I recently bought a bunch of heavily used USGI mags. A few of them do not drop free. There are no visible dents or obvious deformations on them, I would not have bought them if they did. Does anyone know of any tricks/fixes to correct mags that do not drop free? (possible areas to file down?)
edit The mags in question do not drop free from any of my lowers.
I always use an empty metal mag to use as a guide to tightening or loosening the mag release. It always works better this way for me instead of using a Pmag because I prefer metal GI over Pmag. Yeah yeah they are louder but reliable lol.
Heavily used mags purchased second hand should just be used for training. My guess is they’re slightly bulged, doesn’t take much. I have a few old Colt and Okay Industries mags that will only drop free in my training gun that has a well worn and shiny magwell. Take them to the range and see if they feed reliably. If they do, run them in training. If they don’t, I’d toss them. Mags are cheap and plentiful these days and there’s no real need to try to bandaid and limp along mags that barely work. Or keep them and sell them for $50 each next time there’s a ban panic.
I have a fix that works every time, place down range and shoot full of holes. Magazines are a disposable item, AR mags are dirt cheap right now why waste effort trying to fix bad mags?
A big arse hammer.
Seriously, once the feedlips or body has distorted, they are usually just junk. I’ve tried in the past to get them to feed reliably, reshape and bend but they simply return to their distorted shape.
Are you in a state which has an AWB?
If not, junk the mags. If you are, use a vise and slowly work the areas which stick. If you don’t know what is sticking, use a marker and slather the outside. Do a few insertions, and the wear will then be evident.
It may help to install Magpuls (Magpul Magazine pull tabs). The extra weight on the bottom of the mag may be just what you need.
Which lower are we discussing here?
Yeah… unless you’re in an AWB area, why buy beat up mags?
Squeeze 'em in where they’re tight. Use a light shone in the magwell, or a marker as said above to find where the friction is.
I’ll add to the toss em out crowd. Mags are typically a disposable item. The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze imo.
I"m in the “toss them out” boat, save the springs and maybe the followers if they are the new kind.
Thanks everyone who have provided feedback, I’ll try what has been suggested. I bought them because they appeared functional (tested all of them, they are) save for the few that won’t drop free.
@Iraqgunz
Sionics and Colt lowers were used.
Yeah… as those mag bodies fatigue, the top of the bodies can spread over time. I’ve had old USGI mags that you could squeeze and feel the body creak back down to size.
I am going to guess that the bodies are tweaked. With current absurdly low prices of mags right now, buying any kind of used mags for the most part is a lose/lose proposition.