Cleaning Magazines

[Narragansett]

I got a M41 with 4 mags. 2 are the old metal follower type, and 2 appear to not be takedown serviceable. The 2 I did clean were really dirty. The other 2 look reasonably clean when you pull the follower down and use a flashlight, but I would like to do something to clean them a bit. I am not a big brake cleaner fan so I would like to soak them in some medium for a few says and then blow them out with compressed air. I am not going to mix Ed's red, so what would you use as a medium to soak them?

 

[Richard Simmons]

I’ve used kerosene to good effect on military surplus mags plus it’s something I had on hand.

 

[WILDPIG]

Hoppes. Then blow out. Repeat if necessary. They will not be left bone dry as Break Free would leave them.

WILDPIG

 

[dfariswheel]

Ordinary cheap paint thinner or mineral spirits work very well and you can buy either in any hardware store.

Beware... a lot of todays' paint thinner is nothing like in years past.
Today much of it is a milky-white color that doesn't evaporate like old thinner.

 

[Krogen]

I got a M41 with 4 mags. 2 are the old metal follower type, and 2 appear to not be takedown serviceable. The 2 I did clean were really dirty. The other 2 look reasonably clean when you pull the follower down and use a flashlight, but I would like to do something to clean them a bit. I am not a big brake cleaner fan so I would like to soak them in some medium for a few says and then blow them out with compressed air. I am not going to mix Ed's red, so what would you use as a medium to soak them?

Older mags have a hole in the floorplate as you've likely seen. Using it to push on the spring's nose piece is simple and the floorplate slides off. Newer magazines are made the same, but S&W in their infinite wisdom omitted the external hole in the floorplate. There's a blind hole inside for the nosepiece to drop into, you just can't see it from the outside.

So, how does one depress the nosepiece and get the floorplate off? Just use something like a dental pick or small hook to reach inside the magazine and pull the spring away from the floorplate. The same nosepiece is in there and all you need to do is get it separated from the floorplate. The floorplate will slide off like it does with older magazines. Reassembly is about the same as with older magazines, but it can be tricky to get the nosepiece settled in the blind hole. Again, why S&W did this baffles me.

 

[Narragansett]

Older mags have a hole in the floorplate as you've likely seen. Using it to push on the spring's nose piece is simple and the floorplate slides off. Newer magazines are made the same, but S&W in their infinite wisdom omitted the external hole in the floorplate. There's a blind hole inside for the nosepiece to drop into, you just can't see it from the outside.

So, how does one depress the nosepiece and get the floorplate off? Just use something like a dental pick or small hook to reach inside the magazine and pull the spring away from the floorplate. The same nosepiece is in there and all you need to do is get it separated from the floorplate. The floorplate will slide off like it does with older magazines. Reassembly is about the same as with older magazines, but it can be tricky to get the nosepiece settled in the blind hole. Again, why S&W did this baffles me.

Thanks for the info. So now the question is, if all is the same internally, when apart, can the floor plate be drilled out to resemble the the older mags with the metal follower?

 

[chief38]

Ordinary cheap paint thinner or mineral spirits work very well and you can buy either in any hardware store.

Beware... a lot of todays' paint thinner is nothing like in years past.
Today much of it is a milky-white color that doesn't evaporate like old thinner.

Do not buy "paint thinner" - instead get the Mineral Spirits which is basically a more highly refined version - smells a whole lot less too!

 

[chief38]

I got a M41 with 4 mags. 2 are the old metal follower type, and 2 appear to not be takedown serviceable. The 2 I did clean were really dirty. The other 2 look reasonably clean when you pull the follower down and use a flashlight, but I would like to do something to clean them a bit. I am not a big brake cleaner fan so I would like to soak them in some medium for a few says and then blow them out with compressed air. I am not going to mix Ed's red, so what would you use as a medium to soak them?

If not disassembling, I'd recommend using Remoil. Remoil will dissolve and float out 98% of the crud and quickly evaporate leaving a dry film of lubrication and rust protection. YES Virginia, - Remoil does have its advantages! I'd NOT use a regular gun oil if you do not open the mag's up! Regular gun oil is a debris and dust magnet.

