HK Extended Mag Release

[Go Navy]

After signing up for an email notification on the HK Parts website, for the next shipment of extended mag releases, I finally got the email the other day and immediately purchased two of them (because I have two HKs).

They arrived, I installed one of them today on my HK USP 9mm Compact, and let me tell you the difference is night and day.

With the stock mag release, I really had a struggle dropping a mag with one finger; usually ended up using my right thumb (I'm right-handed), but had to shift the whole pistol to get enough leverage. I don't have any hand injuries, arthritis, etc. but no other pistol I've ever owned or handled had such a stiff mag release. It was so bad that I was very concerned about being in a serious situation with this pistol, hampered as we are with Taxifornia 10 round mags. (NOTE: for those of you who have not operated an HK, the mag release requires a downward rotation movement; it's not a button-type of push left/right.)

Otherwise, the pistol is very accurate and shoots wonderfully for a "mid-sized" semi auto. Just don't feed it Eastern Bloc ammo because the HK has tight tolerances. Any Yanqui ammo is fine.

Now, with the bigger mag release, it works just dandy. A great and simple upgrade. I highly recommend it. The fact that they keep running out of this part tells you something.

[Old Flash]

Thanks for the heads up Navy.
I just checked HKParts.net and they are out of stock on extended mag releases for the USP. I'll try to get some when they are back in stock.

BTW, this release looks to be low profile from the website pics. Does it get in the way of your grip and holster? Just curious if it's something that might snag easily if installed in a carry pistol.

[Sturnovik]

That's awesome actually. That's why I always liked the p99 since it was extended. So the lever is longer along the trigger guard as well as out from the gun?

I'd even consider a hk with a better mag release.

[RUSSIAN]

I use my middle finger on my shooting hand to release the mag. Some use their trigger finger. I'm not sure if it was designed to be used with the thumb, but it's good there is an alternative for those that still use their thumb

[Cyphre]

Always used my index finger to push it. Since the lever is so far inward (as opposed to a button protruding from the side of the grip), the design doesn't lend itself well to traditional methods with the thumb.

[Go Navy]

Always used my index finger to push it. Since the lever is so far inward (as opposed to a button protruding from the side of the grip), the design doesn't lend itself well to traditional methods with the thumb.

Yes, that was/is the common technique for the standard HK release. I just couldn't get sufficient force going on the end of my index finger in the downward rotational move the HK release requires. Part of the problem is that I have long fingers.

As to possibility of snagging, I don't see that as a problem due to the nature of the movement this mag release requires. I admit I have not experimented with that yet.

I've attached a picture of my HK USP Compact 9mm, with the standard mag release still installed. I'll try to come up with an "after" picture concentrated on the mag release.

You can see the mag release is located at the lower rear corner of the trigger guard and it is ambidextrous, but you can also see that it is relatively tiny and nestled up against the grip swell. When inserting and removing this (or any) pistol from a holster, the pistol is moving in an up and down vertical direction (with the muzzle down) whereas this mag release requires a small rotational movement sort of in the direction of the bottom of the grip, in other words, almost 90 degrees to the movement of the pistol in/out of a holster.

[Go Navy]

That's awesome actually. That's why I always liked the p99 since it was extended. So the lever is longer along the trigger guard as well as out from the gun?

I'd even consider a hk with a better mag release.

Yes, it seems to be both, but not a huge difference unless you lay them side by side. It has a larger contact surface for the thumb or forefinger and requires less force. I can operate it easily either way. Since I've always operated any semi-auto pistol mag release with the thumb of my shooting hand, that's my instinct and I'll stick with that from now on with the HK.

[Go Navy]

By the way, here's the link to the site where you can order this part. There are some excellent pictures showing the size of the extended mag release from different angles:

http://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/Extended-Magazine-Release-For-HK-Pistols-198p1669.htm

[Ashift]

Glad to hear you got them and you like them. I woke up the other day to the same email and tried to purchase one but they had sold out. If anyone has one they don't need I would love to buy it.

[Ashift]

These were available again today (lasted about an hour) and I got my order in.

[Go Navy]

These were available again today (lasted about an hour) and I got my order in.

Great move, Ashift! You'll be very happy, I'm sure.

[Ubermcoupe]

[UserM4]

Darn spam folder. I missed it twice!

[Go Navy]

Thanks for that post, Ubermcoupe.....that shows it better than any other way. It looks like HK have changed the angles on certain parts of the mag release. I do know is that it works a whole lot better.

[kielbasavw]

There is nothing wrong with an hk mag release.