I recently purchased a new M&P 380 from Calbela's, I'm just now discovering that the magazine is not properly locking into place when I insert it into the grip. I've tried both magazines and different methods, up to slamming the magazine so hard just to see if it will lock in place with no success. Not sure what's going with these magazines. Anyone have any suggestions?

Press in the Mag release button when you insert it-it will seat easliy. eventually it will smooth off the inside of the release button and it will seat-but you have to get past the button. The mag release button is plastic and apparently thee is some sort of casting seam on it in some models that has to be either smoothed out manually or just worn in be repeated insertion if the mag. Happened with mine-minor annoyance at first but it's fine now.

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Forum consigliere

Too bad they often don't work properly and folks like OP are told to shoot more rounds to 'wear it in'.

There's a problem when these things don't work properly from the beginning.

Had the same problem with older non-M&P BG.
It self-resolved after several insertions as Cajun outlined.
But I agree with the comment about things not working as they're supposed to out of the box.
Only "problem" I ever had with any of my S&Ws, and I've had a bunch.

Yeah same here with my BG380, it will eventually smoothen out as CAJUNLAWYER said.
Check out Hickok45's YouTube vid on the new BG380, he has the same issue but failed to mention it - you will see that he eventually has to press the mag release enable to seat it properly.
So you're not alone on this one buddy

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M&P OTAKU

Have you tried some tests such as with the magazine empty? with the slide removed?

It is easier is you press the slide release until the leading edge of the mag is past the catch since they meet at a right angle.

It is harder when the mag is fully loaded and the slide is closed since you are compressing the spring just a bit more. I am not sure if this is a fix for the BG380 but I have read about other firearms where folks have shave off a small amount of the bottom of the follower where it was hitting the magazine floor plate and preventing the full compression of the spring.
With the slide off or locked open can you shine a light in the magwell and push the mag release and see the catch move?
Does the slide stop move freely?
Have you checked for any foreign material in the magwell especially in and around the mag catch?

There is always the possibility that there is something wrong with your gun or your magazines. But unless you can test it to determine under what conditions it does and does not work and provide a detailed description (possibly with pictures) beyond just "I shoved it in and nothing happened" then it is hard for anyone else to tell the difference between it's borked and you're not operating it correctly.
And it doesn't matter if you are brand new to firearms and never operated one before or have 50 years of experience with every firearm ever made - since none of us can put our hands on your firearm over the internet to see for ourselves what is or isn't happening, then you need to provide a detailed step by step description in order to get an answer that is likely to provide the solution or confirm that it needs to be returned for service.

I traded my BG380 for a 9mm shield due to magazine issues. The 380 kept ejecting the mags. The slightest touch on the mag release would cause the mags to pop out. I haven't had a single issue with my shield, and I can still pocket carry it, if necessary.

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