I managed to pick up a couple 8-rd magazines for my 4566TSW, just got them in the mail today. They look like factory mags, but they aren't stamped S&W anywhere that I could see. In fact, they're void of any markings whatsoever.

The magazine body is all-black with a black follower and a very thick baseplate (at least compared to my stock mag. that came with the pistol).

While I haven't tried them at the range yet, they feel a tad lighter than my stock mag and (maybe it's just me) but they seem to feel a little smoother when sliding into the mag well.

If they feed reliably, I'm going to be one very happy camper. But then I'm going to want a few more, which is why I'm here to ask if anyone might know anything more about them?

I'm attaching an image that really doesn't do them justice, but at least you can see the thickness of the base.



Thanks -- Keith

Every S&W mag that I have seen and own for my 4566 are marked S&W on the mag body and floorplate. Also, they are stainless steel, and the round viewports are numbered.... Looks aftermarket to me... How much were they?

I think they are Pro-Mags.

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Hello Cleveland, Rock and Roll

agreed they look like promags

+1 for the pro mags.

They were cheap ($25 for the pair). Got them through an online auction.

The seller has a sporting goods shop back east, and claims to have gotten them for a customer from a friend that worked for S&W. The customer never picked them up so he put them up for bid.

But I was worried that they might be promags. When I bought my 4566TSW, it came with three 10-rd promags. They worked great until about 50 rounds when I'd get an occasional failure, and by 100 rounds they wouldn't feed at all. The spent case wouldn't completely eject (not quite a stove pipe), so the new round couldn't feed.


Here I simulated the failure with snapcap in mag + spend case just so I could get a picture of it.

I was worried that it was the ejector, but the factory mag I had kept working for another 50+ rounds without even one failure until I went home. But every time I tried any of those promags, I got that crazy FTE/FTF.

I agree that those appear to be Pro Mags.

I would advise you not to use them for any serious purpose.

The last issue 4566 mags have black followers and are stamped with the S&W logo. They are also stamped "45 CAL" above the logo.

I have a few older 4566 mags with yellow followers that feed fine, but I still limit those to range use only. Regards 18DAI.

They definitely aren't S&W mags, but the problem you're having usually isn't related to the mag. That usually comes from a weak load, too strong a recoil spring, dirty chamber, dry gun or some other problem that slows the slide down.

I also wouldn't discount the potential for an added influence in the way of a less than firm grip technique, too.

As far as investing in magazines?

A well designed, properly working magazine is arguably at the very heart of proper functioning when it comes to semiauto pistols.

Might not be an area in which to scrimp ...

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I think my grip was fine. As I already explained, when I used the 10-rd promag (after the gun was about 100 rounds dirty) every shot failed to properly eject. But when I switched back to the factory mag, all 8 rounds went through without a hiccup. Once the promags seemed to stop functioning, I ran about 50 more rounds through with just the factory mag without a single failure. Grip problem? Unlikely.

+1 on not skimping on magazines.

The only aftermarket magazine I will use is Mec Gar. It is because they manufacture magazines for use in many different factory pistols all over the world. Always stick with the factory or Mec Gar made mags.

i tried pro-mags in my 4566TSW and the 8RD mags would not lock up.the 10RD mags would fall out under recoil.got my full refund and bought S&W mags an never looked back.DO not bet your life on cheap imitations.factory mags are the best by far..you can get S&W factory mags at MIDWAY USA.COM...........CHET