Detonics Combat Master magazines...

[mgregg85]

I bought my first 1911, a Detonics Combat Master, a couple of days ago and I've got a few questions about the magazines that it came with.

I know that the magazines for this pistol have a loaded indicator "feature" that is really just the bottom of the magazine follower sticking out. My pistol came with two outwardly identical magazines marked Detonics .45 ACP. I say outwardly because, when the mags are loaded with 6 rounds apiece, one of the followers sticks out a bit more than the other one.

Here are some pictures to show you what I mean...






So any idea what is going on here, did someone trim one of these followers or something? I tried disassembling the magazines by loading a few rounds in and then jamming the spring with an allen wrench threw the witness holes but the follower seems like its attached to the spring, I couldn't get it to come out.

Can you disassemble these magazines?

Are these original factory magazines or some aftermarket replacements?


I also noticed what seems to be black permanent marker in the recesses of the barrel lugs on my barrel but worn away in the center of the recesses, whats that all about?

 

[mgregg85]

Well I got the followers loose, they were gummed up and stuck to the springs.

 

[Mizar]

This "thing" on the second picture will leave a nasty scar on your hand when you tap the magazine in.

Boris

P.S. Blood will rust stainless steel also...

 

[mgregg85]

Well I guess the oddball magazine will be relegated to backup status, I didn't plan on carrying two short mags with this anyways, I'll carry one of those 10 round CMC mags as a spare.

 

[jblackfish]

This "thing" on the second picture will leave a nasty scar on your hand when you tap the magazine in.

Boris

P.S. Blood will rust stainless steel also...

You can avoid that "hinky" in the heel of your hand by fitting a bumper pad JUST in front of that full indicator on the base plate. I have an original Mk VI (from the Seattle company) and I did it. I don't remember whose make it is but I'll take a look to see if I can figure it out if you like.

 

[Mizar]

The solution shown on the first picture seems more elegant to me. But that is just me...

Boris

 

[jblackfish]

The solution shown on the first picture seems more elegant to me. But that is just me...

Boris

That'd work too Mizar. ...the eye of the beholder and whether or not one feels like filing. Here's what I did:

 

[mgregg85]

From looking at your pictures it seems that your follower sticks out more than my short one but less than my long one, is that a OEM Detonics mag?

 

[jblackfish]

Yep, that was the (only) original magazine that came with the gun. I ordered two more a couple of years ago from the current company. The difference I remember (sitting here - they're not handy right now) in the original and the 2 new ones is the top of the follower in the original is rounded convex (outward) and the other 2 have flat followers with the traditional bump. I didn't pay much attention to how much the "full" indicator on the new ones sticks out in comparison to the original. If you care, I can look later - I DO remember that they still use the indicator tho.

 

[mgregg85]

That's alright, I haven't even had a chance to shoot this gun yet so both mags might work great.

I looked at the new mags at Detonics Defense and I think they have a orange plastic follower.

 

[jblackfish]

I feel fairly sure your mags will work fine. I wouldn't even worry about "orange plastic" followers unless you somehow find them inferior. Wilson Combat uses plastic followers and their mags are quite popular - the orange: don't know about that.

 

[mgregg85]

Well I Shot the pistol today, it was perfect with the short tail mag but I had a few jams with the long tail magazine. All were failures to extract, not sure why yet.

I had one weird jam, the firing pin retainer slid up and jammed the firing pin in the forward position which stopped the slide from moving.

 

[jblackfish]

Need more info but it could all be related to a misfit firing pin stop. Although the FPS CAN come out the top of the slide - at least it can on mine because it's open at the top - I've never had that happen on my Detonics. Also make sure the extractor isn't turning (clocking) in its channel - that can happen with a badly fit FPS and cause your extractor to fail to pick up the empty case for ejection.