The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - Very interesting! One wouldn't think that they could go bad

Very interesting! One wouldn't think that they could go bad (reply)

Charles — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:40:07 +0000

See No. 2 above.

Very interesting! One wouldn't think that they could go bad (reply)

Hobie — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:23:54 +0000

after only 4 years. Were the followers worn where they contact the slide lock?

Thatks for the update Charles (reply)

Sarge — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:55:32 +0000

What idiot told you to buy those? (reply)

Charles — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:50:05 +0000

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.

What idiot told you to buy those? (reply)

sarge — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 03:13:21 +0000

;) 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.

1911 magazine issues (reply)

Hardcast — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:38:39 +0000

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.

I used MeralForm mags for years without any problems but (reply)

Cherokee — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:58:21 +0000

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 (reply)

Gila Jorge — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:26:51 +0000

Charles I have Wilson, Baer. Sig, NightHawk, and several other 1911s and use Wilson magazines exclusively.

1911 magazine issues (reply)

Charles — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:16:50 +0000

There is an important point. These mags have worked fine for four years and now they don't.

1911 magazine issues (reply)

bmize — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:11:40 +0000

I gave up on "good" mil-spec mags a long time ago.
I started buying a Wilson mag about every other trip to the gunshop. Never had a mag problem since.

Whom ever makes them, also make them for Les Baer and Nighthawk and probably a few others.

The big mail order places usually run them on sale a few times a year also.
Sometimes a friendly dealer will order you a half dozen and give them to you at cost if they don't stock them.

1911 magazine issues (reply)

Gunner — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:04:20 +0000

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

1911 magazine issues (reply)

Hobie — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:51:54 +0000

I can't answer the question but it is interesting. I just bought 2 Metalform OEM mags for my Colt Officers Lightweight.

1911 magazine issues

Charles — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:05:30 +0000

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.