Is it normal for magazines to disengage and fall out of the gun?

[Danmc]

Today I purchased a new gun, a S&W SD9. It is a nice looking gun, feels good in the hand, and was within my budget. But something happened tonight that has me a little worried. Tonight I ordered a Desantis leather OWB holster for it, and until it arrives I have been carrying it in an inexpensive Bulldog OWB holster on my belt. I was sitting on the couch watching some TV and after awhile I decided it was time to hit the hay. So I got up from the couch and went to remove the gun from the holster and in doing so realized that the magazine was gone. I walked over to the couch, and there was the magazine, laying on the couch where I had been sitting. This is a little bothersome to me. So my question is, is it normal for the magazine to disengage, and in the case tonight, for it to completely fall out of the gun? I had also purchased an inexpensive IWB holster and had carried the gun in it earlier in the day, and did not have any problem with the magazine disengaging and falling out. It has me a little bit worried. Suppose I had gone to the movies and lost the mag there? Just wondering if this is more common than one might think? Or was it just a fluke?

EDIT: I should add that the magazine fully seats, so somehow the mag release button gets bumped. Is it just a bad design, or is it common?

[BluesStringer]

I don't own an SD9, but I do know that some weapons are notorious for accidental release of the mag. However, all the ones I've ever heard of before happen while firing. My suggestion would be to see if you can make it happen again by just hangin' out on the couch or whatever. It might be a mag-release button getting engaged somehow, but it might be an internal weak catch, where it appears to seat well, but could cut the mag loose unexpectedly. Or it could have been just a freak position you got into that did put pressure on the release button, and it might not ever happen again. You're certainly right to be concerned. If you can duplicate the occurrence, or at least if I could, the gun would have to go back. Good luck.

Blues

ETA: I carry nothing but semi-autos, and I have never had what you describe happen to me (except one time at the range while shooting - can't remember which gun it was, but it was either a Kel-Tec PF9 or a CZ RAMI). I've been carrying for the better part of 30 years, so in my experience, no, it is not common at all to have a magazine escape from a holstered weapon.

[Jay]

Normal? No sir, it's not.

I think the key to your problem is the "inexpensive" holster. Take the holster off, and insert the UNLOADED gun. See if you can locate any place on the holster that might apply pressure to the mag release. The lesson here, might well be to check out potential carry tools unloaded, and at home, before you find yourself in a situation where you may have to depend on untried equipment.

[MonRiver]

Normal? No sir, it's not.

I think the key to your problem is the "inexpensive" holster. Take the holster off, and insert the UNLOADED gun. See if you can locate any place on the holster that might apply pressure to the mag release. The lesson here, might well be to check out potential carry tools unloaded, and at home, before you find yourself in a situation where you may have to depend on untried equipment.

I agree with this!

Although I'm new to CC, I've shot and owned a few different handguns over the years. All the holsters I ever used were pretty much used on the range only, but I never had a magazine release from the holstered gun. I'd bet the cheap OWB holster is somehow the culprit.

Please let us know what you find out. Might save some of us a few bucks in a holster.

[Danmc]

Well, after some experimenting, and shooting, I have come to the conclusion at this point that it is the temporary holster I am using that has caused the mag release problem. The holster is very thick and heavily padded which means there is more material moving around which I could see touching the mag release. Also, the holster is not designed specifically for this gun, which causes more material movement in the wrong places. I will be carrying the gun in an IWB holster today that is specifically designed for this gun and experimenting with different sitting positions to see if I can replicate the situation. So far, no problem. I also shot the gun today for the first time and did not have any mag release issues. But it will take some time before I will feel fully comfortable carrying this gun as a defense weapon. As for the performance of this gun, the S&W SD9VE, I was very pleased with its accuracy. I shot 63 rounds on target and with zero malfunctions. Of course it will take a few hundred rounds before I am comfortable using it as a defense weapon. My only complaint so far is with the l-o-n-g trigger pull, and that it does not seem to break in the same spot consistently. Being a mechanical device, maybe it does break at the same place, and is the shooter's fault rather than the gun? I don't know. I shot the gun at 10', 15', 21' and 30'. My accuracy at 10' & 15' were absolutely incredible. My 30' accuracy was pretty good, but was much better than at 21'. The only thing I can think of is that being a bi-focal wearer, that 21' spot is not as clear as the closer & longer distances. More practice to come.

[maybejim]

The only time I've had a magazine drop out is when I failed to get it to properly engage in the first place. You should always tap the magazine in before you insert it in your holster for the first time of the day or anytime you change magazines.