9-Shot Colt Woodsman?

Swifty Morgan · March 9, 2020, 09:44 PM

I am fiddling with the 3rd generation Colt Woodsman I picked up today, and it is impossible to get 10 rounds into the magazine, which has "Colt" stamped into the bottom of it.

Has anyone here ever heard of a Woodsman magazine that only held 9 rounds?

jrothWA · March 10, 2020, 04:26 PM

menu down to the COLT forum

Search for magazine takedown our look for "prewoodsman"posting.

You may have a spent case trapped inside and needs to be removed.

Also try: www.22colt.com
another informatiom site, with take-down and some tools .

1950's you should have the magazine release on the left side of frame ala a 1911.

Hope this helps.

Swifty Morgan · March 11, 2020, 12:20 AM

I made an error checking the serial number against a list. It appears this is a 1976 gun. The glorious Carter years!

HiBC · March 11, 2020, 09:17 AM

I don't know the capacity.I'd like to think the magazine could shoot a 10 shot string. Forcing an extra round can spread the lips.

Yes,make se the mag is clean,free of debris,and properly assembled

T. O'Heir · March 11, 2020, 12:52 PM

Go here.
https://www.colt22.com/index.html
And it's worse than you think. Not all Woodsman's use the same mag. No mention of any being less than 10 though. Mags need bathing too. There might be a bit of crud in it stopping the follower.
Ignore the Blue Book of Gun Values. It's not accurate. It gives averages of values from all over the U.S. with no regard for local supply and demand.

stinkeypete · March 11, 2020, 01:08 PM

For NRA bullseye shooting you can only have 5 in the magazine anyhow- my TT Olympia (Norinco clone) magazines hold 8.

This thing about 10 isn't a standard, although all the stuff on the interwebs indicate the capacity is 10... Ask the Colt guys at Rimfire Central, I suspect there isn't a problem.

Swifty Morgan · March 11, 2020, 03:42 PM

I would love to ask at Rimfire Central, but they banned me for spamming about a week after I signed up. And I don't spam. I don't sell anything. Very weird. Never did anything wrong. Never got a warning. They don't respond to inquiries.

Maybe one of the mods thinks I'm an ex-girlfriend, come to spy on him.

Numrich makes replacement mags, but I am reluctant to buy until I have some idea of the quality. I would like to have at least two 10-round jobs.

Jim Watson · March 12, 2020, 03:56 PM

Strange, my 3rd MT holds ten, both clips.

Swifty Morgan · March 12, 2020, 06:56 PM

I have to do something about this. Not only am I limited to 9 rounds; the magazine spring is so strong it makes my hands sore. Maybe someone put the wrong spring in it.

There is absolutely no way to get a 10th round in there. It's hard to get the 9th one in.

I saw an old forum post that said a guy had found a way to use Ruger MKII magazines in a second-generation Woodsman. Another user said they don't work in third-generation guns. I wonder if anyone here has tried using magazines from other makers. It would be pretty neat to have a big supply of cheap magazines.

I looked into Triple K magazines, and they get bad reviews. The only other new ones I've found are made by Numrich, and I don't know whether they're any good.

Swifty Morgan · March 12, 2020, 07:43 PM

Interesting information: Beretta cloned the Woodsman third-generation magazine for the Neos pistol, so if you buy Neos magazines and file the plastic at the bottom down a little, you get Woodsman magazines for a little over $20 each. And they're stainless, so low maintenance.

Numrich used to sell the base plates for Colt magazines, but they stopped.

dogtown tom · March 12, 2020, 08:44 PM

I've been shooting the Woodsman (Second & Third series) since 1976 and have owned as many as twenty at once.......never have I had a problem with the factory mag and being able to load ten rounds.

I suspect either:
-it isn't an original magazine.
-its an aftermarket crap mag body with a Colt floorplate.
-someone swapped out the original follower or mag spring.
-magazine body, spring or follower is damaged.

Swifty Morgan · March 13, 2020, 09:03 AM

The spring is a lot stronger than it needs to be, and it can't be compressed enough to take a tenth round. The magazine looks like a Colt, but it has a notch on one side, which suggests it's for an earlier model.

I haven't found a source for springs.

tipoc · March 15, 2020, 08:44 PM

So 9+1.

Do you have only 1 mag?

tipoc

Swifty Morgan · March 16, 2020, 05:03 PM

Today my Beretta Neos magazines arrived. They are not SIMILAR to Woodsman magazines. They ARE Woodsman magazines. The only difference is the base.

I took the spring out of a Neos magazine and stuck it in a Colt. Suddenly, the Colt magazine words perfectly. Someone had stuck the wrong spring in it.

To make a Beretta magazine fit in the Woodsman, I had to use a Dremel and a file to cut a little notch in the plastic base, which is thicker than a Colt steel base. Now the Beretta magazine fits perfectly. Pretty amusing.

An industrious person could cut a little piece of sheet steel and form it into the shape of a Colt base.

Now I guess I should cut some coils out of the Colt spring, stick it in a Neos magazine, alter the remaining three Neos bases, and get back to shooting.

If anyone knows where I could get a Woodsman or Neos spring without buying a whole magazine, I would like to know.

The Neos magazines are stainless. I might blue them to make them match the Colt.

03 16 20 Colt Woodsman Beretta magazine altered base small.jpg

Jim Watson · March 16, 2020, 05:12 PM

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1294470

Swifty Morgan · March 16, 2020, 05:20 PM

I should have looked there before asking. Thanks.

I suppose I should try cutting up the old spring first, since it's never going to work in a Woodsman as it is.

