Took both 41s to the range this week. My original one (other thread covers its sanded stocks, etc.) has worked perfectly with Eley Target and CCI Std since I replaced the recoil spring with a Wolfe. Tuesday, inserting a magazine, it jammed about 1/4" from being fully seated. Would not eject and could not be pulled out. Once home, I removed the stocks and could not see why the magazine was jammed. Disassembled the magazine in the pistol to remove the 10 live rounds. Used Kroil to slick things up and finally got the magazine shell out. Now I can only insert a magazine if I do so while pushing the mag release. Cannot insert without doing so. Any thoughts on whether I have a damaged magazine retainer or spring? Starting to think this thing is cursed.
TIA

Mr. 24, how can a gun work one week and not the next? Its possessed by demons. I trust you were using your two favorite mags and same ammo.
And the same range.

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I shot bullseye in the 1970's with a 1967 vintage model 41. It ate Mini Mags at a 100% success, but would not digest std. velocity anything. Seeing what they cost these days I'm sorry I traded it, but when I stopped going to matches I had no use for it.

Have you tried inserting the magazine with the slide open, and with the slide closed? That may narrow down the cause.

Same range, same magazines, same ammo. No idea of what may have caused this. I removed the barrel and cleaned it, but went nowhere near the magazine retainer/release. Demonic possession is my current belief. Ordered new parts from Numrich because throwing money at it seems to be the only viable option.

I shoot 41s, why do you remove the barrel to clean? Am I missing something?

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

did you remove the grips and try to insert the mag maybe the right grip is keeping the mag relies from moving free.Just a thouhght

__________________
age is just a number

A piece of junk in the mag release is keeping it from moving when the magazine pushes against it? Broken mag spring maybe.

Before you start throwing money at it, I suggest that you ask for advise at the bullseye pistol forum. I'm sure a number of the members there have experienced similar problems with their 41's, and they may be able to help. Good luck!

Bullseye-L Forum

When I started shooting Bullseye, I bought a new Model 41. I could never get it to shoot 90 rounds without a alibi, no matter what ammo I used. It went to the Air Force Marksman Ship Unit twice. I gave up and got a High Standard 106 and never had any more problems.

So I clean from the chamber end

My hope is that this is it. I ordered a new release and spring.

Before doing anything else, field strip the gun and MAKE SURE your Wolff recoil spring has the opened end REARWARD! Unless Wolff corrected this issue, if you insert the spring open end forward towards the muzzle, the gun can easily lock up and or malfunction. I do not know wether or not Wolff has corrected this issue by finishing both ends. S&W's recoil springs are finished on both ends, so it is a non directional spring. Check to see of the Wolff spring has an opened end and if so make sure the open end faces rearward!!!

You can also disassemble the magazine and make sure the spring in the magazine is in the correct way. Also while rare, springs can break. I have only encountered one broken magazine spring in my lifetime and while it was not on a M41, it technically can happen.

i feed mine thunderbolts i get dime size groups at 50 feet

Thank you. Magazine was disassembled and there is no problem with it.

Installed correctly

Warning! Smartbutt reply to follow!

Trade it off for a High Standard.

(and now ducking for cover...)

Seriously though, the mag catch/spring is the most likely suspect.

The Model 41 is an outstanding target .22, but I prefer my Hamden High Standard Model 106 Citation. With that being said, High Standard magazines are super picky and can be a royal pain in the butt.

with a few mods beretta neos WORK ,bypassing the pain in the ***HI stANDard magsthey also work in Browning medalist and Colt woodsman

__________________
age is just a number