Storing clips loaded?

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:49 am

Currently, my 22/45 MKIII is the only gun I own. I usually keep a clip loaded "just in case". I know it's not the ideal home defense gun, but it's better than nothing.

Last night, a buddy and myself went to a plate matched. We were getting a few failure to feeds with one of the clips. Once we marked that clip and used the other, the issue went away. Could storing the clip loaded cause this? The gun is only a month or so old and I had the clip stored that way for maybe two weeks.

wlambert · Post by **wlambert** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:50 am

They are magazines not clips. Springs become fatigued by cycling, not by continued stress. Keeping your magazine loaded will not weaken it.

wlambert

Post by **Bullseye** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:15 pm

No, modern springs hold their tension very well when stored loaded.

R,
Bullseye

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:36 pm

Interesting. Thanks guys!

So what could cause failure to feeds with one mag vs. the other?

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:34 pm

Check the button track and make sure that the follower button isn't dragging and slowing down the follower's feeding. Look for rub marks on the finish. Any drag and the timing of the magazine will be off just enough to cause misfeeds.

R,
Bullseye

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:53 pm

It feels almost "scratchy" when you push the button down to load it.

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:50 am

That could be the problem. Check the sides of the button track for any metal flash that could be interfering with the button. If that's not the problem then look at the button and see if there's a hard edge on the slot where the mag body fits. Break that hard edge with a Jewler's File. Smooth the sharp corner just a little to remove the scratchy feel. Your magazine should operate fine after that.

R,
Bullseye

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:34 am

Thanks Bullseye. I'll give that a look and report back.

Post by **Bullseye** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:36 am

When I break the edge, I just chuck the button into a drill press and let it spin. Then I apply the Jewler's file to the sharp corners. I don't over do it, I just let the file chamfer the edge a little.

R,
Bullseye

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:52 am

I think it's the button dragging against the frame. I guess I'll have to take it apart and examine the button. The area where the button rides looks fairly smooth, so maybe there's a bur on the button.

There's certainly a difference between the two mags. The good one slides very easily, the only resistance is from the spring inside the mag. The other one drags a bit when you push the button down.

Post by **Bullseye** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:52 pm

One way to tell if its the button or the mag body would be to take the button from the good feeling mag and swap the two. Mark the good one, mag body and button, then swap the buttons. Feel which magazine has the rough movement to it. Whichever is the one has the part that needs some smoothing. It could be the inner side of the mag body, they stamp the tracks out of them and there may be a little rough metal left behind. By using this test you can isolate down the culprit.

R,
Bullseye

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:24 pm

Ok, I did the swap and I think it's the button. It looks like I'm going to need a really really thin file to get into that area between the head of the button and the first ridge.

toyfj40 · Post by **toyfj40** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:30 pm

Glenn wrote:I think it's the button. I'm going to need a really really thin file to get into that area between the head of the button and the first ridge.

would a Finger-Nail-File/Emery-Board(tm) work for you ?

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:56 pm

I just checked...my wife has all "fat" ones. I may need to pick up a cheap thin one....

Post by **Bullseye** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:07 pm

You can also take a thin slice of emory cloth (paper) and fold it over to fit in the slot. Hold it between your two hands and with a slight pulling motion apply it to the button while it is spinning in the drill press. That will polish the mag body slot in the button. Don't over do it or the follower button can cock in the slot and bind on the metal body just the same smooth as when the groove was rough.

R,
Bullseye