TLDR. I USED A DIAMOND STONE ON NEW MAGAZINES. NOW THEY FIT IN AN OLD MODEL 41


It is an unfortunate reality that old model 41s may have complications with new production magazines.

I bought 2 mags from gunmagwarehouse after reading forum posts about new mags fitting in old guns. One magazine worked perfectly, but the other would insert, but not drop freely when pressing the mag release button. After returning the poor fitting magazine, which gunmagwarehouse was very helpful, I decided a 50% chance in getting a working magazine was worth ordering again.

I ordered 5 more magazines, but this time none of them fit, and in fact the fit was so bad that some got stuck in the gun.

Forums are all over with people squeezing mags in a bench vice, or grinding them down with a diamond stone. One person suggested to remove the grips off the 41 to determine exactly at what point the mag is getting stuck. After inspection, I found that each mag was stuck at the baseplate, as they dropped free once the base was cleared.

All of the mags were too wide upon comparison with calipers to my original metal follower magazine, as well as the only working new production plastic follow mag of my first GMW order. Proper fitting magazines measured 11.1mm at the base. The new mags were all 11.3-11.5mm wide at the base.

After a few laps on a coarse diamond stone, they all free fall as though Newton needed a demonstration volunteer.

Mr Brick

Attached Images

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I had exactly the same issue. I put the base of the mag in my bench vice and squeezed it. Got them all perfect now.

I've posted this more than a few times here on the Forum. I've had absolutely no luck getting new production magazines to fit my vintage M41 pistol. I did not want to remove bluing, squeeze, bend or file them in order to get them to fit so I returned them and bought a bunch of vintage magazines which fit and function perfectly. Brand new magazines should not have to be monkeyed with to use them!

Vintage magazines are much better quality, fit and function perfectly as they should. I bought a bunch of them on eBay a few years back and was happy to find them in great shape. They were more expensive than the new production mag's but in the long run, worth it to me. It's a shame that a Company that made such a great pistol years back can not longer produce or supply magazines to fit in them.

Seven to 10 years ago Midway USA had S&W M41 mags on sale. I bought 6 for about $100 delivered. Best $100 I ever spent.

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S&WHF 366

If I bought 5 magazines, and not one of them worked, l think I’d be looking at the mag well of my particular gun.

What is vintage of these magazines that are sticking, oversized? About 5 yr ago I bought a dozen 41 mags. About $28@, this was when there was the panic on them. They are the type that come bubble packed. They worked in new model 41 and 422 that I had at time. They wouldn’t work in the old model 41s. These won’t hang up, they wouldn’t latch. It was because of cut for mag release was different than old type. A little jewelers filing on cut and they work perfectly. Each one was exactly the same so no problem with uniformity. I still make a habit of trading a new in the package magazine for old models. However I’m not paying stupid prices for old model mags.
* buyer beware of the aftermarket mags for model 52. Lots of unhappy customers. Have not had the displeasure yet but one is coming to me to see if I can make it work. One of those guys who has no problem paying $80 for new aftermarket, instead of $100 for used original.

Yeah I was about to start working on my gun magwell, but I decided it would be safer to permanently modify the $25 magazine rather this expensive firearm.

I was very close to buying vintage mags on eBay, but after striking out on a few auctions, I took my chance again with gmw. The prices on eBay at the time were about triple the price of a new dud mag. If you have a nice model 41 and you want the mags to be pristine, then yeah I can understand not wanting to modify them. I wouldn't be surprised if I have the rustiest 41 in this forum, so at that point I just wanted mags to work. No need to sweat having perfect cosmetic condition mags for my rusty old gun.

I buy a few model 41s. Mostly old models unless a NM has a desirable barrel on it. I’m like the fat guy that sells no wine before it’s time. No old models magazines leave the ranch. There will be a new model mag that runs perfect in any 41 that leaves the farm.
There is no use putting off gathering magazines for hard to get and obsolete firearms. As a rule they aren’t going to get cheaper. I bought an old pistol a couple weeks ago that came with extra mag. worth half what I paid for the deal. Crazy and you would think with today’s technology they could make magazines that work slick. If you ever made a mag from scratch it’s a PIA, unless you are a die maker with a Worko in your cellar.

I'm definitely not there yet. But the ones who collect for posterity are important for the reasons you stated.

eBay, bid every day, what you want to pay….period. Bid on them all. If you loose didn’t cost a dime. Sooner or later you will hit. Gun auctions same way, bid your price and that’s it. Very few weeks I don’t have from 30 to 50 bids and offers out. Probably get less than 5%.

The older magazines are marked 5 and 10 on the side with no SW logo on the side. The newer mags only have 5 and a SW logo on the side. Both have SW on the base.

Old magazines have metal followers and smaller magazine release cut. I’m not sure how many different runs of magazines have been made since the original magazines were discontinued. I don’t keep up on the trivia associated with the stampings on magazine body. I’m just into having magazines that run smoooooth.