Ruger MK III Mag issue

[austin.brown]

I have a few mags that are not working correctly. I traded for this pistol with a member here and shot a couple of Steel Target matches in Ponca with it. I had some issues with the two original mags I got with the gun but they ran alright. I was using it to show a buddies gf how to shoot and these mags a failing ever time I tried to use them.

The issue is they are not pushing the bullets to the top of the mag when the bullet is stripped off by the bolt or if I kick it out with a thumb nail the rest of the rounds stay in the same position. Its like the follower is sticky or the spring is to weak.

I have never messed with magazines before and have no idea how to diagnose issues with them.

Would it be best to take the mag apart and clean it and see if that fixes it, or replace spring and/or follower?

 

[BangBangJamDang]

It sounds like they are just dirty and dry. 22's are super dirty to shoot, so cleaning might be the answer.

 

[dennishoddy]

Yeah, I'd say clean it. The previous owner may have been using some of the wax lubricated bullets in the past, and its all gummy inside the mag.

BTW get this done tonight. Steel Challenge at the Ponca Range is in the morning!
Hope to see you there.

 

[O4L]

Clean and lube.

 

[austin.brown]

Yeah, I'd say clean it. The previous owner may have been using some of the wax lubricated bullets in the past, and its all gummy inside the mag.

BTW get this done tonight. Steel Challenge at the Ponca Range is in the morning!
Hope to see you there.

I think life is finally slowing down enough I will get to come back and shoot when the summer starts. Having a little girl takes up most of my time right now. I really miss shooting at them even though I was so slow. They are a blast.

 

[Remington]

Rimfire Central has folks talking about the magazine spring having burrs on it. They talk about taking the magazine apart and feeling the spring for any burrs and then sanding them off if they have some. Might be worth a look.

 

[Simon]

I clean and then lube with pure silicone, let dry then re-assemble. The nose of the first round has to be up, if not the bolt will ride over the round. Usually, if the first round has the nose of the bullet above the magazine lips, the other rounds will follow. If the rounds do not feed, then, in my experience the mag is dirty. If the springs have been worked on, then all suggestions are withdrawn.

 

[druryj]

No doubt, clean them nasty mags and I betcha the problem goes away.

 

[austin.brown]

Well everyone was correct the mags were dirty. The part of the follower that was directly beneath the nose of the bullet was caked with gunk on the two original mags. I went ahead and disassembled and cleaned all 5 of my mags and they seemed to work a lot better. I just thumbed the bullets out of the mags to see if the follower was dragging.

Also, something I learned, the thumb stud MUST be on the left side of the mag as it goes in the pistol with the pistol pointed down range. I got one on the wrong side and it did not function correctly.

Thanks OSA brethren!!!