 

[Narragansett]

If not disassembling, I'd recommend using Remoil. Remoil will dissolve and float out 98% of the crud and quickly evaporate leaving a dry film of lubrication and rust protection. YES Virginia, - Remoil does have its advantages! I'd NOT use a regular gun oil if you do not open the mag's up! Regular gun oil is a debris and dust magnet.

I will take them apart as described with a dental pick. It is a personal thing that I have had since 1987, but I do not buy Remington products. They are not deserving IMO

 

[2152hq]

Hot soapy water. A little dish washing liquid for the soap.
Slosh them around in the water and work the follower up and down to agitate insides with the water/soap..
Rinse with very hot water. Blow dry or shake it dry and they will then dry out on their own from any residual heat.
If they have cooled off and you are still worried about evil water droplets still being inside,,place the mag on a warm surface in the sun. It'll dry inside and out.
Oil with your preference of magic 'clip' lube when dry.

 

[Krogen]

Thanks for the info. So now the question is, if all is the same internally, when apart, can the floor plate be drilled out to resemble the the older mags with the metal follower?

I would think so. I have never tried it, since it's not hugely troublesome to grab the spring. Provided you drill a clean hole and add some touch up bluing, it should look and perform just like the old ones.

 

[chief38]

I will take them apart as described with a dental pick. It is a personal thing that I have had since 1987, but I do not buy Remington products. They are not deserving IMO

That's cool - I was just responding about a non-disassembly cleaning. BTW, Remington has not been the same "Remington" for a few years now.

 

[Krogen]

If not disassembling, I'd recommend using Remoil. Remoil will dissolve and float out 98% of the crud and quickly evaporate leaving a dry film of lubrication and rust protection. YES Virginia, - Remoil does have its advantages! I'd NOT use a regular gun oil if you do not open the mag's up! Regular gun oil is a debris and dust magnet.

Better than Remoil is Hornady One-shot cleaner/lube. Not to be confused with their One-shot case lube, it's an aerosol cleaner that leaves a light film of dry lube. I'm not a fan of degreasers like BrakeKleen. They leave nothing but bare metal, ready to rust. I use One-shot cleaner on the guts of a Model 41. I'm not about to take it down to the fiddly bits for cleaning. It gets sprayed and the gunk pours out.

 

[chief38]

I will take them apart as described with a dental pick. It is a personal thing that I have had since 1987, but I do not buy Remington products. They are not deserving IMO

I have no real strong opinion either way about Remington, I am just curious what turned you off in 1987 if you care to share. If not - no problemo. I do in fact own an 870 pump action shotgun, but that's about it. While I've never been a huge Remington fan, they did (back in the day) make fairly decent guns. As far as their Remoil is concerned, while I agree it may not be a substitute for conventional viscosity gun oil, there happens to be some tasks Remoil is actually excellent at. I don't use it a whole lot but for certain things when lubrication isn't the primary goal, it's great.

 

[Narragansett]

I have no real strong opinion either way about Remington, I am just curious what turned you off in 1987 if you care to share. If not - no problemo. I do in fact own an 870 pump action shotgun, but that's about it. While I've never been a huge Remington fan, they did (back in the day) make fairly decent guns. As far as their Remoil is concerned, while I agree it may not be a substitute for conventional viscosity gun oil, there happens to be some tasks Remoil is actually excellent at. I don't use it a whole lot but for certain things when lubrication isn't the primary goal, it's great.

Back in 1987-88, Remington operated the most magical gun club in Lordship a peninsula below Bridgeport, CT. lots of trap and skeet fields overlooking the water. Guns were free to check out and use, ammo was deep discounted, and you could bring your shotgun for free rebuilding on the spot. At that time, they still made rim fire ammo in Bridgeport, CT and operated a shot tower producing high quality shot in Bridgeport.

