Need help on disassembling magazines for cleaning and lubing, please?

[daddySEAL]

Just how are they disassembled, cleaned, lubed lightly and what products do you all use?

[Tom2]

Exactly what kind of mags are we talking about? IF they have the removable base plate, There is usually a little stud or something in the center(under pressure from the spring) that you depress so you can slide the base plate off the mag.(some kinds require you to pry the plate out of a channel with a screwdriver or something towards the front and off) Be aware that a spring is attempting to fly out at the same time. Before you remove the spring, make a note of how it is installed, as if it is put back backwards, it can put up pressure on the wrong end of the follower and cause misfeeds. Once the spring is out, then the follower should come back out the bottom too. Probably no need to study it as usually it is obvious how it goes back in. Then I clean the insides out with a bunch of patches, or you can start with a paper towel, etc. Most of what you see in the mag will be dusty looking residue instead of crud after firing. My mags are smooth and shiny inside when clean, so you can see the dull areas that need cleaning. They also make special bristle brushes shaped for cleaning mags if you want one. Otherwise working patches round in the nooks and crannies is more work. Wipe off the spring and follower too. I don' usually need to use solvent to remove it after moderate use, as it is not as hard as bore fouling or something. Be sure the insides are wiped clean and shiny and while it is apart inspect under the feed lips and insp. them for damages or burrs. Then reassemble opposite of the takedown. Be sure about that spring orientation! In any case do not lube the inside of the mags for normal use. Dry is best. If it is a blued mag you can put a thin coat of preservative all on the outside of the mag but not so much that it runs down inside. If nickel or SS just wipe clean outside or even wipe with a silicone cloth, maybe. As for the 1911 mags that have a fixed base plate, well it is a complicated (for me) process that you have to tilt the follower up in front to get it out and pull out the spring, etc. Better go to a 1911 website to see pictures of that. Any oil inside the mag could affect cartridges, and attract dirt or crud that might jam or stutter the movement of the follower. It don't need oil!

[OldShooter]

On a lot of old hand guns, the magazine doesn't have a removable floor plate. I found that I can depress the follower most of the way down and then hold it in place by running a small screw driver or rod through the holes to restrain the spring. Then you can wiggle the follower out. Then carefully release the spring and note the way it is installed before removing. Clean all the parts and re-assemble in reverse order.

[Tom2]

Yea now that you mention it that is how I do the Colt mags. Depress the follower, a good ways down with a pencil or something, Put a pinlike object(nail?) thru a witness hole to hold the spring back and get the follower back to the top and work it out. But still think that is easier with pictures....

[PSP]

I use Eezox on all my magazine parts which leaves a dry lube and is an excellent rust inhibitor. No oil or grease in a mag...it can lead to primer failure and collects grit.

[daddySEAL]

Tom2,
I'm still trying to get the various mags open(no luck yet,...I don't want to break or force anything wrongly).

To answer your question of which pistols I'm talking about, I have(all .40 cal):

Taurus Mellinium Pro PT140
Sig P239
Glocks 23 and 27
Baby Desert Eagle
Stoeger(Beretta) Cougar 8000
Steyr M40A-1
Springfield XD-40 subcompact
CZ75B
---------------------------
update........my Steyr magazine opened just like you said, Tom...but I'm still having trouble with the Taurus (?)

I could use help from anyone that has these, please?

[MD_Willington]

This should cover quite a few magazines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwBsBh2o48

That's me taking apart a S&W magazine, the magazines for my Taurus PT111 are just about the same...

[daddySEAL]

My Millenium Pro PT140 mag. is not capped at the bottom as the ones in your video, MD_Willington.

It's capped like this:
http://catalog.ammodepot.com/itemdetail.php?itemnumber=510140PRO

I stumbled across a forum(but can't find it now to copy and post). But it said to push a nail or hard thin object thru the hole in the end cap to depress the spring, and PUSH the cap from the small side as HARD as you can,..."until you get a hernia",...and it will slide off. Once cleaned and lubed lightly and reassembled, it is easier from them on(according to the post).

I'll give it a shot tonight when I get home.

Thank You