Will appreciate any tips for removing the base plate.

M 41 Mag

If they gave a pin sticking out in the base pad. Push it in with a punch or nail. Then it should slide off. Newer ones have a fixed base pad. Never took one of those apart.

Evidently, I've got newer one, no hole in the base plate.

Base plate is still removabe.The plunger on the bottom of the spring can be lifter with something such as a dental pick and base plate pulled of.Once removed,drill a hole through the base plate and you can use a punch to lift the pin the next time you want it removed.Just did it today to the 2 I just got from Midway.

Great, thanks!

Thanks for the tip on the new ones. Just altered my newer one. Base pad was tight had to file the sides down. Old pad fit the new one good. Just smothed the the new one a little then it fit.

Does this method (dental pick on the plunger) still hold, it's 2018 or does S&W have formal instructions that we can follow. I can't help but think this is a bit crude. Owner of a new 41 PC. added Docter red dot and Rink Bullseye grip. Not bad grouping at 150 feet from a bag. It's competitive, I'm not any more.

Yes.
There is a pluger on the bottom of the spring that locates into the base plate.
The base plate cannot slide out of the magazine while the plunger is locate in it.
The dental pick/small screw driver/anything that can be inserted into the magazine is to grab the spring as far down as possible and lift it ( with the plunger ) up.
The plunger will now be out of the base plate which will now be able to slide out of the magazine.
Once you have the base plate in your hand, you will be able to see the small hole that the plunger locates into.
This small hole also make the perfect guid to run a drill thru the lower portion of the base plate.
Then, next time you want to disassemble, it is just a matter ogf using a small round object to push the plunger up.

Thanks to you all for the input. Now I just need to figure what is going wrong with my photo inserts...

Magazine disassembly starts on step #30, should be relevant for the M41.

422/622/2206/2213/2214 Disassembly - Reassembly Instructions

That is exactly how to get a "non-modified" magazine apart.

Once done, drill a hole thru he base-plate, using the existing plunger hole as a guide.

Then, anytime you want to take down the magazine, it is a simple task of using a tooth pick or pin pinch to push up and disengage the plunger from the base-plate.

Easy once you know how !