Problem with 1911 mag.

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joneb

joneb

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I have a cheap 7rnd 45acp mag. that will not lock in with 7rnds but it will with 6 :confused: other than that it work fine.
I'm thinkin I need to bend in the lips at the top of the mag. that hold the cartridges in the mag, but before I start tweaking I thought I'd get another opinion.
I have other magazines that work well, so I don't think it is gun related.
Thanks
jib
 
+1
If it locks in empty, and with 6 rounds, but not with 7?
It has nothing to do with feed lips.

Either the spring is too long and stacking tight on the 7th. round?

Or the mag follower is too long and hitting the floor-plate?

rc
 
I have a couple of magazines that were made for 6 rounds maximum.
Five shots per NRA string and a little slack in the spring for easy insertion.

I use one of them for a "Barney Bullet" in IDPA. The other was too damaged in The Incident to bother with, I salvaged its nice follower.
 
I have some 7 rounders that you have to cram to lock, and I prefer not to do that, so I got some 8 rounders that I load with 8 while shooting and 7 when sitting in the safe. The "defective" mags are not cheapos, either; my experience is that from time to time just about all of the makers have one that is tight, so I just try to use the last manufacturer whose mags worked (kind of circular reasoning; I think of it as a SWAG). I opt not to start a Which 45 Mag Is Best rant...:D

...The Incident...
Click to expand...

I have a couple of those... :eek:
 
Or the mag follower is too long and hitting the floor-plate?
Click to expand...
Thanks RC,
that was the problem :)
I took about a 1/16" off the tail end of follower and that did the trick. I paid $5 for the mag. and now it is running at full capacity.
 
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This is exactly the reason I don't use Kimber mags, they don't work. Usually period, some times with a few less than it is rated for, but usually not at all. Don't believe me? Just go to any pistolsmith site and see what they recommend for pistols to be customized DON'T recommend and what mags they recommend and DON'T recommend!

The Sarco "Price Buster" 7 rd mags I bought for $5 each at least worked, rusted at a hard stare (you could see them rust while you watched), but at least they worked. I have no idea what long term viability is, but for the price I can't complain.
 
More Expensive ≠ Better In All Cases

I have a Pachmayr stainless mag with a nice base pad that set me back a bunch of bucks. It will load & hold the rounds, locks up tight and feeds great. But it won't lock the slide, no matter how I diddle with it. MecGar mags have always worked, so they are on my "Buy" list when I need mags (or just decide to get some more ;) )
 
If it has a metal follower?

Take the slide off, then insert the mag in the grip.

Look down inside there and notice the tab on the follower that pushes up the slide stop.

Use a pair of needle-nose pliers and tweak it further left (out) so it does.
You can go as far as necessary as long as it isn't rubbing hard on the mag body.

It's a common adjustment with 1911 mags.

rc
 
Thanks, rc

I just have not piddled with the rounded followers; the old flat GI ones were pretty easy. But thanks - I need nudging out of a hole from time to time... ;)
Cheers & regards,
George
 
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