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I have an SAI National Match M1A that I bought used and have two each CheckMate mags ( 5, 10, and 20 rd). I got some of them in 2007 from 44mag and one recently direct from CMI. They all exhibit the same problem in that the follower does not get a good strong contact to lift the bolt stop and a very small jar or bump will allow the bolt stop to fall off the follower and drop the bolt. Scared the crap out of me the first time that happened.
It looks to me like the followers are a bit narrow at the nose and as the last round leaves the magazine the follower is pushed to the left side of the tube and the front right corner of the follower will start to climb past the right mag lip. When that right corner comes up, the follower pivots on the mag spring and the left rear corner will drop.
I borrowed some USGI mags from a buddy and they will hold the bolt open just fine, so I'm thinking my problem is mag/follower related and not rifle related. I experimented with fixes and found a .030" shim inside the left front side of the tube would keep the follower centered well enough to fix the problem. However, I'm not sure I want to attach shim stock inside my mags.
Anyone else having similar problems? Any good advice and guidance?
CMI 20-rd mag with follower rolled above mag lip.
Two CMI 20-rd mags. One on the right has the follower as shown in the first picture. One on the left has the follower under the mag lips.
It looks to me like the followers are a bit narrow at the nose and as the last round leaves the magazine the follower is pushed to the left side of the tube and the front right corner of the follower will start to climb past the right mag lip. When that right corner comes up, the follower pivots on the mag spring and the left rear corner will drop.
I borrowed some USGI mags from a buddy and they will hold the bolt open just fine, so I'm thinking my problem is mag/follower related and not rifle related. I experimented with fixes and found a .030" shim inside the left front side of the tube would keep the follower centered well enough to fix the problem. However, I'm not sure I want to attach shim stock inside my mags.
Anyone else having similar problems? Any good advice and guidance?
CMI 20-rd mag with follower rolled above mag lip.

Two CMI 20-rd mags. One on the right has the follower as shown in the first picture. One on the left has the follower under the mag lips.
