Hey guys, I have a 39-2 that I picked up. Almost new in the box. Got it from a police Chief that bought 3 of them new. Anyways I have 2 of the original magazines with the metal "X" type of follower. I shot 100 rounds of round nose out of it last time out and had 2 jams. Wondering if the original mags with the metal followers are good or should I purchase the newer mags with the polymer type of follower? Any input would be appreciated.
Two areas coming to mind that you may wish to address:
1) Some folks will argue that "new" is not necessarily better as much as it is contrived (a corollary to "planned obsolescence") or subsequent versions are not as good as "the good old stuff."
Personally, I see no point in making something that isn't better - it only catches up with a manufacturer or seller in the end, and such ain't usually pretty.
Thus, the "X" or "skeleton" follower of the 39 and earlier 39-2 magazines was replaced a follower made of a new-fangled material: nylon.
One needs to remember (if "there") or learn via history books that huge advancements were made after WWII on every level of human pursuit. As someone put it (and I'm not exactly sure I'm recalling it very well): We humans learned more in the latter half of the 20th century than in all time preceding it.
The problem with the metal follower, as designed, was that it promoted drag (friction). Look closely at those areas which meet with the round sitting atop it and it really isn't hard to imagine a casing hanging on it. Thus possibly rendering a final magazine's round worthless should it hang.
The nylon (eventually yielding to another new-fangled product named "plastic") didn't induce drag nearly as badly and weighed somewhat less (remember, the M39 was initially conceived for the military, where every ounce counts).
All in all, the nylon and, eventually, plastic followers were judged the better in not only helping move that last round into the chamber, but each of the preceding rounds UP through the magazine.
Verdict No. 1: Right now NOS X-follower magazines are fetching close to $100 each on eBay. Yep. Heck, I've even seen a few move in excess of that. The NOS nylon magazines are selling for about 50- to 60-percent of the X-follower. Sell the X and buy nylon.
Now, if you don't really want to hassle with all that, PM me and we'll work out something. I've got more than a few of both magazine types hanging around.
No. 2) Springs is sprung. Well, not the "spring" that began in late March. Depending on how the chief stored those 39-2s, the spring within the magazine and/or the recoil guide rod spring may be a tad tired. Someone within these forums provided a good piece of advice recently when he said (something to the affect of) that however new, old or dirty a handgun may be, if it hadn't been in his possession previously he then replaced the springs upon taking delivery.
A replacement of the magazine - and even for the recoil guide rod spring - is a relatively easy process and you can get proper springs from a number of suppliers (I personally like and have long used Wolff Springs).
There are other factors that may be involved, but doubtfully in a virtually new firearm.
OH!! No. 3! Might the chief wish to part with still another? (And I'm totally serious).
Good luck!
