Colt Mag

[creophus]

So I have a few different types of magazine. One Colt. One no-name and a few CProducts. By the way, the fit and finish on the CProducts mags are mighty fine!

Any way, as I was unloading my mags today, guess which of the ones listed I had a problem with. It was the Colt. The follower became stuck and the rounds began to fall out of the mag from lack of pressure. I hope that this is just a one time thing, but I'll keep an eye on this and all of my other mags while I'm at the range.

[RMTactical]

Probably just needs a new spring. Colt mags are quality.

[DJ Niner]

In my experience, that's unusual, unless the mag has been dented/damaged, or the user was pushing hard on the front or rear of the follower during unloading of the mag (which never happens then it's in the weapon).

I have a couple of Colt 30s, and a BUNCH of old-school 20s (with alloy followers, no less), and they all work like a champ, even with SPs/HPs/Ballistic Tip rounds.

[Skintop911]

Are you sure it's a Colt OEM mag, and not just a Colt-floorplated body? "Gunshow Special"?

Black follower? Replace with a green one or magpul.

Green follower? Colt/Mil OEM, or junk aftermarket like
HERE? (http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=502717&highlight=magazine) (Not all green followers are created equal).

If it's all Colt OEM or otherwise known-good component origin, replace your spring.

Let us know what you find.

[creophus]

I thought it was the real deal. It does have the green follower, but who knows?

It might have something to do with the uneven loading that I was doing by hand. Like I said, I'll keep an eye on it.

[Sierra]

What a great excuse to rebuild the mag. Make sure you get the correct spring, if the Colt mag is a 20 rounder you want a spring designed for a straight mag instead of the curved ones. I'd keep the follower if it is a 20 rounder also.

If it is a 30 rounder I would replace both the spring and follower. A green follower should cost about 0.75cents or a Magpull but then you would have to buy a 3pak for about $6 or $7 bucks.

[1811guy2]

Originally posted by creophus
I thought it was the real deal. It does have the green follower, but who knows?

It might have something to do with the uneven loading that I was doing by hand. Like I said, I'll keep an eye on it.

How were you unloading the mag? There is an easy way and lots of wrong ways.

[creophus]

Probably the wrong way. I was simply trying to pull the rounds out of the mag with my fingers. Sometimes it wouldn't come all the way out, so I had to tip the up to get a better grip on them.

I realize that this would cause the follower to change angles relative to the magazine body. This is certainly not the way the rifle would extract the rounds.

I just didn't have the same problem with the other mags. Of course, they didn't have as many rounds in them as the Colt mag either.

[1811guy2]

Easy way:

Hold mag in weak hand with rounds pointing down (preferrably over a carpet or towel to avoid damaging them as they fall). Take a 5.56 round in the other hand, and use the tip to slightly depress the round under the one at the top of the magazine. When you depress the round, place the tip of the one you are holding in the center and press straight into the magazine using the feed lip to help guide it. This will take pressure off the top round and it will fall free from the mag. Alternate sides until the mag is empty. Takes me about 15 seconds to do a 30 round mag.

[creophus]

I'll have to try that. Thanks!

[Sierra]

Just buy a Lula and empty the mag in about 10 seconds.

[halfmoonclip]

Lulas' are the Wonder the World Awaited. Great device.
Moon

[AR15Armory Neil]

Originally posted by Sierra
Just buy a Lula and empty the mag in about 10 seconds.

Have to agree with that and get you some Mag-pul anti-tilt followers.