March 9, 2020, 09:44 PM	#1
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	9-Shot Colt Woodsman? I am fiddling with the 3rd generation Colt Woodsman I picked up today, and it is impossible to get 10 rounds into the magazine, which has "Colt" stamped into the bottom of it. Has anyone here ever heard of a Woodsman magazine that only held 9 rounds? __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 10, 2020, 04:26 PM	#2
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Head over to www.rimfirecentrsl.com, menu down to the COLT forum Search for magazine takedown our look for "prewoodsman"posting. You may have a spent case trapped inside and needs to be removed. Also try: www.22colt.com another informatiom site, with take-down and some tools . 1950's you should have the magazine release on the left side of frame ala a 1911. Hope this helps.

March 11, 2020, 12:20 AM	#3
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I made an error checking the serial number against a list. It appears this is a 1976 gun. The glorious Carter years! __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 11, 2020, 12:52 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Go here. https://www.colt22.com/index.html And it's worse than you think. Not all Woodsman's use the same mag. No mention of any being less than 10 though. Mags need bathing too. There might be a bit of crud in it stopping the follower. Ignore the Blue Book of Gun Values. It's not accurate. It gives averages of values from all over the U.S. with no regard for local supply and demand. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 11, 2020, 03:42 PM	#7
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I would love to ask at Rimfire Central, but they banned me for spamming about a week after I signed up. And I don't spam. I don't sell anything. Very weird. Never did anything wrong. Never got a warning. They don't respond to inquiries. Maybe one of the mods thinks I'm an ex-girlfriend, come to spy on him. Numrich makes replacement mags, but I am reluctant to buy until I have some idea of the quality. I would like to have at least two 10-round jobs. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 11, 2020, 09:17 AM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,288	I don't know the capacity.I'd like to think the magazine could shoot a 10 shot string. Forcing an extra round can spread the lips. Yes,make se the mag is clean,free of debris,and properly assembled

March 11, 2020, 01:08 PM	#6
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,293	For NRA bullseye shooting you can only have 5 in the magazine anyhow- my TT Olympia (Norinco clone) magazines hold 8. This thing about 10 isn't a standard, although all the stuff on the interwebs indicate the capacity is 10... Ask the Colt guys at Rimfire Central, I suspect there isn't a problem.

March 12, 2020, 03:56 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Strange, my 3rd MT holds ten, both clips.

March 12, 2020, 06:56 PM	#9
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I have to do something about this. Not only am I limited to 9 rounds; the magazine spring is so strong it makes my hands sore. Maybe someone put the wrong spring in it. There is absolutely no way to get a 10th round in there. It's hard to get the 9th one in. I saw an old forum post that said a guy had found a way to use Ruger MKII magazines in a second-generation Woodsman. Another user said they don't work in third-generation guns. I wonder if anyone here has tried using magazines from other makers. It would be pretty neat to have a big supply of cheap magazines. I looked into Triple K magazines, and they get bad reviews. The only other new ones I've found are made by Numrich, and I don't know whether they're any good. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 12, 2020, 07:43 PM	#10
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	Interesting information: Beretta cloned the Woodsman third-generation magazine for the Neos pistol, so if you buy Neos magazines and file the plastic at the bottom down a little, you get Woodsman magazines for a little over $20 each. And they're stainless, so low maintenance. Numrich used to sell the base plates for Colt magazines, but they stopped. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 12, 2020, 08:44 PM	#11
dogtown tom Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 3,089	I've been shooting the Woodsman (Second & Third series) since 1976 and have owned as many as twenty at once.......never have I had a problem with the factory mag and being able to load ten rounds. I suspect either: -it isn't an original magazine. -its an aftermarket crap mag body with a Colt floorplate. -someone swapped out the original follower or mag spring. -magazine body, spring or follower is damaged. __________________ Need a FFL in Dallas/Plano/Allen/Frisco/McKinney ? Just EMAIL me. $20 transfers ($10 for CHL, active military,police,fire or schoolteachers) Plano, Texas...........the Gun Nut Capitol of Gun Culture, USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELwCqz2JfE

March 13, 2020, 09:03 AM	#12
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	The spring is a lot stronger than it needs to be, and it can't be compressed enough to take a tenth round. The magazine looks like a Colt, but it has a notch on one side, which suggests it's for an earlier model. I haven't found a source for springs. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 15, 2020, 08:44 PM	#13
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 4,114	So 9+1. Do you have only 1 mag? tipoc __________________ 1. All guns are always loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger till you are ready to shoot. 4. Identify your target and know what is beyond it.

March 16, 2020, 05:03 PM	#14
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	Today my Beretta Neos magazines arrived. They are not SIMILAR to Woodsman magazines. They ARE Woodsman magazines. The only difference is the base. I took the spring out of a Neos magazine and stuck it in a Colt. Suddenly, the Colt magazine words perfectly. Someone had stuck the wrong spring in it. To make a Beretta magazine fit in the Woodsman, I had to use a Dremel and a file to cut a little notch in the plastic base, which is thicker than a Colt steel base. Now the Beretta magazine fits perfectly. Pretty amusing. An industrious person could cut a little piece of sheet steel and form it into the shape of a Colt base. Now I guess I should cut some coils out of the Colt spring, stick it in a Neos magazine, alter the remaining three Neos bases, and get back to shooting. If anyone knows where I could get a Woodsman or Neos spring without buying a whole magazine, I would like to know. The Neos magazines are stainless. I might blue them to make them match the Colt. 03 16 20 Colt Woodsman Beretta magazine altered base small.jpg __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire. Last edited by Swifty Morgan; March 16, 2020 at 08:02 PM.

March 16, 2020, 05:12 PM	#15
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1294470

March 16, 2020, 05:20 PM	#16
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I should have looked there before asking. Thanks. I suppose I should try cutting up the old spring first, since it's never going to work in a Woodsman as it is. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.