I just bought two magazines via Brownell's. Packaging said really Ruger. Neither if them will feed at all if I put more than 5-6 rounds in. Up to five seem to always feed, over five the follower will hang up and not even return the last round to the top of the mag.
Without the rounds, the follower SEEMS to work up and down all the way to the bottom just fine without any binding. Put over six rounds in and I can't even push the button up. Bang it once and it returns one round and hangs again.
The two that came with the gun work just fine.
Am I doing something wrong or should I just return them and try again?
Jack
Ruger Mk III Magazines
Moderators: Bullseye, Moderators
Jack,
You're not doing something wrong, there's a problem with those magazines. If they're new, you could return them to Brownells in exchange for some new ones.
You can inspect them yourself to identify the cause. The problem could be a rough follower button track in the metal body causing drag on the follower. The magazine spring has to overcome the weight of the rounds and any extra drag will bind up the follower's return. You can disassemble the magazine and inspect the button track on both sides. Try sliding the follower up and down the track without the spring installed, there should be no rough spots.
Hope this helps.
R,
Bullseye
You're not doing something wrong, there's a problem with those magazines. If they're new, you could return them to Brownells in exchange for some new ones.
You can inspect them yourself to identify the cause. The problem could be a rough follower button track in the metal body causing drag on the follower. The magazine spring has to overcome the weight of the rounds and any extra drag will bind up the follower's return. You can disassemble the magazine and inspect the button track on both sides. Try sliding the follower up and down the track without the spring installed, there should be no rough spots.
Hope this helps.
R,
Bullseye
Ruger MK III Magazines
Thanks Bullseye.
Several things: First, I don't know what I was thinking but I actually got these magazines form Midway, not Brownell's.
Second, they ARE Ruger New
for real, at least the packaging says so. The two original to the gun work so well that I am amazed both of these do not. And, I reiterate that the problem is identical for both.
Third, Overnight, there seems to be some improvement with some lube and additional cycling. Oddly to me, CCI Mini-Mag ammo seems to work better than CCI Blazer (hand cycled, off to the range later today) but neither matter if I run the button all the way down and it jams there. A smack clears it and it has gone from sticking every time to sticking some times.
Fourth, they always worked pretty smoothly without ammo and still do. And,
Finally, comparing the original magazines with the new ones, I see that the new ones have already started to show raw metal at the bottom end of the button track, the old ones with many rounds through still have the finish intact. I suspect that this means that the metal is not quite properly aligned but close. Or, they may just have had fat finish.
So, I am going to the range and keep working them and see what happens. I probably should return them regardless because of the finish damage but that's a pain.
I checked The Ruger Internet site and cannot find either an e-mail consultation address nor an 800 number. It is almost as if they don't want to hear from me about their problem.
Anyone have either that I can try?
Several things: First, I don't know what I was thinking but I actually got these magazines form Midway, not Brownell's.
Second, they ARE Ruger New
for real, at least the packaging says so. The two original to the gun work so well that I am amazed both of these do not. And, I reiterate that the problem is identical for both.Third, Overnight, there seems to be some improvement with some lube and additional cycling. Oddly to me, CCI Mini-Mag ammo seems to work better than CCI Blazer (hand cycled, off to the range later today) but neither matter if I run the button all the way down and it jams there. A smack clears it and it has gone from sticking every time to sticking some times.
Fourth, they always worked pretty smoothly without ammo and still do. And,
Finally, comparing the original magazines with the new ones, I see that the new ones have already started to show raw metal at the bottom end of the button track, the old ones with many rounds through still have the finish intact. I suspect that this means that the metal is not quite properly aligned but close. Or, they may just have had fat finish.
So, I am going to the range and keep working them and see what happens. I probably should return them regardless because of the finish damage but that's a pain.
I checked The Ruger Internet site and cannot find either an e-mail consultation address nor an 800 number. It is almost as if they don't want to hear from me about their problem.
Anyone have either that I can try?
Jack,
Your magazines may have the holes slightly off in the followers. If the buttons are not perpendicular then they will dig into the metal around the button track slot. The followers may be cut with the track guide a little shallow. More use may wear these in enough to overcome the drag caused by rough manufacturing. If you don't want to send the mags back then you can hit the track edges with a Jewler's file or a stone to remove any burrs or stamping marks dragging on the follower buttons. If you want to send them back to Midway then contact them, they will accept them even with the marks if you provide an explanation of the problem. Ruger has their magazines produced by another manufacturer, Mecgar I believe makes them. Ruger doesn't have an 1-800 number for their Customer service line but they do answer quickly on their 928-778-6555 line. They may offer to send you some new magazine bodies to replace those you have now.
R,
Bullseye
Your magazines may have the holes slightly off in the followers. If the buttons are not perpendicular then they will dig into the metal around the button track slot. The followers may be cut with the track guide a little shallow. More use may wear these in enough to overcome the drag caused by rough manufacturing. If you don't want to send the mags back then you can hit the track edges with a Jewler's file or a stone to remove any burrs or stamping marks dragging on the follower buttons. If you want to send them back to Midway then contact them, they will accept them even with the marks if you provide an explanation of the problem. Ruger has their magazines produced by another manufacturer, Mecgar I believe makes them. Ruger doesn't have an 1-800 number for their Customer service line but they do answer quickly on their 928-778-6555 line. They may offer to send you some new magazine bodies to replace those you have now.
R,
Bullseye
Ruger MK III Magazines
Home, home from the range.
With some more working on them (follower button all the way down and up repeatedly) both mags work OK. Had one failure, the second round out of hte first of the two new mags did not feed until I smacked the gun butt and cycled the bolt. After, for about fifty rounds each they fed find without any special action.
The bare metal at the edges of the track have not gotten any bigger so I guess I will live with them.
Also this trip was the first since I installed the Volquartzen Accurizing Kit (On my Mk III Competition with a lot of help from Bullseye's dis- and re-assembly instructions besides the Volquartzen video). Worked fine, trigger pull feels a lot lighter (should, my gauge says is is about a third off). Did NOT correct my tendancy to pull straight to the right. Durn!
Jack
With some more working on them (follower button all the way down and up repeatedly) both mags work OK. Had one failure, the second round out of hte first of the two new mags did not feed until I smacked the gun butt and cycled the bolt. After, for about fifty rounds each they fed find without any special action.
The bare metal at the edges of the track have not gotten any bigger so I guess I will live with them.
Also this trip was the first since I installed the Volquartzen Accurizing Kit (On my Mk III Competition with a lot of help from Bullseye's dis- and re-assembly instructions besides the Volquartzen video). Worked fine, trigger pull feels a lot lighter (should, my gauge says is is about a third off). Did NOT correct my tendancy to pull straight to the right. Durn!
Jack
Thanks Bullseye, I already have the wheel. Unfortunately, knowing and doing are not the same. Mostly I don't pull but too many times I do. It is (mostly) the "too much Trigger finger," especially if I don't pull through and spend too much time on the target getting the trigger to actually break. It is HUGELY worse with heavier trigger pull.
My International air pistol with only about 22 oz pull weight is a lot better.
It was also better last year when I was actually shooting the air pistol every day and real firearms every week. This year I've only been getting to the range about once a month and have had the air pistol out in the driveway only a couple of times.
If I'd shoot more, I would shoot a lot better.
Jack
My International air pistol with only about 22 oz pull weight is a lot better.
It was also better last year when I was actually shooting the air pistol every day and real firearms every week. This year I've only been getting to the range about once a month and have had the air pistol out in the driveway only a couple of times.
If I'd shoot more, I would shoot a lot better.
Jack