The owner of the LGS asked me if I would test fire a new Kimber someone had brought in. The lGS did not sell this gun, but did a transfer for a raffle.

It is hard to load 6 rounds into the magazine as the spring is so stiff. I only loaded 5. When the first round is fired, the magazine releases and falls partially out of the frame. I reseated the magazine and it worked fine for the next 4 rounds. It did this twice.

Is it a combination of the heavy spring and a bad magazine catch?

I would think mostly a magazine catch problem.
I can see the need for a strong magazine spring in a pistol with a very short length cycle - the rounds have to get pushed up very quickly so they don't cause jams.

quote:

I would think mostly a magazine catch problem.

Agreed.