Sig&wesson
Do you mean the mag release button on the grips??
You said
What Im still trying to figure out though is if it's normal to have to push the slide release in to put my mag in(this is the new CT model).
Yes it is - and has been posted before in other threads.
If you take apart a few different firearms and compared the surfaces where the mag catch/release interacts with both the leading edge of the magazine as it is inserted and where it engages the magazine you will see a couple major variants which are quite different in function.
Some firearms have a pivoting mechanism to engage the magazine and or a tapered leading edge on the magazine, either way they act to gradually push the catch/release mechanism until it engages.
Others, have a catch/release and a leading edge of the magazine which meet at a right angle and depending on how tight the magazine is inside the grip will determine on how easily/readily the magazine can push past the catch. Hold you hold the firearm can also have an effect - for example if you are squeezing the grip in one hand such that you are blocking the release then it may not move out of the way as readily. In most (all?) cases if you press the magazine into the firearm with sufficient force you will overcome the resistance imparted by the two surfaces meeting. But, what I do is at least partially press in the release button until the top of the magazine is past the catch.
For example - if you look at this Glock magazine - on the top right edge - just below the follower - there is a beveled edge - that is the edge that pushed the mag catch out of the way.
On a couple of my Rugers - the magazine catch is a pivoting part along the front of the magazine rather than the side - and it acts like a ramp.
On the BG380 (and several other S&Ws I have) the leading edge of the mag is not tapered or beveled at all, but possibly could be. Or they could have made the lower edge of the catch angled while leaving the top flat - I wonder if there would be enough room inside the grip to make an aftermarket catch that would have a ramp. Possibly not without making a notch in the grip/frame to accommodate the ramp.
I suppose I could try to get some pictures or draw some diagrams if anyone is interested - but the point is that as far as I can tell (as someone who is not a trained gunsmith but with plenty of experience with mechanical things) that is the way it is designed and your two options are to practice partial pressure on the release during the initial magazine insertion - or additional force on insertion.
Of course in a real life incident the fine motor skill of partial release pressure on insertion will likely go out the window - so it is good to know and even occasionally practice the forceful insertion and the overall message is that it does not indicate there is anything wrong with you firearm.
