Springer Precision base pad issue

[acarste]

Have the M and P 2.0 full size 45acp for edc and IDPA competition. Switched out the base pads on 3 of the mags that I use for competition with the Springer Precision aluminum base pads. Sleek design, won't hook them when drawing them from the mag pouch. Also, the extra weight is a plus. Tested them at the range for function but with only 3 or 4 rounds, not a full mag. Anyway, today at the local IDPA match, the mags, fully loaded, caused the slide to lock back numerous times with rounds still in the mag. It looked like I had just inserted the mag. I would have to manually run the slide and was back in action. It is not an ammo problem because after the 2nd stage I swapped them out for the regular mags with no problems the rest of the match. My question is this, is this a common problem? has it happened to anyone else? and if so, what solution is there? Is this a feeding issue? Again, problem disappeared when I use the regular mags. Hate that I spent $18.00 a piece for these things and can't use them. Any help is appreciated.

 

[ScaryWoody]

Did you use the stock magazine spring? If so, I would suggest Wolff springs.

 

[acarste]

Did you use the stock magazine spring? If so, I would suggest Wolff springs.

are the Wolff springs stronger?

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[Deadeye Dick]

Wow, I never would have thought that just swapping out magazine base pads/plates could effect functionality. I've replaced factory base plates on a compact pistol I own with aftermarket finger extension basses with no ill effects.

Please don't take offence but are you sure you reassembled the magazines with the springs facing in the right direction when you replaced the basses? Interesting to see how just a minor change in a system can cause problems.

 

[acarste]

Wow, I never would have thought that just swapping out magazine base pads/plates could effect functionality. I've replaced factory base plates on a compact pistol I own with aftermarket finger extension basses with no ill effects.

Please don't take offence but are you sure you reassembled the magazines with the springs facing in the right direction when you replaced the basses? Interesting to see how just a minor change in a system can cause problems.

yes sir, they are assembled correctly, I believe I have found the problem, since the base pads are beveled, they will slightly "over insert" when you forcefully insert them, thus the corner of the mag itself will push up the tab that engages the slide catch but not fully all the way up, the firing of the gun is enough for it to fully lock the slide back. am trying an experiment with 1 mag, with remove some material from the corner of the mag, basically "shortening " it slightly so not to hit that tab. we will see how it goes, am making a YouTube video of it, if successful, will post a link, thanks for the reply

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[Walt Sherrill]

If your latest diagnosis doesn't solve the problem, mags will lock back prematurely, sometimes, when the nose of the next round in line (as the topmost round is being chambered) nudges the slide stop. Had this happen with a new CZ 85 Combat many years ago. But since the problem seems to be related to recent changes to the mag, you might continue to focus on the mags.

A weakened mag spring can let the rounds slide around a bit so you might want to check your slide stop to see if there are any marks on it inline with the center of the bore (where the front of the bullet might be hitting the stop nub). If there are marks you can sand off a bit of metal from the contact area -- it may take more than you'd expect, but that area of the slide stop doesn't do much -- the underside of that nub is what is lifted by the mag follower when the mag is empty.

Another possibility is that the underside of the slide is dragging the top-most round forward as the slide closes. But since it wasn't problem until you changed mags, that's less likely. You can reduce the friction between the topmost round and the slide by polishing the underside of the slide, to reduce friction. You can also overcome that friction by installing extra-strength mag springs (from Wolff, for example) which will hold the rounds more firmly against the top of the mag feed lips.)

Weakened mag springs will allow the rounds in the mag to move around a bit, while still letting the mag function in a near-normal manner (i.e., still lifting the next round up to be caught by the front of the slide and fed into the chamber.) If the mag springs have been used for a while, I'd suspect that they're starting to show a little wear -- long-term cycling (and long-term storage of some loaded hi-cap mags) will soften the springs a little.

Hope you've found the solution already, but if your latest diagnosis doesn't solve the problem, I'd check the slide stop first, and then polish the underside of the slide, and try stronger mag springs last. If you do all three, you won't be out much money, and the first two possible fixes take only sandpaper and elbow grease.

 

[acarste]

Here is the video of my mod on the mags, believe it fixed the issue
YouTube
have gone thru about 350 rounds with the modified mags, with zero problems.