchasing this was building a purple themed rifle it's easier to get the magazines out but not the best for ergonomics.

If you've used other ones and have some feedback of how they work please add it down below.
 
#20 ·
I agree...

My fav is the PC TiT release. Downside is: there ugly & bind in the poly housings because the poly housings suck Big Johnson.

Work perfect in all three of the aluminum housings I have.

Reason I like them is: the ergonomics are perfect for my fingers.

Ugly is easily fixed with ceracoat.

Not exactly the cheapest way, but...
 
#3 · (Edited)
I like the Kidd long speed lever. I have 3 Kidd triggers and they all have the long lever.
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I also have 3 Brimstones, a Hornet and a Kidd kit in Ruger housings and they also have Kidd long levers.
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I bought this red anodized from an ebay seller because it matched the Rimfire Technologies trigger on my daughters rifle. I liked it well enough that I just bought another one for my grandson's.

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I used to have a Tactical Innovations mag release but I gave it away because the shape of the front did not match the contours of the trigger housing and even when the mag was seated the back would hand down and look like it wasn't closed all the way.

I also have a PWS release that I have never used and probably never will because it's short and has goofy little wings that stick out the side.
 
#6 ·
Shooters Ridge® 10/22 Magazine Release is a small release that causes you to pull back to release the magazine instead of push forward. The clearance was too tight when first installed and needed a light sanding to clear a pin in the trigger group. Works great after that. No problems with securing the magazine and magazine drops easily on release. The price is right at about 5 bucks.
 
#7 ·
from left to right...

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bastion - paddle type. i like it but i can see how it would be more prone to catch on stuff when hunting (not an issue for me). the extra length and slightly wider profile makes it really easy to drop the mags

vq - i understand this was considered extended when it came out and the oem piece was flush, but by today's standards it is not really extended. i also find it a bit harder to use due to the short length and lack of leverage...at least you can get your finger in it

stock - ok but plastic and the curve made it a little harder to use if you dont have small or skinny fingers

cv media - paddle type just like the bastion but wider. definitely the easiest of any of them to use, but wouldnt be the one to put on a woods rifle...too easy to catch on stuff.

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#8 ·
It's funny, I disliked the original factory release...... up until the plastic one came out.

It definitely boils down to personal preference as well as utilization. Hunting whistle pigs in sage brush vs. Heavy spruce ptarmigin hunting.

Watching my brother work his tac sol on a mag change is absolutely fluid. I rarely need that speed hunting, but need something my fat fingers can operate cold.
 
#9 ·
Timely post here... I just installed a Volquartsen mag release yesterday. Went to the range and it was like a new gun... the process... adjusting to just pushing that little lever forward instead of holding the rifle, putting my right hand under there to press the factory mag release button.

Doesn't seem like accidentally pushing it will be an issue.

I'm a fan... and I like the fact that it's metal, as some I looked at were poly.
 
#11 ·
Big fan of the lever style as well. Only 2 that I've found that actually follow the curve of the trigger guard is the KIDD unit (either on their trigger housing or the replacement for factory trigger groups) and the one offered by ontactical.com

Stock photo - the purple release shows how nice it follows the trigger guard -
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#13 · (Edited)
I like how many options there are for mag release levers. I bought my Takedown about a month ago and have bought nothing for it (that I can currently) use other than a couple of the clear BX-1 magazines and of course ammo. But I honestly haven't had a problem with the factory mag release yet. Unfortunately my local stores don't really carry a whole lot of 10/22 accessories so I have to buy online. This thread just made things a bit more interesting.

BTW, has anyone else had any issues with the clear BX-1 magazines releasing? I took all three to the range last week and shot 450 rounds between the mag that came with the gun and the two clear ones and the clear ones seemed to be more picky about the angle of the gun when it came time to drop them.
 
#14 ·
BTW, has anyone else had any issues with the clear BX-1 magazines releasing? I took all three to the range last week and shot 450 rounds between the mag that came with the gun and the two clear ones and the clear ones seemed to be more picky about the angle of the gun when it came time to drop them.
That's a fairly common problem with the clear magazines. They're just a bit bigger than the black ones and don't always drop free. Just a few minutes work with some sandpaper or a file to open up the sides of the mag well will fix it.
 
#16 ·
I've tried quite a few of the different mag releases out there. I prefer the XL or speed lever. I use mostly Kidd speed levers because they seem to have the best fit and function. A lot of the pictures you see of the extended mag release are shown with the magazine removed from the rifle or the whole trigger group. The problem with this is when you see the picture without the mag installed it looks like the lever tightly follows the contours of the trigger guard. With A lot of these as soon as you install the magazine it pushes the lever down anywhere from 1/8" all the way to about 1" at the end which makes them very easy to snag on something, not to mention the aesthetics. I've found the Kidd, TacSol, and the JWH fit flush with the mag installed with the Kidd being the best. The JWH sits good but has a slight rattle to it with no mag installed.
 
#18 ·
Fer best feedin’ function, you’ll want NO stock contact with any magazine. Offending material removed from within the mag well won’t be visible anyways, so if it’s intended to be a shooter, why not. Best reseal any exposed bare wood or laminate.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Thanks, OleFreak. I wonder why Ruger allows the tolerance to be that noticeable on different color (or lack thereof) magazines?

EDIT (25 May 2017)

Last night I decided to try to polish my Receiver "ceiling" and the top of my Bolt with sandpaper and #0000 steel wool (I completely disassembled the Bolt and before I used the abrasives on it). After a few customary hours of family time with the wife & baby (and after the wife went off to bed), I decided to go ahead and sand the stock as well. I think I made good progress. Unfortunately, the clear BX-1 mags only stick after I fire rounds through them, so it's impossible to for me to know at for sure this time if I sanded the mag well enough. I did, however load all the magazines to capacity > stand the the rifle straight up (bolt closed, without touching the bolt handle) > insert them in the mag well > immediately drop the magazines. The mags slid right out - empty or full - unassisted, no problem. It's a little ridiculous that it works differently at home (where I don't want to shoot it) than at the range (where I obviously do want to shoot it). Wish me luck!!
 
#21 ·
Today I took some 6.62x39 brass I picked up at the range a while back and put them over my charging handle and mag release. I just used a rubber mallet, a pair of vice grips and some punches/chisels to shape and install them. Unsurprisingly they can work themselves off without much persuasion (I'm not gunna do anything permanent without replacement parts readily available, just in case I mess up). I don't have a photobucket account, so I guess without the pics It didn't happen.
 
#25 ·
Found these the other day... Custom 10/22 Extended Magazine

Check out the as installed pic... looks like it would be great for a prone or bench (rest) rifle.

Have several colors available.

They just raised the price of the black ones from $15.99 to $16.99 - Again, not the cheapest.

BUT... If it's cheap yet cumbersome / uncomfortable {like those $3 UTG units}, then what have you accomplished?

My 2C