1911 magazine issues
Today I ran into to 1911 mag issues and that is something new for me. A few years back I bought some Metalform mags with the rounded follower.
The follower on two of the mags are wanting to stick about one round down in the shell. I can take a punch and move them up and down with pressure on the follower. But when I depress the follower with my thumb it doesn't want to come back up.
I figured the issue was powder residue and tried to clean it out the best I could, but to no avail. I used both Ed's Red and Hoppe's spray stuff. I tried a little oil, but while that helped a little it didn't cure the problem.
I am about down to the spring rolling snake eyes as the culprit. Or maybe somebody has put a Voodoo hex on the follower.
There seems to be no way to take these things apart. The bottom is welded on and the follower is so tall, it doesn't want to come free from the shell when the spring is held captive.
I will probably just crush them and call it a day, but I can't figure this one out. I bought 4 mags at the same time and two of them have gone bad, the other two are fine.
I am certain there is somebody on this board that has the answer, so cure my ignorance if you would please.
PS: With either of these two bum mags in the pistol, The slide won't lock back with an empty magazine. That smells like spring issues to me.
1911 magazine issues
by Hobie 
, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Saturday, December 17, 2011, 14:51 (4725 days ago) @ Charles
I can't answer the question but it is interesting. I just bought 2 Metalform OEM mags for my Colt Officers Lightweight.
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Sincerely,
Hobie
1911 magazine issues
by Gunner , St Louis, Saturday, December 17, 2011, 15:04 (4725 days ago) @ Charles
I would guess the main issue is the mag body being too narrow and grabbing onto the follower. Culprit may be the body is out of spec or has been squeezed inward, only takes a little bit to cause follower problems. Second issue might be the spring has weakened. Or a combo of both issues.
As to taking them apart......push the follower 3/4 the way down into the mag, push a nail thru one of the holes in the mag body to capture the spring and then wiggle the follower out the top of the mag. Turn the mag upside down and slowly pull the nail out to relase the spring. Pay attention to the spring end and how it matches to the follower, it must go back together in the same way.
Gunner
I used MeralForm mags for years without any problems but
by Cherokee , Medina, Ohio, Saturday, December 17, 2011, 19:58 (4725 days ago) @ Charles
started to have a few mishaps. I have the flat followers and use them for range mags now. Switched to Wilson Combat ETM 8 round mags for serious/match use. They work in all 5 of my 1911's, feed anything I sutff in them, but they do not fit flush if you need that. I have MF 38 Super and 9mm mags that continue to work fine after many years of service.
1911 magazine issues
by Hardcast , Saturday, December 17, 2011, 20:38 (4725 days ago) @ Charles
I had a similar issue with a couple new Metalform Elite mags that retail for around $50 each. I was a bit annoyed, but I fixed it by removing the followers and took a little metal off the sides of the followers with a stone. A medium or soft sharpening stone works fine.
What idiot told you to buy those?
;) Sorry
I've used those for years and kept a number of them loaded the whole time. As you know, I recommended them based on my use of them over ten years, plus good reports from other people I trust. I trust you just as much and if you've had trouble with TWO of them, that vexes me some.
They will come apart. I know I've had them apart, but it's been years & I couldn't remember exactly how. I did find this on one of the 1911 boards:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=310822
I'd also call Metalform and see what they have to say about this.
What idiot told you to buy those?
Sarge..That link was helpful and I can now remove the follower and spring with no problems.
I stoned the sides of the follower and that cured the sticking, but it will won't lock the slide back on an empty mag.
I switched followers and springs on several Metalform mags, and the problem IS NOT the shell or spring. It is the follower!
I think I will replace the followes and be done.
Very interesting! One wouldn't think that they could go bad
by Hobie , Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Sunday, December 18, 2011, 09:23 (4724 days ago) @ Charles
after only 4 years. Were the followers worn where they contact the slide lock?
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Sincerely,
Hobie