Rock Island VR-80 Mag Release spring problem?

[Maaster]

Hello,
My Rock Island VR-80 is brand new, and I noticed that the mag release has quite a hard time releasing the mag when the receiver is open.

1. With the Mag release fully tightened, when I push the right side of the mag release, it frequently does not push the left side of the mag release off the mag.
2. When I loosen the screw that holds the right and left parts of the mag release together, the right side of the mag release sticks farther out. This increases the probability of a successful mag release but is still not reliable.
3. When a magazine is properly seated, in both of the above scenarios, the mag release works very poorly.

Any thoughts?

[L-2]

My thought (and I'm just guessing) is the subject shotgun is configured for California. California requires a non-removable magazine for a semiauto shotgun.

I suspect Rock Island Armory (RIA) supplied magazine retention parts without concern as to how easily the mag releases; there could even be a different magazine for states which allow detachable mags. I'd call them to determine if there are other mag release parts which they'll supply to unrestricted states.

If so, perhaps you could buy those parts in-person from them in NV or have them shipped to an address in another state where those parts could be installed into your shotgun (where a detachable mag-fed shotgun was legal in that other state).

Your (the OP) other thread may have the answer:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1704246

https://www.armscor.com/firearms/ria-imports/shotgun-series/shotguns-mag-fed-series/vr80/

Link listed for reference as I'd never heard of this shotgun before now.

[Maaster]

I believe I figured it out. I emailed Rock Island Armory with my findings, but I believe my VR-80 shipped withOUT an Allen wrench screw in the mag release. See photo. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mwx2izgdL49EXrF98

The purpose of this Allen wrench screw is the prevent the flat head screw from moving independently of the mag release. So without it, if I push the mag release in, the flat head screw may in fact NOT move, and NOT push the
mag catch out of the way. But if I install the Allen wrench screw on top of the flat head screw, then when I push the mag release, the flat head screw HAS to move, thus moving the mag catch out of the way and permitting the magazine to drop out.

Took awhile to figure this out, whew. I emailed Rock Island for a replacement Allen wrench screw but I'm disappointed that it came without one in the first place.

[L-2]

That was some great diagnostic-work.