.45 auto problem

[tomhargrove]

if i loade only 4-5 rnds in my mag my pistole will function perfect but if i load a full mag it will not chamber the first rnd that is striped off  i have two other mags and they present the same problem ,i am at a loss what do you guys think--tom

[John Traveler1]

Tom,

Your description of the top rounds failing to strip and feed properly indicate your magazines need some attention:

1.  dirt, rust, or debris inside magazine preventing follower movement.  Strip magazine by using a nail or drift punch to hold down spring after pressing down follower.  Remove follower, spring, clean interior and magazine parts with oily rag.  Reassemble.

2.  magazine spring incorrectly assembled (top coil should push UP on front of follower).  Disassemble as in (1), and inspect.

3.  weakened magazine spring from leaving fully loaded and compressed.  This is the least likely source of the problem.  Good quality magazines can stay fully loaded for YEARS without giving problems.

[Mikey]

What John Traveler1 said.  In addition, I would change the springs in the magazines and possibly look to change the follower.  You can get Chip McCormick kits to upgrade your magazines or you can get new magazine springs from Wolff Springs in PA.  
HTH.  Mikey.

[tomhargrove]

thank,for the help i will do as you suggest and  now that you have told me this  i have noticed that the mags. do not have any resistince at the front of the follower, --thanks tom

[Idaho_Hick]

A quick tip on stripping your magazines - use 2 rounds to hold the follower down, then capture the spring and push the rounds out.  It seems obvious, but I was using my finger or a stick to hold the follower down until a friend pointed out the most natural way to hold the follower down was with ammo.  This is probably common knowledge, but thought I'd share just in case someone else had overlooked the obvious.

[cntryboy1289]

I know I have had a few folks that load their mags and leave them loaded year round.  This keeps the spring in tension for a year.  If you have been guilty of this, after you get the mags fixed, don't keep them loaded all the time unless it is a carry gun and even then swap the mags out from time to time and unload them

[gunnut69]

One of the house guns I've had since it was the newest fad is a S&W M39 9mm. It's relagated to a house gun now but some of the mags have been loaded since the 1970's(nearly full time.. I shoot them dry a couple of times a year and freshen the ammo(I need the trigger time too). I've never had a magazine related problem except one and that was damaged from being dropped.. I susspect a mag improperly assembled or damage to the feed lips..