extending mag life

Coop de Ville · July 16, 2001, 03:45 PM

Read this over on 1911forum and thought I would pass it along. I tried it myself yesterday.

Last night I took my two mag springs from my SW40E and measured them at 6" total length. I stretched them to 7.25", pulling from the ends. Then I put them in my oven at 350F for 35 minutes. When done, I removed them and put them on a ceramic plate to cool to room temp. Reinserted into the mags and they're a lot stiffer...

Don't know the dynamics, but will let you know how they hold up.

Regards, -Coop

**Art Eatman** · July 16, 2001, 06:31 PM

Just stretching them to 7.25" should make them stiffer. 350 degrees shouldn't affect the metallurgy, SFAIK. Whatever effect there would be would be to soften the metal, annealing, but you'd have to get up toward a dull red--900? 1,100?. If annealed, the springs would no longer be springs; they'd be malleable wire.

To harden a wire, heat it to the dull red and quench it in oil at 350 to 400 degrees...

FWIW, Art

Coop de Ville · July 17, 2001, 07:39 AM

That's why I'm asking the question. I wasn't sure how this worked. Maybe it was a BS post...

Regards,

Coop

July 16, 2001, 03:45 PM	#1
Coop de Ville Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2000 Posts: 436	extending mag life Read this over on 1911forum and thought I would pass it along. I tried it myself yesterday. Last night I took my two mag springs from my SW40E and measured them at 6" total length. I stretched them to 7.25", pulling from the ends. Then I put them in my oven at 350F for 35 minutes. When done, I removed them and put them on a ceramic plate to cool to room temp. Reinserted into the mags and they're a lot stiffer... Don't know the dynamics, but will let you know how they hold up. Regards, -Coop

July 16, 2001, 06:31 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff Lead Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX, USA Posts: 20,936	Just stretching them to 7.25" should make them stiffer. 350 degrees shouldn't affect the metallurgy, SFAIK. Whatever effect there would be would be to soften the metal, annealing, but you'd have to get up toward a dull red--900? 1,100?. If annealed, the springs would no longer be springs; they'd be malleable wire. To harden a wire, heat it to the dull red and quench it in oil at 350 to 400 degrees... FWIW, Art __________________ You're from BATFE? Come right in! I use all your fine products!

July 17, 2001, 07:39 AM	#3
Coop de Ville Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2000 Posts: 436	Thanks Art, That's why I'm asking the question. I wasn't sure how this worked. Maybe it was a BS post... Regards, Coop