ICS M4 Magazine Not Locking in Place
 

Hi, there. I have an ICS M4, about 6 years old. Never gamed, fired a bag of BB's from it. Today, I noticed that the stock magazine is no longer securing in place once inserted in the magwell. Other brand magazines are the same as well.
I looked at the magazine release mechanism in the magwell and all looks well and in place. The tab that catches the hole on the side of the magazine seem to be okay.
Can anyone tell me what the issue is?

Might be a worn mag catch and you need a new one.

I guess this is the "tab" inside the magwell where the mag catches?

Slowly insert the magazine while watching the left side of the gun. You'll see a bar move out as you start inserting the mag, and then it will move back flush when the magazine is fully in place. That's the mag catch. On the inside there is a little tab that holds onto the magazine. If that does not go back to being flush then there's a problem with the magazine not being fully seated. Smack the bottom of the magazine and see if it holds properly. If it is dropping into place, but pops back out when you tug on the magazine then it's worn and should probably be replaced.

The mag catch is a little bit like a door latch. Since it's an old gun, maybe the mag catch doesn't come back into place, maybe it needs to be lubricated or cleaned (rust-dirt) or maybe their's not enough pressure on it because the spring is worn out. Like someone said earlier, look into the magwell, push on the button on the side of the magwell to see if the mag catch moves or is just frozen into place, use a flashlight and look at it closely for signs that's it's worn out. It's easy to change a mag catch and it's not expensive.

Take your hop up/inner barrel out and try it. Start there, try other mags..try your mag in another gun......

thank you, everyone. I shall try them all

Thanks again, everyone. I tried a couple of suggestions here which are to lube the mag catch spring assembly and to re seat the hop up chamber/ inner barrel. Big difference now as it is definitely catching.