Question on 41 Magazine and a 422

[GJH77]

Last fall I found a Model 422. It came with only 1 mag so I have been looking for another one. Everything I found in factory mags said that they were for 41/422/622/etc.
At a gun show I finally found a 41 mag. But when I got home and tried to put it in the mag well, it did not sit right, it was very tight, it would not lock the slide back, and not drop out very easily.
I finally got it to the range today, and it did not feed at all. I got the first round in the chamber racking the slide, but the a Fail to feed on the next.
Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Any modification or adjustment that could be made?
Thanks,
Gary

 

[824tsv]

The obvious answer is to buy a 41........No, sorry couldn't resist. When you put both magazines side by side, what's the difference between the two?

 

[civil1977]

It could be an older Model 41 mag with the shallower cut for the magazine catch. The newer mags have a cut which goes further around the front of the mag body and I've always assumed this was to allow them to work with the 422/622 and the 41. Pics would help.

If it is an older Model 41 mag, don't modify it.....sell it instead and buy a new mag that works.

 

[GJH77]

Yes there are some slight differences in the two mags, and I had assumed it was due to the different ages, but did not think it would have hindered the use. It did not appear the cut is different to the eye without a measurement. I will try and post pics tomorrow. I agree that if the mag is not for the 422 I would rather sell it or trade for a 422 mag.
Thanks!

 

[hedgehorn]

Do you want to sell the magazine?

 

[GJH77]

I had to get my photos to my computer, but here are the two magazines for future reference to see what will work and won't.
The original 422 magazine is on the right, and the recent purchase, which I was told was a 41 is on the left in both photos. You can see the slight differences, so if anyone can say which is making the 41 not work in the 422, I would appreciate it. If this is a correct 41 mag, and it will not work, I will post it for a sale or trade. Thanks for the help.

 

[ODB]

My model 41 is a 1985 version. The magazines that came with it match (based on your photos) the mag on the right, the one you indicate is for the 422. I am basing this on the following: my mags have both the 5 & 10 indications; the takedown notch is a bit higher; there is no S & W stamp on the side. Is it possible you got the two switched?

 

[GJH77]

ODB,
No they are shown correctly. I have been looking at a lot of these for sale recently, and wonder if the "other " mag is for something else, and not a 41. It appears to look like the mags advertised as 12 round mags. The newer mags are listed to fit models 41,422,622,2206. Could mine be an older 12 round mag for the 2206, and the older 12 round mags won't fit the 422?
Don't know, but I purchased another mag that is an exact duplicate of my 422 so we will see. Hopefully someone will see this and match it to one they have.
Thanks.

 

[1madss]

I also bought a 422 recently with one mag and I have been on the hunt for more at a reasonable price. I finally gave up on the reasonable price requirement and picked up a couple before they hit $100 each.

Both my old and new mags look exactly like your old and new. My issue were different. Mine were very hard to seat into the gun even when empty. The slide would lock up with the mag in. I could not move it at all. But ejected well.

After putting the old and new side to side and looking from the front I noticed that the round opening at the front top of the magazine was a different shape than the old as well as the follower was thinner. The top was more open and the "ears" did not stick up quite as far. I ended up taking a pair of pliers and made the open portion smaller. Too small and the rounds will hang up and not strip properly from the mag. Too loose and the slide drags or locks up.

Maybe your mags are too tight and not feeding cleanly? I would try putting a few rounds in the old and new and see if the rounds slip out of the two mags the same. The gap on the top of the mag seems to be critical to the operation and the margin of error seems small.

Good luck on getting it figured out. I would hate to have to go out and find more at this time. Prices are getting nuts. $89 for one 10rd mag? Really?

 

[GJH77]

1madss,
Similar problem with this one, mag is very hard to get in and then really hard to eject. once in the gun, the rounds would not feed into the chamber and the slide locked open. when mag was empty, it would not lock the slide open.
I just got a note from another member here that also suggested I work on the opening. I have not really looked at that, so I will take a closer look at the top and see if I can figure out what the differences are.
Your comment on price is right. On Sunday I found one on GB that I got for $40, and it was the only one on GB or EB less than $80. Then yesterday I stop in a pawn shop and find one in the $10 bin.
Once I got those two, I went and posted this one in the forum for sale section to see if anyone can match it to one they have that works. If it does not sell I will work on it to see if I can adjust something to fit.
Thanks to you also Smithhound!

 

[GJH77]

Mystery of the magazine is solved. Civil1977 is correct in his observation. When I visited the pistol range/pawn shop this morning I took the magazine that would not fit the model 422 and tried it in one of the range's model 41 rental gun, and it fit perfectly. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

 

[civil1977]

Good work.

 

[Barrie]

It also fits in the M46 as I tried that just last Tuesday night at our range but had a problem putting it into my M41. Didn't want to slide all the way in even tho they look almost identical.

 

[Outklassed]

I am new to the Model 41, but have been looking for magazines for my new to me model 41. What it appears you may have is a 5 shot magazine, maybe for the 22 short. Like i said i am new to model 41.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/194322-model-41-magazines.html

 

[JohnyElSucio]

I also bought a 422 recently with one mag and I have been on the hunt for more at a reasonable price. I finally gave up on the reasonable price requirement and picked up a couple before they hit $100 each.

Both my old and new mags look exactly like your old and new. My issue were different. Mine were very hard to seat into the gun even when empty. The slide would lock up with the mag in. I could not move it at all. But ejected well.

After putting the old and new side to side and looking from the front I noticed that the round opening at the front top of the magazine was a different shape than the old as well as the follower was thinner. The top was more open and the "ears" did not stick up quite as far. I ended up taking a pair of pliers and made the open portion smaller. Too small and the rounds will hang up and not strip properly from the mag. Too loose and the slide drags or locks up.

Maybe your mags are too tight and not feeding cleanly? I would try putting a few rounds in the old and new and see if the rounds slip out of the two mags the same. The gap on the top of the mag seems to be critical to the operation and the margin of error seems small.

Good luck on getting it figured out. I would hate to have to go out and find more at this time. Prices are getting nuts. $89 for one 10rd mag? Really?

I just bought 3 mags for my 422 and noticed that they didnt feed automatically after firing a shot... Thing that never happened me with the original magazine... And i noticed too that those "ears" where to close... Im gonna do the fix as you said...

Many thanks man