They wanted out of there and I believe they conspired with the state to label the club as a wildlife pollutant. As soon at the article hit the paper, they closed the club and the plants. As president of the largest club in CT, I championed a legal fund to help them fight the charges. We gave 10K, and other clubs made up another 10K. and sent it to Remington to start the legal fight. They did not fight, and the money was never returned.

They ran to Dirty Socks, Arkansas and opened a 4 trap club. They screwed the gun clubs of CT, their workers, and the sportsmen that support them.
The old Remington men used to show up at all the traps shoots and would rebuild your 1100 or whatever under a tent for free. Remington was a brand to be supported, and we did.

In the years that have followed, they are not contributors to charity shoots that were held, and only a couple old timers showed up on their own to promote good will. They have passed now.

Older Remington products are exceptional, and I will or would buy them, but I will not buy anything that puts a nickel in their treasury.

Remember, these are the people that have brought you Thunderbolts!

BTW, no duck has died from ingesting lead in 80 feet of water

 

[chief38]

Back in 1987-88, Remington operated the most magical gun club in Lordship a peninsula below Bridgeport, CT. lots of trap and skeet fields overlooking the water. Guns were free to check out and use, ammo was deep discounted, and you could bring your shotgun for free rebuilding on the spot. At that time, they still made rim fire ammo in Bridgeport, CT and operated a shot tower producing high quality shot in Bridgeport.

They wanted out of there and I believe they conspired with the state to label the club as a wildlife pollutant. As soon at the article hit the paper, they closed the club and the plants. As president of the largest club in CT, I championed a legal fund to help them fight the charges. We gave 10K, and other clubs made up another 10K. and sent it to Remington to start the legal fight. They did not fight, and the money was never returned.

They ran to Dirty Socks, Arkansas and opened a 4 trap club. They screwed the gun clubs of CT, their workers, and the sportsmen that support them.
The old Remington men used to show up at all the traps shoots and would rebuild your 1100 or whatever under a tent for free. Remington was a brand to be supported, and we did.

In the years that have followed, they are not contributors to charity shoots that were held, and only a couple old timers showed up on their own to promote good will. They have passed now.

Older Remington products are exceptional, and I will or would buy them, but I will not buy anything that puts a nickel in their treasury.

Remember, these are the people that have brought you Thunderbolts!

BTW, no duck has died from ingesting lead in 80 feet of water

OK - can't say I blame you. That was quite a story!

 

[Warren Sear]

Ordinary cheap paint thinner or mineral spirits work very well and you can buy either in any hardware store.

Beware... a lot of todays' paint thinner is nothing like in years past.
Today much of it is a milky-white color that doesn't evaporate like old thinner.

I use the old-fashioned, regular "mineral spirits". No funny milk color.

I use a squeeze bottle to flood the magazine, pistol frame, or whatever I am cleaning. Let it soak a while, then blow it out with compressed air. This will leave it completely dry, so I next put some Break free inside, then blow that out with compresses air. Perfect!

 

[jjfitch]

I got a M41 with 4 mags. 2 are the old metal follower type, and 2 appear to not be takedown serviceable. The 2 I did clean were really dirty. The other 2 look reasonably clean when you pull the follower down and use a flashlight, but I would like to do something to clean them a bit. I am not a big brake cleaner fan so I would like to soak them in some medium for a few says and then blow them out with compressed air. I am not going to mix Ed's red, so what would you use as a medium to soak them?

About once a year magazines get a sonic cleaner bath. No disassembly is required. Once cleaned compressed air finishes the cleaning and drying. 9mm mags also get feed lips recalibrated!

 

[Narragansett]

About once a year magazines get a sonic cleaner bath. No disassembly is required. Once cleaned compressed air finishes the cleaning and drying. 9mm mags also get feed lips recalibrated!

What do you use for a medium in the sonic cleaner?

 

[Baxter6551]

Thanks for sharing that Narragansett !
The club in Lordship was a beautiful spot and quite the challenge to shoot skeet with the ocean breezes making the birds dip up and down. But great practice for live hunting. I had only gotten into skeet in 1985/86 and only made it there to shoot a couple of time before they closed.