How often do you clean your magazines?

[Shrinkmd]

I am thinking primarily for a carry or home defense autoloader. So how often do you do it?

 

[StrikeEagle]

Not often. Actually never unless there is some obvious crud somewhere to be removed... or maybe if I drop one in sand or some such.

 

[fvf]

I agree w/ StrikeEagle, unless there is a buildup you can just check from time to time.

I would probably suggest rotating the magazines instead so the the spring gets some relief. If there is ever a weakness in an auto pistol it would have to be the condition of the magazines.

 

[jashobeam]

I cleaned two mags today!

I had never cleaned a magazine before. I have a Glock 17 that I've owned for about 13 years; I've never cleaned the magazines.

Today was my second day working at an indoor gun range/gun shop. I cleaned two rental guns including the mags. One was a Sig P226, the other was an IMI Baby Eagle. I do not know how popular these particular guns are so I cannot say how many thousands of rounds have been through them since the last time their magazines were cleaned. I can tell you that both magazines had some minor build-up at the top end, but that both mags were much cleaner than I would have imagined. I am now anxious to take apart my Glock magazines and inspect them.

As a side note, this shop/range has several different Sigs for rent, but only two Baby Eagles, a 9mm and a .40. While I was there today, several customers asked to rent a Baby Eagle, so I imagine they see a lot of range-time (the employees all love them, too). Unfortunately, both Eagles were sick, which is the reason I was cleaning the magazine of the one. It had been failing-to-feed, and continued to do so even after I had cleaned it and its mag.

 

[JDGray]

How often do I clean my mags? ugh......hum......well?....ugh.......hum... JDGray

 

[Ohen Cepel]

My mags, almost never. Not much need to unless they've been rolled though the mud.

The Army's mags, alot!

 

[f4t9r]

have taken some apart to repair but never to just clean

 

[atblis]

When they quit working

.

 

[1 old 0311]

WOW I am in the minority. As a former Marine ALL my firearms AND mags are SPOTLESS. When I clean a gun the mags used gets cleaned also. Takes just a minute and may save your ass.

Kevin

 

[Tom Servo]

When I clean a gun the mags used gets cleaned also. Takes just a minute and may save your ass.

Same here. The magazines are part of the weapon, and without them, the weapon will not function. At least that's the way I was taught. Ask the 1911 guys, and most feeding problems you'll hear of are caused by magazines.

 

[bcochran]

interesting question

I keep my range mags separate from my shtf mags precisely because I do not clean my range magazines until they fail.

The other week, I spoke to a shooting mentor and raised the related question of how often a magazine would break down because of spring wear or wear on a follower. The answer was that we didn't know and figured on 100 loadings and unloadings.

Interestingly, I had a case of 50 magazines that were aftermarket and that fired reliably when tested. The group started to fail in the field after about 50 loadings and unloadings and the magazine spring had to be replaced on each.

 

[confed sailor]

heres one for yah.

How do u clean magazines with welded bottoms? i.e. (some 1911, my HVA 1907, and some of the older pocket pistols)

 

[grimjaw]

I was going to make a joke about dirty girly magazines, but I think the reference will be enough for a laugh.

jmm

 

[StrikeEagle]

How do u clean magazines with welded bottoms?

Well... same way you change a spring. Stick a wooden dowel in to hold down the follower, then put a paperclip wire through the witness holes to hold the spring but not the follower... if you see what I mean. Shake the follower out the top, then "pull the pin"... *ka-choing* but don't let the spring go flying.

Reassemble in reverse order.

StrikeEagle

 

[MR.G]

I take mine apart and clean them after each shooting. It probably isn't necessary, but that is what I have always done. I even clean new ones before using them.

 

[Darth Muffin]

I suggest separate carry and practice/plinking mags.

Carry mags: cleaned after every shooting, unless it's just like one mags worth (to use up carry bullets, etc).
Other mags: every 500ish rounds, or when they look real dirty, or start giving problems (I have had dirty mags cause problems in my Kel-tec P11, so at least one gun is sensitive to it).

How I clean them: Rub around the inside of the mag with a q-tip coated with CLP. Push a small wad of paper towel through the mag tube to wipe it all off.

 

[HighVelocity]

If I drop one in the mud, I'll clean it.

 

[williegee]

WOW I am in the minority. As a former Marine ALL my firearms AND mags are SPOTLESS. When I clean a gun the mags used gets cleaned also. Takes just a minute and may save your ass.

Kevin

A big +1!