thanks for the link BH73

..... I read the posts on the link plus a few other forums.....in any event it was indeed the magazine safety catch hooking into the magazine jamming things up.

I tried to order one of the Mag-Out tools from their website but the site wouldn't let me order......
So I did as another enterprising soul had written

.....he used a tape measure as the shim to follow around the magazine.

I simply disassembled my son's 12' tape measure and used the butt end.....slid right up the magazine with a little RemOil and with a slight push then pull and the mag was free.
All is well.