[Metonymy]

So I finally got to take my new LRB out to the range and break it in. Brought two CMI mags with me.

One works perfectly fine. The other isn't catching appropriately and the bolt will not hang open when the magazine is empty.

Anything I can do to fix this magazine? Anything specific I should check?

 

[Metonymy]

Also, I still have several other magazines that are still in the wrapper. Should I pop them out to see if they have the same issue?

 

[NoExpert]

Try swapping the follower between the one that works and the one that doesn't to rule out the follower.

 

[mercman]

Yes, I would give all the mags (CMI's?) a try. Do the mags appear to have the same feedlips and follower configuration?

 

[geeck]

Yes, I would give all the mags (CMI's?) a try. Do the mags appear to have the same feedlips and follower configuration?

Good advice mercman, I know a lot of folks buy all these magazines, and pack'em up for when the SHTF. They never try them out to see if they're going to be reliable. When the "Mad Biker Zombies" are kicking in the door, is not a good time to find out you have a no joy magazine.

 

[Metonymy]

Yes, I would give all the mags (CMI's?) a try. Do the mags appear to have the same feedlips and follower configuration?

Yup, they're all CMI's. Bought ten back in early 2010 when they were still $20 each.

Time to cut 'em open and check 'em out.


***edit***

Turns out 3 of the 10 won't catch the bolt hold open appropriately. Time to swap a follower and see what happens.

***edit #2 ***

Switched the followers around and it works. I'm guessing the springs in the 3 magazines simply aren't strong enough.

What's the recourse to fix these? I originally ordered from 44mag.com, but it's been over a year and I doubt I can go that route. Where can I get 3 replacement springs?

 

[ripsaw]

44 mag will stand behind their product. Call and tell them what happened. Link this thread to them. The mags are new and never been used, and they are a forum sponsor. I would assume they want to continue to sell many mags here, and if they don't make it right, their sales will dramatically drop off here. We are the lions share of their market base.

Just in case, check with a bright light inside the bodies of the ones that don't function properly, and look for burrs in the metal, stopping full travel of the followers, or bent feed lips.
Burrs on the followers also. I have two rebuild kits less the springs, in the PX under "Many items...." They contain the floorplate and followers. It is not your springs I think, because switching followers worked.

 

[NoExpert]

Most likely it's your followers. Often the flat tab on the rear binds up, I had this happen with a few. Call 44mag.com

 

[JD Russell]

I've never been a fan of CMI mags - I use 60's era GI mags, REAL T57 mags & that's about it

 

[dozier]

Good advice mercman, I know a lot of folks buy all these magazines, and pack'em up for when the SHTF. They never try them out to see if they're going to be reliable. When the "Mad Biker Zombies" are kicking in the door, is not a good time to find out you have a no joy magazine.

Yes to the above advice. I number all my mags on the floorplate. Every time I go to the range, I'll grab the next three, and use them that day. I'd sure want to know if they work properly, prior to betting your life on them. dozier

 

[Metonymy]

44 mag will stand behind their product. Call and tell them what happened. Link this thread to them. The mags are new and never been used, and they are a forum sponsor. I would assume they want to continue to sell many mags here, and if they don't make it right, their sales will dramatically drop off here. We are the lions share of their market base.

Just in case, check with a bright light inside the bodies of the ones that don't function properly, and look for burrs in the metal, stopping full travel of the followers, or bent feed lips.
Burrs on the followers also. I have two rebuild kits less the springs, in the PX under "Many items...." They contain the floorplate and followers. It is not your springs I think, because switching followers worked.

I'll definitely give this a shot. When I said that I switched the followers, I switched the springs as well. That may have been my mistake. I swapped the entire "guts" instead of just the follower.

I'm not trying to rag on CMI or 44mag here. Just trying to figure out what my next steps should be to fix this up. I want to make sure my stuff is in 100% working order for when I need to put it to use.

I have some travel to do this week, but I've emailed 44mag and will see what feedback they can offer.

Thanks to all for the info. I'll follow up in this thread as soon as I can (late this week).

 

[jbrooks]

I have found this to be an issue with CMI mags in the past, and have posted on other boards regarding it.

3 of my 5 25 rounders, and probably 40 percent of my other (20) 20-rounders fail to hold the bolt open.

ALL of my (10) 60's USGI mags work properly. My rifle is a pre-ban SAI that is in spec, and has never failed. USGI mag release.

I believe it is a follower issue, the contour on the left rear of the follower is not the same as my USGI mags. Also, the shape of the top of the follower is different, and the heavy parkerizing can cause problems.

I contacted 44mag about that, and CMI, and received no response.

So I use my old USGI mags for serious work, and most of the CMIs are either range mags or for sale.

JWB

 

[M14bear]

So are you going to one of the LCR shoots with your LRB? I would like to see what this LRB stuff is all about

 

[ratfink]

I have only five of the CMI mags, but this is my .02 worth. They all work great with zero problems. Just thought I would throw this out there!

 

[Metonymy]

So are you going to one of the LCR shoots with your LRB? I would like to see what this LRB stuff is all about

You bet. June is calling my name. Hope you're out there. GI1

 

[Metonymy]

So to follow up (since I was traveling last week and didn't get to take care of this as quickly as I would have liked):

Of the 3 mags, 1 somehow fixed itself through my tinkering and is working 100% of the time. All good.

The other two still aren't functioning properly. I took a quick video with my cell phone and sent the link to 44mag. Mark was quick to respond and gave me a few things to check into. I did that, but no such luck.

Subsequently, Mark requested I ship the other 2 that still aren't functioning back to him. I did that today. Hopefully he'll have them Friday or Monday and let me know what's going on. He's going to replace them with two new ones.

If he gets them and figures out what the issue is, I'll definitely reply back and let everyone know. It's great to have 8 functioning magazines, but I definitely want all 10 to be working.

I still have faith in the CMI mags. So much so that I picked up some more from the sale that was over in the PX. Can't wait to get those and try them out as well.