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Posted: 4/14/2024 8:00:59 AM EDT
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Anyone have issues with leavening 20rd mags loaded for extended periods of time. Any Feed lip issues? |
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As little use as either of my Mini’s get used I would not be at all surprised if I’ve had mags loaded for decades. Ruger factory mags are about as beefy as they come and I’ve never had one fail. Someof those mags are probably pushing 40 years old.i HAVE had a spring go bad in an aftermarket 40 round stainless mag. It was crap to begin with and I tossed it. All my Ruger mags are stored fully loaded and I have no worries about the feed lips or springs having issues even if I don’t touch them for a decade |
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Originally Posted By Curmudgeon762: As little use as either of my Mini’s get used I would not be at all surprised if I’ve had mags loaded for decades. Ruger factory mags are about as beefy as they come and I’ve never had one fail. Someof those mags are probably pushing 40 years old.i HAVE had a spring go bad in an aftermarket 40 round stainless mag. It was crap to begin with and I tossed it. All my Ruger mags are stored fully loaded and I have no worries about the feed lips or springs having issues even if I don’t touch them for a decade That’s what I was thinking but thought I’d ask. Thanks. |
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Mag springs fail from: 1) Long-term, repeated cycling (fatigue), 2) Corrosion and/or physical wear caused by repeated cycling, and/or 3) Because the spring was poorly made in the first place (metal/heat treatment). As a precaution against corrosion, most mag springs should have a thin film of oil put on them. In extremely dry and dusty climates, skip the film of oil. Magazines on rifles such as the AR, whose mags tend to become dirty, should be periodically cleaned. Mini mags can go much longer between cleanings. A well-made mag spring can last for decades even if fully compressed. Feed lips are another story, as their longevity is dependent on the material out of which they are made. IMHO (and not wanting to start an argument), one of the functions of the "dust cover" sold with P-Mags is to prevent the plastic feed lips from gradually deforming when the mag is stored fully loaded, although Magpul disagrees (kinda). With plastic mags, extreme heat can hasten such feed lip deformation. There are some plastic mags which include metal reinforcements for the feed lips. This is NOT a slam on Gen M3 P-mags, which are excellent mags overall. |
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Joined:
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Originally Posted By raf: Mag springs fail from: 1) Long-term, repeated cycling, 2) Corrosion and/or physical wear caused by repeated cycling, and/or 3) Because the spring was poorly made in the first place. As a precaution against corrosion, most mag springs should have a thin film of oil put on them. In extremely dry and dusty climates, skip the film of oil. Magazines on rifles such as the AR, whose mags tend to become dirty, should be periodically cleaned. Mini mags can go much longer between cleanings. A well-made mag spring can last for decades even if fully compressed. Feed lips are another story, as their longevity is dependent on the material out of which they are made. IMHO (and not wanting to start an argument), one of the functions of the "dust cover" sold with P-Mags is to prevent the plastic feed lips from gradually deforming when the mag is stored fully loaded, although Magpul disagrees (kinda). With plastic mags, extreme heat can hasten such feed lip deformation. There are some plastic mags which include metal reinforcements for the feed lips. I had some Amend2 mags stored for maybe 2-3 years at most and the feed lips bent outward and bodies swelled. I agree 100% with your statement. None of my PMAGs have failed but they aren’t nearly as old as most of my steel mags. I also have G3, M14, and FAL mags that have been loaded for many years and are GTG |
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I have one. Works as advertised; zero complaints.
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"Modern" Ruger Mini-14 mag follower available from Midway. In my experience, during the Evil (1994-2004) "Fed Ban Years", one could often take a 30-rd AR mag spring and cut it down a few coils in order to fit either 20-rd AR mags or Ruger 20-rd mags. Far from ideal; one wants a "new" mag spring. "Modern" Mini followers are respected for reducing the tendency of allowing Ctgs from "nose-diving". IOW, one seldom hears complaints about Ruger mags, unless the spring is worn out from decades of use, or rust. When using "aftermarket" mags for any Mini rifle, always suspect the mag for "problems"; with some certain and specific exceptions, "aftermarket" Mini Mags are often problematic. Most of the "problematic" mags have defective feed lips, defective followers and/or defective springs--or a combination. I did not know the "fine points" of remediating Mini mags long ago, but I've learned since then. I likely got rid of a lot of Mini mags which when properly remediated (with current knowledge/tools) could be perfectly serviceable. Let my past mistakes be informative. |
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Its made of 3d printed pot metal. That's enough for me to bypass. If you wanted a better mousetrap I would just get one of these for half the price made of solid steel: https://www.rugermini.com/matrix-ruger-mini-14-30-extended-magazine-release-lever/ |
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Originally Posted By PRYDE: Its made of 3d printed pot metal. That's enough for me to bypass. If you wanted a better mousetrap I would just get one of these for half the price made of solid steel: https://www.rugermini.com/matrix-ruger-mini-14-30-extended-magazine-release-lever/ I have one of those,but they don't make a trigger finger release. I have one of each (blue & stainless) of the Cogburn trigger finger releases. They are 3d printed but not pot metal, and they are very stout. Used them in multiple 2 gun matches with no issues. |
All skill is in vain when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket.
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Originally Posted By Howlin_Mad: I have one of those,but they don't make a trigger finger release. I have one of each (blue & stainless) of the Cogburn trigger finger releases. They are 3d printed but not pot metal, and they are very stout. Used them in multiple 2 gun matches with no issues. Originally Posted By Howlin_Mad: Originally Posted By PRYDE: Its made of 3d printed pot metal. That's enough for me to bypass. If you wanted a better mousetrap I would just get one of these for half the price made of solid steel: https://www.rugermini.com/matrix-ruger-mini-14-30-extended-magazine-release-lever/ I have one of those,but they don't make a trigger finger release. I have one of each (blue & stainless) of the Cogburn trigger finger releases. They are 3d printed but not pot metal, and they are very stout. Used them in multiple 2 gun matches with no issues. Many "extended" mag release levers for the Mini platform also involve possibly inadvertent mag release due to extraneous input, possibly web gear or vegetation. CA items allows ambidextrous dropping of Mini-14/Mini-30 mag using trigger finger with NO repositioning of hand on stock. Not vulnerable to inadvertent mag release. What's not to like? |
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