I have been purchasing additional magazines for my 4006. Xome are blue followers, and others have the red follower. What is the best way to clean them? Do I have to take each one apart, or can I clean them in a 5 gal bucket with some home-made cleaner?

What do you all do?

Thanks for your help.

When first acquired and as needed thereafter:
1. Dissasemble. Control the spring to avoid injury.
2. Clean. I use CRC "Dry" silicone spray, which uses heptane as the propellant.
3. Wipe dry.
4. Reassemble.

If I had a dollar for every time somebody's new gun malfunctioned because they didn't disassemble and clean the magazines..........

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Science plus Art

Dirty magazines... heh heh.

Yes, I thourghly clean mine inside and out! I wipe down the spring with a light coating of Remoil. With forcepts I pull a cloth thru the insides (attention to inside corners) to clean and very light lubrication.

I would recommend nothing but a dry tooth brush. Oils have a way of seeping into your powder over time. Oil is also known to collect dirt and form a paste. WD-40 penetrates so well there was a case were it ruined the entire mag full of ammo, all FTFs. The only reason to oil is to protect from rust or to lubricate. There are not too many metal against metal moving parts and rusting springs should not be a problem either. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I use my wife's ultrasonic jewelry cleaner (cheap one from Harbor Freight). Just throw them in with the stuff she uses to clean rings and then blow dry. Lub with Liq Wrench Dry Lub and go to go.
Ed

Do you take them apart or throw them in whole?

After every range firing I take apart the magazines and clean the interior/exterior with Weapon Shield CLP. Then thoroughtly wipe dry all components. There is not enough of the WS left to attract dirt and not enough to attack the powder/primers. There is a thin film to prevent rust as rusted magazines/springs are not a good thing. Been doing this for over 25 years with no issues. Bill

I wipe them down with Hoppe's #9, pushing down on the follower and wiping in there. Every now and then I completely disassemble and clean with Hoppe's, including the spring. Dry well with a clean rag. No lube needed.

The used ones I picked up from CDNN were pretty dirty inside. I took them apart and cleaned with Hoppes, then I wiped it out. They look good now, two of the ones I purchased were almost new.

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

a slim deep container of white kerosene to soak in few hours. drip dry and take down and wipe well and put together.
swish around a few times to get the loose grime. then wipe or brush - wipe does OK

I clean all my mags. I take them apart, use a toothbrush with Hoppes, then dry them with a cleaning patch stuck on a cleaning rod. Thouroughly dry the follower, and spray the spring with dry-lube. The mag is the critical part to proper functioning in a semi auto. why take a chance?

Mags collect a surprising amount of gunk. I break mine down occasionally and swab them out with Hoppes, wipe dry, and give the inside a "light" spray of dry lube. "Wet" oils, even when wiped off, will attract dirt and powder residue.

Pay attention to spring and follower positioning; many have had issues afterwards due to not being reassembled properly.