AR15 mag rebuild question

[Detritus]

hey guys,

anyone know if there are rebuild kits out there for the straight wall 20-rd USGI mags?? the ones i've found so far are for the curved 20-rounders with a note saying "green follower can be modded to work in straight wall 20 as well" or someting to that effect. was wondering if anyone DID make a rebuild/refurb kit for the older style 20s or if anyone knew what is needed adn how hard it is to do to make the green follower work correctly in the straight 20?

as part of the "A1 clone" project i'm working on for SWMBO she adn i picked up a few decent condition used USGI 20s at the gunshow today, along with a buffer assembly, (couldn't find an A1 stock though so that's on the list for "order after friday") and it wasn't untill after we paid that i realized that the mags had metal followers in them.
i know the green plastic followers are supped to be better, but how much of a difference does it make btw?

 

[Bottom Gun]

I prefer the GI issue 20 round mags and seldom use anything else. All my 20 round mags have metal followers. I have never had any problems with them in the 30 years I’ve been using them. Just keep them clean.
I see no reason to change the followers in any of my 20’s.

A friend had a couple of cheap aftermarket 30 rd mags which were malfunctioning occasionally. They had some kind of black plastic followers.
We were able to improve their functioning by putting green followers in them.

 

[Detritus]

sounds good i'll just make sure these two adventurelines are clean etc adn give em a try once my upper and stock come in.

 

[NMshooter]

Green followers make old 20 round magazines into 18 round magazines.

 

[Kodiak AK]

I don't remember the guys name , but some one out there makes new replacement aluminum followers for 20's . Ask on ARFcom some one there would know .
For what it is worth CDNN has green plastic 20 followers also .

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The green followers are only better for 30s and the new curved 20s. For the old style, straight 20s, the aluminum followers are the best ever made. Depending upon the magazine they may or may not be worn out, however. I'd imagine it would take A LOT of use to wear out the follower, by which time the feed lips would probably be shot.

Wolff makes replacement springs for the straight 20s. You can probably rejuvenate an old straight 20 just by replacing the spring.

 

[Bottom Gun]

I agree with Dave. The followers don't wear out. I have some 20's which I have been using since the early 70's.
They will require cleaning once in a while though. I did have to take a few mags apart and clean the carbon buildup off the inside walls of the mag and the follower. I've found brake cleaner and a brush works well for this.
FWIW, I've never worn out a spring in one but that's not to say it can't happen.