reconditioning 1911 MAGS?

[coltaceguy]

Well, after a weekend of digging through the basement with my dad to do some gun inventory. We found a box of approx 150 1911 MAGS that my father bought at a swap meet in the 1970s. Some of them have light rust, some are in USGI packaging. All 7rd'ers with flat floorplates.

Im wondering about bringing these back to life, what springs + possible new followers would you guys recommend?

Most appear in good condition, some new, some used.

 

[rhino]

If I had those, I'd just use some very fine steel wool with a little CLP to remove the rust, clean 'em, and put them back together.

I wouldn't change followers. If you need new springs, Wolff is the source.

 

[mospeada]

You should send me a dozen of them and I'll experiment with the best method for accomplishing what you are wanting to do.

 

[colt45er]

You should send me a dozen of them and I'll experiment with the best method for accomplishing what you are wanting to do.

And since 2 opinions are better than one, send me the next dozen and well will compair notes.

 

[chipdog4]

Wilson Combat makes rebuild kits with new springs and a new nylon follower. These are excellent kits, maybe even cheaper than buying new springs by themselves. A local store had the 7 round rebuild kits for $5.

Magazine Springs and Followers

 

[kup]

trippresearch.com Online Store 1911 Magazines

The Tripp rebuild kit is very highly recomended, I have a few in Powermags with no problems so far. I would try the mags first, might not need to be rebuilt and work fine as is.

kup

 

[sloughfoot]

Why do you think they need to be rebuilt? Unless the springs are rusted or the inside of the bodies are rusted, they should be good to go.

I would try them first.

 

[obijohn]

If I had those, I'd just use some very fine steel wool with a little CLP to remove the rust, clean 'em, and put them back together.

I wouldn't change followers. If you need new springs, Wolff is the source.

Why do you think they need to be rebuilt? Unless the springs are rusted or the inside of the bodies are rusted, they should be good to go.

I would try them first.

i too would just clean them up and try them. you may be surprised. keep in mind that the feed lips and followers are intended for ball ammo.

 

[coltaceguy]

Why do you think they need to be rebuilt? Unless the springs are rusted or the inside of the bodies are rusted, they should be good to go.

I would try them first.

Some of them have rust on the outside of the body. I'm thinking their may be some inside of the mags/springs. They have literally been sitting in my dad's stuff in the basement since aprox 1970. Basement is sorta "wet" since we have a huge shower down there, we run a dehumidifyer.

 

[rhino]

My initial guestimate it that they'll work better with the followers that came with them. As obijohn mentioned, the feedlips aren't going to match what you'd find on a Shooting Star or Wilson mag. Aftermarket followers probably won't gain you anything and may not fit properly.