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Posted: 12/8/2011 2:46:40 PM EDT
| I have a few of those sweet early AR-15 20 round mags with that gorgeous gold/bronze on gray finish. Aluminum followers and all. Obviously, they are a hoot to use but not as reliable as a pmag and especially after umpteen years of service. I understand the process of getting a new spring, but what about the follower? Does this need to be set aside when doing a rebuild for reliability sake? I have ordered a David Tubbs spring to see if this might help. I have also fooled around with taking the guts out of a new colt 20 round and placing them in the old magazine itself. However, I question if there is wear on the feedlips that might defeat any kind of 100% reliable feeds regardless of the kind or quality of new spring or followers that are placed in them. I even tried to pull the guts out of a 20 round pmag and place them in the old mag body –– this was a non-starter. Yes, I am a slow learner. Has anyone come up with the magic formula to rehab those nifty old period appropriate magazines? |
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I rebuilt 200+ Colt and Adventure Line 20rd magazines.
I used Wolff Extra-Power magazine springs, and for the followers that required replacing, I used John Masen aluminum followers. I also lubricate the inside of the magazine with Rem Drilube. They are 100% reliable. Wolff AR-15 Magazine Springs John Masen Aluminum Followers Rem-Drilube 
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If the springs and follower don't fix you magazines try this. Acquire a new 20 round magazine and a set of calipers. Measure the feed lip spread on the new mag. Now go measure the feed lip spread on all your old magazines. Note the ones that are a lot wider and set those aside. Get a feed lip tool from Brownell's and learn how to use it. Aluminum isn't nearly as forgiving as steel so go slooooooooooow when you tweek them. Load them up. Go shoot and see what works. Tweek and repeat as necessary.
You may want to search around here. I know a list of GO / NO GO feed lip measurements for magazines has been posted before. |
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