Model 41 magazine issue

[HappyPlinker]

Hi all.
I recently ended up inheriting a Model 41 made in 1981. It came with one magazine, so I bought three more Smith made magazines a took it to the range, and had lots of issues with the new magazines.

First the original mag slides out on release, the new mags don't drop, but have to be pulled out.

Second, the feed lips on the new mags kind of bite the bullet and brass when loading, and as I discovered feed poorly. Meaning they either don't feed the first round, partially feed following rounds, cause hang ups where I'll have a failure to eject AND a partial feed. Those problems occurred using three different types of ammo. (CCI SV lead, American Copper plated, and Federal bulk.) The original mag didn't like the American but fed the others just fine.

I also noticed the follower on the new mags were different on the new mags.

I realize this is a lot to unpack, but any help you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[chief38]

My M41 is from 1979. A few years back I wanted to get 3 more magazines and so I bought them brand new. Not a single one went in smoothly, worked or ejected properly. I called S&W and they told me that their new cheaply made magazines will not usually work with older guns. They suggested I buy vintage magazines which I did. I went on eBay and purchased 3 used but in great shape metal follower mag's and they all work flawlessly. They cost me much more than the newly manufactured ones, but they work perfectly and because they are much higher quality they will last pretty much forever.

How they can cheapen magazines to the point that they will not work seems to be about normal for them now. They claim they work in the newly manufactured guns, but not the older ones. What exactly the difference is I do not know, but this is now stupid!

I'd suggest buying vintage magazines in good condition! Yes, they are much more expensive - but they will work just fine. Obviously there is a reason used magazines sell for more than new ones!

 

[Exaviator]

It sounds like you need to make a small adjustment to the lips of the magazines that are distorting the rounds. Compare the good one with the others to spot the difference.

 

[Kp321]

I agree that a new magazine should work right out of the box but, unfortunately 41 mags don’t always. Any 22 magazine will possibly need the feed lips tweaked, 41’s are no exception . The new one i bought were also too fat to insert or drop free. A gentle squeeze in a bench vise followed by some judicious filing and stoning got them perfect. The good news is that it’s a one and done process. I have been using the adjusted magazines for several years with no further work needed.

 

[Troystat]

Very strange, I have an early 70’s M-41 and it came with one of the old metal follower magazines and it works fine, I bought 5 NOS magazines with the black plastic followers and they all work fine, I do think the older magazines feel like they are better made but other than the followers being plastic I can’t see a functional difference.
S&W made some 12 round mags with orange plastic followers and I seem to remember reading about problems with those. Sorry you are having trouble.

 

[chief38]

I have YET to find a vintage magazine that will not work! The only ones with issues are the new ones - AND BTW I am not the only one with this issue! Many of my shooting team members had similar issues.

The other important bonus of buying used vintage mag's are that they are very very well made and will never break. The newer ones are so thin you can use them to shave with. Even if you won the lottery and found one that actually worked out of the box, drop it once and good luck! Just one more pathetic "modern marvel" of cost cutting. You would think that a Company that has produced the M41 for so long would understand just how important the mag's are!

This problem is not isolated to the S&W M41 either. If you have an older High Standard target pistol, I have the same suggestions - buy only vintage magazines on the used market. Yes, also expensive - but they will work flawlessly whereas the new ones will usually not work.

 

[glenwolde]

I agree that a new magazine should work right out of the box but, unfortunately 41 mags don’t always. Any 22 magazine will possibly need the feed lips tweaked, 41’s are no exception . The new one i bought were also too fat to insert or drop free. A gentle squeeze in a bench vise followed by some judicious filing and stoning got them perfect. The good news is that it’s a one and done process. I have been using the adjusted magazines for several years with no further work needed.

You might get a magazine adjustment tool. If you search eBay for "High Standard Magazine Adjustment Tool" you'll see both factory and aftermarket ones. They are very handy, I keep one in my range bag so I can tune and shoot.

I have both styles. But I have a High Standard. The aftermarket one has the High Standard width gauges machined into the handle, which is handy, but I don't imagine they are the same dimensions for the 41. I find the factory one has a bit more clearance when manipulating the feed lips. But they both work well.

 

[TSBirddog]

Hi all.
I recently ended up inheriting a Model 41 made in 1981. It came with one magazine, so I bought three more Smith made magazines a took it to the range, and had lots of issues with the new magazines.

First the original mag slides out on release, the new mags don't drop, but have to be pulled out.

Second, the feed lips on the new mags kind of bite the bullet and brass when loading, and as I discovered feed poorly. Meaning they either don't feed the first round, partially feed following rounds, cause hang ups where I'll have a failure to eject AND a partial feed. Those problems occurred using three different types of ammo. (CCI SV lead, American Copper plated, and Federal bulk.) The original mag didn't like the American but fed the others just fine.

I also noticed the follower on the new mags were different on the new mags.

I realize this is a lot to unpack, but any help you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I have similar issues - the new magazines are inferior quality. I invested a lot of time in trying to improve their function with limited success. My friend bought several and had to send them all back. Smith and Wesson quality is disappointing.