[vmr357]

I just picked up a couple magazines for my Colt Pony. They are a little sticky so I'd like to clean and oil them. How do I do that? The base is welded and I don't know the trick to getting the follower out. Thanks.
Vern

[Jim K]

The same as 1911 magazines. Using a piece of wood (the blunt end of a pencil works fine), push the follower down as far as it will go, then ease up until you can see the follower through an inspection hole. Insert a punch or a nail through the inspection holes just below the follower, trapping the spring.

Then turn the magazine upside down and shake the follower out. Keeping a finger over the feed lips, remove the punch and let the spring go. Note the way the spring comes out; most springs are NOT the same top and bottom. Clean the magazine with a small brush and/or by immersing in a cleaning liquid.

To reassemble, insert the spring, push it down, the trap it as before. Insert the follower, and release the spring.

Jim

[vmr357]

Jim,
Thanks for the explaination. It sounds so simple and works so well. The Colt is new to me (which is why I was hunting up the magazines). My Sig and Browning magazines have removable base plates so the spring and follower come out the bottom.
Vern

[triguy]

vmr357,
Would you be offended if I mentioned that you shouldn't introduce any oils or lubes to magazines. They don't mix well with ammo.

Keep you powder dry(and unlubed) !
triguy

[Jim K]

Almost all modern factory ammo is oil tight, but even if it weren't, it would take an awful lot of oil in a magazine to soak into a primer or powder charge. The main reason for not oiling the inside of the magazine is that it tends to hold dirt and crud, and that may build up enough to interfere with feeding. Even so, many people do use a very light coat of oil; it seems to help feeding and prevent rust if the magazine is stored.

Cleaning magazines is something that should be done as needed, with special care in dusty areas. If the magazine is carried in the pocket, lint buildup can also be a problem requiring cleaning.

Jim

[triguy]

I'm all for keeping your mags in top condition but still pucker at the thought of any lube inside of the magazine body.

[jimmy]

When cleaning mags, I always oil the inside, but then wipe it out so only a very thin coat remains. This is for minimal rust protection.

BTW, that's true about lint. I bought an ex-German police P6 and found a ball of lint in one mag.