OK, I’ve gotten caught up in the old vs new search and although my 39-2 and 639 came with magazines carrying plastic followers, I’ve also acquired a couple with the earlier, stamped steel followers. The one I have used works flawlessly but I truly can’t see any difference between the performance of it and the larger number of mags with plastic followers.

So my question... does anyone have any objective differences between them, and is there a reason to actively seek one style or the other for actual use in my late Gen 1 or my Gen 2 pistols?

As always, TIA for your help,
Froggie

For actual use, the black plastic follower, in my experience, works better.
Collectors will pay a bloody fortune for the steel follower magazines. I have seen them go for $80-$100.
The plastic follower magazine was made for a far longer period and in much larger numbers

Hello Froggie, good post. The plastic work great as do the steel ones.
The move to plastic took place around Sn. A200,000. Maybe a cheaper
alternative to the flat steel and the X follower. Which ones do you have?

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Mike,

I’ve got two of what I guess would be called the X profile... it’s certainly not flat like a GI 45 mag for instance. One is a very nice original condition example I just got via GB for just under $60 delivered and the other (that I’ve been using) was already plated (Metalloy??) when acquired. It seems very happy in my 639. I got that one via this forum at what I would call a “friends and family” rate.

Froggie

Frog, every time I take one of the X mags apart to clean, I marvel at the complexity of the follower. The flat metal followers and the plastic ones sure are more economical to make. $60 is a fair price. They all work in my 39s. The aftermarket ones, not so much. Mike

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I traded my last 39 mag for five 39-2 mags. He was happy, I was happy neither of us looked back.

A couple of years ago I bought 6 m52 mags from another member . Looking at them it's hard to tell them apart from 39 mags . Come to find out , two of them were early 39 mags , one of which is a 39 military mag . And it's right , people do pay good money for these .

Isn't the mag well of a Model 52 identical to that of a Model 39? Likewise the cross section dimension of all single stack nines and the 38 Spl the same(?)

If somebody wanted to trade me multiple plastic follower 39 mags for my mags with steel "X" follower, I think I could go with that. I like them, but I don't love them!

Froggie

Well, maybe Magazine Mania is starting to subside a bit. I just got an X follower Model 39 mag on Gun Broker for the opening (and only) bid of $30. It’s currently en route for about $40 counting shipping, and it looks pretty good... maybe not as good as the one I got for $60, but certainly usable. I’ve got enough now that I really need to stop looking at auctions!

Froggie

Hey Frog, good snag on that X mag for $30. Measure the floor plate
length when you get it. Mike

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Will do, Mike. I was surprised when I got the previous one to find that its floor plate markings were a bit different from the one I had gotten with Metalloy finish. The former had 9mm stamped on it while the latter did not. When my latest acquisition comes in I’ll try to do a photo shoot comparing all three. If I mention buying another, will somebody please stage an intervention!

Froggie

Hey Frog, the two line floor plates are used on the pre-39 mags and carried over to the early X followers that were used thru the early mod-39, thru
the 30K Sn. run. The 9MM was dropped in the 60K batch and continued up to the A200K batch of 39-2s. Plus the length oh the floor plates were longer than the plates on the later mags. Mike

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

The one I just got has the 9mm, the previous blued one does not, while the first X follower I got (the Metalloy one) does have it. Picture and measurements follow when the latest one arrives.

Froggie

Sometimes owners with the longer floor plate would file or grind the forward lip down so it was flush with the foregrip. I guess the little extra lip caught on their jacket while carrying in a holster.

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Well Mike, my third “X-mag” got here today. The front lip on all three seems to be the same on all three. No sign of filing or grinding on any of them. Condition of the latest is not quite as pristine as the previous blue one, but for 30 or 40% less $$, I’m pleased. The only other differences I see between the three are the Metalloy(?) finish on the first and the 9 MM marking on the latest (see pix.) I now have these three plus two stainless 639 mags and the three late type blue ones with plastic followers that came with Dad’s 39-2. If I start talking about buying any more single stack mags, as my friend please stage an intervention!

Froggie

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Hey Frog, if the mag feeds and everything works as designed, all
good. Dont care if ugly or pretty. Mike

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

AFAIAC, if it fits, feeds and everything works as designed, it IS pretty!

Froggie

I must have missed this thread...
If your gun is a shooter grade and you dont care how old the mag is then it works in your favour to have older magazines you can swap 2 for 1 etc.
For collectors if you have an early pre model you are going to want an early flat follower mag or it devalues the gun, likewise a 39 no dash needs a figure 8 follower magazine.

Engine49guy,

This was the original goal of this thread, to discuss whether there is any inherent advantage or disadvantage to using different generations of the single stack 9mm mags. It would appear that there is no appreciable difference being observed between using the black plastic or the stamped steel X pattern followers, and further that if one is fortunate enough to have a mag with the flat steel follower, it should be hidden away in a lock box so some Philistine doesn't try to sell it for profit. Does this about sum it up, guys?

Of course we can keep feeling all warm and fuzzy (if not actually superior) when we use the classic X follower mags, secure in the knowledge that on some esoteric level we really are superior for it!

Froggie

PS Now we can go back to casting aspersions at folks who call them "clips!"

frog, metal beats plastic hands down! The metal X follower is stronger than plastic. I have had a few broken plastic followers plus when the top wears,
its down right ugly. The metal just gets shiny and smooth. So, do you want
shiny and smooth or dog butt ugly? You make the call. best, Mike

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

ME: Hello everybody, my name is "Green" and I'm a magazine addict.
EVERYBODY: Hello Green!
ME: I made it ten whole days without buying another 39 series magazine, then I saw a 639 stainless mag with black plastic follower and stainless floor plate on Gunbroker for $32 plus shipping and handling. I fell off the wagon.
EVERYBODY: We feel your pain, Green! Let it out.
ME: Where was my sponsor to talk me down or stage an intervention? I need professional help (or more ammo!)

Froggie

"Green", just yield to the power. It is futile to resist, The Mag is greater than you are. Come to our side and have fun. The Mag always triumphs.

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I bought one of the GunPartsCorp (Numrich) made 39 series magazines and I am quite pleased with it. Beyond the missing S&W stamp on the floorplate, it is totally indiscernible from an original magazine. Performs perfectly in my guns too.

Mr. squid, how much this mag set you back? at the door? Curious.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Squidsix, I’ve had all kinds of luck dealing with Numrich over the last 35 years, from excellent to so bad I swear at the time I’ll never order from them again. Back in the day, I had one lady I always dealt with, and she really took care of me, but now they don’t even take phone orders. Glad you hit lucky on your mag, but even after that I’d be very hesitant to order the next one from them.

Froggie

It was $38.
I order stuff from them, but never unknown stuff before. I have always bought known items. Colt Glacier handguards for an M4, for example. These are marked and very obviously the right thing.
This magazine was the first one of its type I ever bought. I will probably get another.