Colt Woodsman Match Target Problem

[ZBill]

My 3rd series Woodsman MT is showing wear on the slide stop notch. For some reason the slide stop must be failing to go up as high as it should and is causing this wear. I am looking for a cure to this problem. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it if you would please post them. Regards, ZBill

 

[dfariswheel]

The "usual" checks are for:

Dirty/gummed up slide stop.

Slide stop spring defective, causing the stop to stick.

Dirty/defective magazine. Since the magazine activates the stop, this is the most common fault. Try cleaning the magazine.

Burrs on the slide, frame, or slide stop.

 

[ZBill]

Thanks Dr. D.

Any special precautions on taking the magazine apart?

ZBill

 

[dfariswheel]

You don't absolute "have" to take the magazine apart.
You can just drop it in a can or pan and cover it with some cheap paint thinner and let it soak for a few hours.

Take it out and scrub with an old toothbrush and a small bottle brush.
Rinse with more thinner, allow to dry completely, OR speed dry it by shaking off all the solvent you can, then dry with a hair dryer.

When completely dry, lube with a spray lube like Rem-Oil. Shake off the excess, and stand upright over some paper towel to allow any excess to drain.

 

[Jim K]

The slide stop is activated by the thumb button, so make sure the button moves freely and goes all the way up. Those magazines are not the most robust ever made and can be dented or damaged fairly easily.

Also make sure the stock is not interfering with the button.

Jim

 

[ZBill]

Thanks folks...

very useful as usual. I will check all of these for the cause. This is a really helpful place. Regards, ZBill

 

[Onmilo]

I'm with everybody else on this one.
Colt .22 magazines are not the best ever made.
Find a new replacement magazine, the guns can go for thousands and thousands of rounds and never cause problems but the magazines suck.

 

[Jim K]

Good advise, Onmilo, but IME the new ones are even worse than the old ones, if that is possible. Colt at least heat treated the feed lips; I think the new mags are made of old Budweiser cans.

Jim

 

[ZBill]

mag spring switch?

I have two of the new stainless Colt factory mags and the springs are significantly stronger than my older, vintage ones. Is there an easly way to switch them out? ZBill

 

[Jim K]

I am not sure if you are saying the new stainless mags don't fit your gun or that you don't want to use stainless ones. If they fit, I would use the new ones for shooting, and keep the originals for show. If the new mags don't fit, you should be able to disassemble both magazines and swap the springs. Unfortunately, I can't find anyone who sells just the springs for Woodsman magazines.

Jim

 

[dfariswheel]

Here's one possible source:

http://www.colt22.com/

 

[ZBill]

Thank you Jim and Dr. D

the magazine chart at colt22.com indicates that the mag I have been using in my MT is designed to be used in the Challenger model (mag D) but should be interchangable for use in the 3rd series MT.

I will try the newer factory stainless one l have for function this weekend.

Regards, ZBill

 

[Nhsport]

My two cents on magazine cleaning/lubeing . I dislike useing oil on semi auto mags as it creates something to trap dirt . With a rimfire that is a blowback design this is importaint.
After cleaning I prefer to use just silicone spray. Drench the daylights out of the clean mag and work the follower to get the lube on all surfaces and then set it aside to let air dry. I use nothing special , just whatever spray silicone the local chain store has on the shelf.
I realise the silcone doesn't offer the lubrcation that an oil does but if the mag wears out somewhere down the road and has to be replaced I will trade that off for the better reliability of a correctly working mag.
I use the same method on the Ceiner conversion for my AR on both the magazines and the unit itself and find I get longer periods of reliable use with the silicone than any other product. The ceiner unit is a dirty bird but lots of fun when it is running right.

 

[Jim K]

I have never tried silicone, sounds like it might be a good idea. I usually just recommend magazines be left dry, as they are meant to function that way. IME, magazine failure is never caused by failure to lubricate and cannot be helped by lubrication. In fact, oil or grease do act, as nhsport says, to trap dirt.

Jim