McCormick Mag Problem.. Help!!

Wild guess here . . .

Spring tension in the mag on 8 rds and you're pulling the slide back and releasing. As you release, you're letting the slide move forward, and there's not enough momentum to drive the round up the ramp.

Try inserting the mag with the slide open and then releasing the slide with the slide stop.

Or, pull the slide all the way to the rear and pull your fingers off the slide as it stops to the rear.

As I say, just a shot in the dark.

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What part of "shall not be infringed" needs 'splainin' ???
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PowderBurns Black Powder / Muzzle Loader Forum

First of all, usually another mag works, but you have this one. Most people just discard mags that don't function, but they can be massaged to work. I don't claim to be an expert or anything. . .but you may try to adjust it. I saw this done to AR mags in an AR tuning video.

First, with the round sitting in the feed lips, so the lip is touching all along the case, does the bullet nose look like it is pointed to go up the ramp freely? If so, you maybe basically ok. If you push down on the nose does it snap back up smartly or does ot drag up slow? If it snaps up smartly skip to the last paragraph. If you can't see any problem with the body shape or feed lip shape, you may be able to adjust the spring. Disassemble the mag. You should bend it into a slight crescent shape. The outside or long side should be on the nose side of the follower. That will give a bit more nose tension. Now try the nose push down test again.

If there are any problems with the lips or the rest of the mag body, you may want to get a new mag, have a smith tune it or let CMC replace it for you.

Stevo

Your situation is caused by the spring tension of the follower spring and the shape of the follower itself. Your follower is sort of "V" shapped with two fingers. Give the top lea a slight bend up and make sure the lower leaf rides horizontally agains the front of the magazine.

Your solution of only loading seven rounds is also correct. I suggest you search for magazine reliabilty in the magazine folder and read the threads. As seven vs. eight rounds and reliability have been discussed there. Though your situation is one reason why Clint Smith recommends seven round magazines.

I hope this helps.

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Str8_Shot

The best handgun for self defense, is the one you have with you.

Steveo,

Your short-term fix of loading only 7 rds in an 8 rd McCormick magazine is what I consider and added bonus. I found in both my old Combat Commander and my new Springfield 1911 that while magazines loaded with 7 rds are more reliable than those loaded with 8, an 8 rd mag loaded with seven seems to be just as reliable as a 7 rd magazine. This permits me to use the same "leave a dead space"policy as I would with a high capacity pistol or rifle magazine, without sacrificing what was originally considered the full amount of ammo the gun was supposed to be able to hold.
A 7 rd magazine, or an 8 rd mag loaded with 7 rds, is also easier on the magazine catch. I started using using 8 rd McCormick mags about three years ago, and about a year later, I had to replace a broken mag catch in my Colt. Almost a year later, I had to replace badly worn replacement mag catch, as well. When there are 8 rds loaded in the standard 1911 magazine body, there isn't enough room for the follower spring to move, and puts excesive strain on the mag catch. Since I started loading the 8 rd mags with 7 rds, I see no sign of excess wear on my 1911s' magazine catches, and all my 1911s feed just fine.

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Roger Shambaugh
Ottawa, Kansas