Cleaning New Magazines

[BSA1]

I had half of dozen new magazines arrive yesterday. As they have removable butt plates I disassemble all of them and laid them out on my desk to make sure the parts all matched each other.

Inside five of the magazines I saw what appeared to be rust. However after a little scrubbing with mineral spirits it disappeared. The patches also came out very dirty with black stuff on them.

The "rust" was actually dried grease. I don't know what the black stuff was. Maybe a dry lubricant such as graphite.

I suspect the magazines were old new stock. My point is while is important to clean a new gun before shooting it new magazines should be disassembled, inspected and cleaned also.

 

[badkarmamib]

I agree. I have always disassembled magazines for my initial cleaning, also to check for any nicks or burrs that might lead to feeding issues. After that, I usually disassemble them every third gun cleaning, for cleaning and inspection. At least I can minimize magazine issues.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Many new guns are shipped with their magazines covered in preservative...heavy grease.

All magazines should be disassembled and cleaned before being used

 

[YankeeFlyr]

Seems like any magazine should have been flushed after forming and/or surface passivating, either black oxide, park or whatever for the material.

I disassemble all of mine when new, and swab 'em out.

 

[M-Cameron]

ive never cleaned a new mag....never once caused me any issues.

 

[tipoc]

ive never cleaned a new mag....never once caused me any issues.

Same here. Never occurred to me to clean them unless there was an issue, and there never has been one.

What the op describes is normal, meaning some dirt or grit being in them.

Not that it's a bad idea, to clean them, I just never ran into a reason for it.

I have a friend who regularly washes all new clothes they buy...socks, shirts, pants, etc. before wearing. The basis of this is that harmful chemicals or bugs of some type may be in them and transfer to his skin. OK. I've never had that happen and so have never done that, wash a new pair of socks or underwear, but I'm not opposed to it. I have no principal agin it. None for it either. Do as you wish and live long and prosper!

tipoc

 

[Drail]

New magazines will have a protective coating just like new guns. If they've been in a warehouse for a long time it will turn to nasty gunk. You don't want that nasty gunk in your gun. Clean them up and wipe them down. I have found chips and other manufacturing debris inside new guns and magazines.

 

[marietta]

Gunk in mag

Whatever gunk is in the mag could wind up in the chamber, not a good thing.

 

[nipprdog]

Many new guns are shipped with their magazines covered in preservative...heavy grease.

All magazines should be disassembled and cleaned before being used

Agreed.

 

[kokapelli]

Cleaning new magazines sounds like a good idea but with that said I have never done it and have never had a problem.

 

[joem1945]

Guns and mags have some kind of preservative on them. I don't know what it is but I clean if off before I shoot them.

 

[ChairborneRanger]

I just spray new ones down, inside and out, with brake cleaner......

 

[MIL-DOT]

If new mags are visibly gunky, I'll definitely disassemble and clean them, otherwise, I generally don't.
When I buy/trade into a used gun, I'll almost always disassemble,inspect, and clean the mags. I also like to lightly wipe the springs down with a piece of cloth with some teflon lube on it.

 

[Warp]

hmm. I have never disassembled or cleaned a new magazine and haven't had any issues yet. Not a bad idea though I suppose.

 

[lpsharp88]

I've never took apart and cleaned a new mag. I do look them over and see if there's any gunk. I'll also push the follower down a few times and see if there's any gunk on my fingers from doing that. If there's gunk on my fingers, I'll disassemble and clean. Never been a problem so far

 

[RA40]

The mags I've picked up recently (Sig Pro 9mm and HK 9mm) were pretty clean except for the slight application of some sticky lubricant on the outside. The usual gun cleaners to wipe the body down then they went to the range for testing.

The NOS from Numrich, those were disgusting. As if the mags sat in an open box in a dusty corner of a warehouse accumulating "stuff". The oil was dried out and black dusty grit was inside. Those had to have a good cleaning. I could barley push the follower down to check spring tension without it feeling like they were filled with sand.

 

[Hangingrock]

I'm amazed, what I thought was SOP is a revelation to others. That's a difference in training methodology that one is exposed to or obviously not. The things you learn on a forum. Nothing should be taken for granted.

