Model 41, Chipped Magazine Follower

[Exaviator]

I have two magazines where the extrusion which operates the slide lock has become chipped and as a result does not engage the slide lock on the last round. See photo:


Would be interested to hear from anyone who has experienced the same problem and any idea as just is causing the slide lock extrusion to become damaged.

 

[Dave.357]

Midway has plastic followers for $6 each they work fine in the older
Mags . Keep metal ones in case you want to sell later but I think
Plastic is better.

 

[Exaviator]

Hi Dave, these are plastic and that's the problem. For some reason they fracture at the tip, and so far I have been unable to find any reason, other than poor quality. I have checked the point of contact with the slide lock and there are no rough edges or abnormalities with the metal button that the follower pushes up...

 

[chief38]

Do yourself a favor and get a few vintage magazines from the 1980's. They are so much higher quality than the magazines being sold with the M41 today - night & day! They work and never go down!

 

[Dave.357]

I have older mags but use new
Plastic followers in two that
had steel finger that operates
The bolt stop broken of.
The $6 fix has worked so far.
I could not find new steel ones
To buy.

 

[MauleN12VR]

Model 41 magazine followers

Midway has plastic followers for $6 each they work fine in the older
Mags . Keep metal ones in case you want to sell later but I think
Plastic is better.

Do you have a link? I went to their website and searched for Model 41 magazine followers but no results. Thanks.

 

[Kp321]

The el-cheapo blood in my veins resists spending $6.00 plus shipping of a less expensive fix exists. I would try drilling a hole and inserting a 1/16” roll pin where the plastic tab broke.
Doing a little root cause analysis, some lubes or the carrier liquids can attack plastics and leave them very brittle. I learned this expensive lesson on a PW shot shell loader years ago. I lubed the primer feed with a silicone spray. The silicone was ok but the solvent (carrier) in the spray can destroyed the primer feed body.

 

[chief38]

Just a note here: Many of the earlier M41's (Pre 90's) will not play well with the new S&W magazines. 4 years ago I purchased 4 new ones of which NONE fit into my circa 1979 era M41. After fiddle futzing I got two to work but sent the other two back to S&W for an exchange. The two replacements they sent me did not work initially either, but I managed to fiddle with one to get it to work. The last one didn't work reliably and I just threw it out.

Truthfully, even if they did work, they are cheap & cheesy versions of what the older ones were and I would no longer even bother with new ones. I have since bought a couple of used but fantastic condition vintage mags with the metal followers. Needless to say, they work great.

My suggestion would be if you shoot your M41 a lot, just go directly to ebay and buy vintage versions - in the long run you will be much happier. YES - I know they are expensive - but they will alwys work and are much thicker and stronger than the new ones. They will NOT get any cheaper!

PS: I was told by the S&W representative when I requested the exchange, that the new magazines are a horror show and many times they have to hand fit them to your individual gun! They are very frustrated with them as well. NOT the way it's suppose to be!!

 

[Exaviator]

I appreciate all the input. Thanks guys.

 

[Troystat]

Not sure about a fix for your magazines but for what it is worth I have a pre 1990 41 and I have 5 of the plastic follower magazines and they work just fine and I have put many hundreds of rounds through each one.