Defective.. worn out magazines... What do you do with them?

Old Bill

Active Fanatic
Joined
Oct 20, 2018
Messages
26
I am interested in what my fellow Fanatics do with unreliable mags.. For me they are gone from Service/Carry use as soon as I Identify them. I do not "adjust the feed lips, change out the Springs/followers etc to "get them working again" then try to put them back for service/carry use. As long as they "somewhat work" I clean the exterior of a few of them carefully with something like B12 Brake Cleaner...then lightly spray paint the lower sections blue...Those go into the range bag.. I load and mix them into my practice.. their failures serve as a training tool.. I smack any others with a hammer and they hit the trash can..

My thought is Magazines are a consumable Item and the above policy keeps some falling out of inventory requiring replacement by new magazines.. What are your thoughts? The idea of having unmarked less than reliable magazines in my general inventory .. spooks me to be honest/
 

switchback

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Messages
663
Magazines ARE definitely consumable items. I rebuild what I can , use the garbage for range or jam clearing practice. A pistol with bad or unknown mags is bad juju, a steel 1911 still makes a poor club. I agree with your practice. oldBill
 

Angel Feliciano

Fanatic
Joined
Oct 16, 2018
Messages
14
Location
Orlando, FL
I am interested in what my fellow Fanatics do with unreliable mags.. For me they are gone from Service/Carry use as soon as I Identify them. I do not "adjust the feed lips, change out the Springs/followers etc to "get them working again" then try to put them back for service/carry use. As long as they "somewhat work" I clean the exterior of a few of them carefully with something like B12 Brake Cleaner...then lightly spray paint the lower sections blue...Those go into the range bag.. I load and mix them into my practice.. their failures serve as a training tool.. I smack any others with a hammer and they hit the trash can..

My thought is Magazines are a consumable Item and the above policy keeps some falling out of inventory requiring replacement by new magazines.. What are your thoughts? The idea of having unmarked less than reliable magazines in my general inventory .. spooks me to be honest/
I use Wilson Combat 47D for my Carry Mags so when its time for a tune up I just order a rebuild kit that has a NEW Spring and follower but if that does NOT fix the Problem I put SILVER Paint on the BASE and Mark the MAG RANGE USE ONLY that way it goes into my Range bag and I can use it for Training it they are Great for Malfunction Clearing and Other Drills. I have been Really Lucky that in the 16 years on owning 1911s I have only had 3 mags go BAD on me and those were Mil-Spec 7rd type One that came with my Loaded Springfield the other with my Mil-Spec Springfield and the last is a Kimber that a buddy gave me after I clean up his trigger and put a MSH w/Magwell. The Two Springfield has a Tendency to Jam on the 6th or 7th round and the Kimber usually jams on the 4th or 5th. I did try putting Wilson rebuild kit but it only help for a about 400-500 rounds and the issues came back,
 

pilot1054

New Fanatic
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1
I am interested in what my fellow Fanatics do with unreliable mags.. For me they are gone from Service/Carry use as soon as I Identify them. I do not "adjust the feed lips, change out the Springs/followers etc to "get them working again" then try to put them back for service/carry use. As long as they "somewhat work" I clean the exterior of a few of them carefully with something like B12 Brake Cleaner...then lightly spray paint the lower sections blue...Those go into the range bag.. I load and mix them into my practice.. their failures serve as a training tool.. I smack any others with a hammer and they hit the trash can..

My thought is Magazines are a consumable Item and the above policy keeps some falling out of inventory requiring replacement by new magazines.. What are your thoughts? The idea of having unmarked less than reliable magazines in my general inventory .. spooks me to be honest/
If a new spring or follower won't fix them, they go in the trash because: 1. I have always been leery of having mags for practice and mags for carry. One mistake, and Lord knows, I'm certainly capable of error, and I could have a very bad day. 2. I believe you practice with what you carry.
 

mm1911

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Messages
391
Only bad mags I've had are old Glock mags for some police trade ins I've bought, went with Wilson Combat for 1911's 9 and 45, just replaced bad Glock mags, factory 1911 mags I just sat to side
 

Vin

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Jan 30, 2019
Messages
55
I am interested in what my fellow Fanatics do with unreliable mags.. For me they are gone from Service/Carry use as soon as I Identify them. I do not "adjust the feed lips, change out the Springs/followers etc to "get them working again" then try to put them back for service/carry use. As long as they "somewhat work" I clean the exterior of a few of them carefully with something like B12 Brake Cleaner...then lightly spray paint the lower sections blue...Those go into the range bag.. I load and mix them into my practice.. their failures serve as a training tool.. I smack any others with a hammer and they hit the trash can..

My thought is Magazines are a consumable Item and the above policy keeps some falling out of inventory requiring replacement by new magazines.. What are your thoughts? The idea of having unmarked less than reliable magazines in my general inventory .. spooks me to be honest/
I did the same , I use them only at the range. Since I switched to Wilson Combat Mags I have not had one issue with them and their new one's are even better.
 

CECannonJr

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
6,181
Location
Eastern North Carolina
I am interested in what my fellow Fanatics do with unreliable mags.. For me they are gone from Service/Carry use as soon as I Identify them. I do not "adjust the feed lips, change out the Springs/followers etc to "get them working again" then try to put them back for service/carry use. As long as they "somewhat work" I clean the exterior of a few of them carefully with something like B12 Brake Cleaner...then lightly spray paint the lower sections blue...Those go into the range bag.. I load and mix them into my practice.. their failures serve as a training tool.. I smack any others with a hammer and they hit the trash can..

My thought is Magazines are a consumable Item and the above policy keeps some falling out of inventory requiring replacement by new magazines.. What are your thoughts? The idea of having unmarked less than reliable magazines in my general inventory .. spooks me to be honest/
My practices are identical to yours. Your magazines for EDC or possible self defense have to be 100% reliable. The magazine is critical to the performance of a 1911. Any hiccup gets them out of the rotation. I also regularly inspect the feed lips. If springs and followers have reached the point of needing to be replaced, I'll replace them and use them for range mags. I figure that if I've worn out a spring and follower, then the feed lips have experienced more stress than I am comfortable with anywhere but the range.
 

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