 

[Warp]

I'm amazed, what I thought was SOP is a revelation to others. That's a difference in training methodology that one is exposed to or obviously not. The things you learn on a forum. Nothing should be taken for granted.

Nothing is taken for granted, that's why magazines are tested before they are trusted.

Most people I know test their new magazines but don't make a habit of disassembly

 

[BSA1]

WOW!

This topic generated more replies than I thought it would.

 

[tonyjr]

Hangingrock
I agree - one of the reasons I opposed stopping draft .
i take apart and clean 90% of stuff I buy for guns - be it mags , clips , dies - even new shell casings .
I have found little pieces of plastic , rust , hard grease , brass to name a few things .
I have taught my nephews and nieces to never borrow bullets , magazines , scopes - when cleaning guns , scopes , mounting rings - if it looks different - either have someone at range look at or bring it to me before using .
BTW - I [ take apart ] tumble new or used dies , and then spray with silicone
Most sprays are dust magnets [ silicone seems to attract least ]
I don't like brake cleaner - besides being smell-e it make my skin crack and plastics don't like it .

 

[Hangingrock]

Warp

Most people I know test their new magazines but don't make a habit of disassembly

Apparently different associations thus associates with differing viewpoints than you and your acquaintance's. Not everyone thinks the same way.

 

[MechAg94]

The only magazines I have cleaned were mostly AK mags that came covered in grease/cosmoline. I have probably cleaned others, but I don't recall which.

I have heard of people who cleaned their magazines. It isn't a revelation. It just isn't something I have made a habit of. It never caused me any problems. I do generally make a habit of not trusting a new mag until I have shot some rounds through it.


That is one of the things I appreciate about pistol design at least since I have been buying them. The OEM magazines are generally high quality and work well. I generally stick with OEM mags.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I shoot some loads that are pretty sooty. Oil or grease mixed with powder residue will make a magazine malfunction and has for me. I wont relearn that lesson.

For that reason i don't use thin oils like Remoil on my semi auto pistols or excessive amounts of lube either. They both can get into many places and gum the works up.

I do use light Remoil on a patch in certain rifle barrels to prevent rust. And on the ram of my press.

With that said a blast with brake cleaner removes oil and grease fairly easy and if you don't feal like taking a mag apart just spray it out good, drain, let dry, load and shoot. I prefer to take them apart and clean them if i have the time.



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[yar]

I absolutely agree I am a competition shooter (uspsa, 3gun, and steel plate matches). We run our guns hard and fast and have seen every kind of malfunction possible. One big key you learn is run clean high quality magazines. Every time they hit the dirt doing a speed reload we will clean them as soon as we get off the stage. Don't talk to me until I get all my house cleaning done (mags cleaned and reloaded) then we can chit chat. New mag are a must to clean too because they are often covered in grease for long term storage. I generally hose them down with break cleaner or some other solvent if hey are metal mags or plexus plastic cleaner if they are polymer.

I used to post here at THR quite a bit a few years ago. For those that might remember I posted a lot of shooting videos in the competition forum of my 3 gun stuff. I was also very active in Glock threads as that is my platform and I worked at Zevtechnologies/Glockworx. Well they kind of gotten taken over by investors and I got laid off. Broke my heart. Anyway guys I'm with a new company now of which I have some ownership of interest and patents. If you would indulge me because I really know a lot about the glock. If you are shooting glock magazines with the factory floor plate please take a look at our GTX tool. It removes factory floor plates with no effort and no crazy gigs. Uses mechanical leverage and pivots off the mag body live a fulcrum. I promise not to spam up the boards I understand how that's not cool but shooting is my life and this is a product developed and made by shooters. You'll hear a lot about our new company Advance Dynamic to come so I'm not worried about that. I'll let customer word of mouth do it's thing. We've been up a little over a month now and are hungry for sales. Watch out we are coming and we will run you over if you don't get out of the way. Thanks guys.

 

[Warp]

Warp

Apparently different associations thus associates with differing viewpoints than you and your acquaintance's. Not everyone thinks the same way.

The majority of the associations I reference are internet message forum based.

I bet if you did a poll you would find most people don't disassemble every new mag. Just look at how many responders here do not, and then realize that the people active on boards like this are more likely to do so than most.