trouble with mag

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Nov 27, 2014
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I have a S&W .380 Bodyguard.
2 mags came with it and they are fine.
I bought 2 more S&W mags off Amazon.
I loaded both mags.
1 mag with 6 rounds will not seat in the gun,lacks about an 1/8 " or so of seating.
If I take out one round out it goes in.
I even tried different ammo and same thing.
 
Mags are, as you've pointed out, critical to proper operation.

OEM (S&W in your case), or perhaps MEC-GAR, would be the only brand of magazines I would ever purchase for your gun. Send those Amazon ones back. Or throw them in the trash. I'm willing to bet that they are knock off/fake and not actually S&W.

For a 1911, many quality options exist, like Chip McCormick, Colt, or Wilson.

Stay away from anything other than top of the line magazines.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Astro14
Mags are, as you've pointed out, critical to proper operation.

OEM (S&W in your case), or perhaps MEC-GAR, would be the only brand of magazines I would ever purchase for your gun.


I have higher capacity mec-gar mags for my 9mm p-95. They run flawless.
 
My understanding is that MEC-GAR makes a lot of the OEM magazines. They've got a good reputation.

I've even had issues with OEM magazines. My S&W 4506 didn't run right with its original magazines. I bought the gun with the original box and two mags. It had virtually no wear.

I can see why. It didn't work properly.

I then bought two NOS S&W factory magazines (which are, sadly, no longer made). There were some very slight differences in the feed lips of these magazines, clearly an updated design from S&W.

The gun ran flawlessly with the new design magazines.
 
I bought 2 off of amazon.
One works just fine.
They have the S&W logo stamped on them and came in what looks like real S&W packaging.
Could it be just a bad mag from them?
 
Originally Posted by marine65
I bought 2 off of amazon.
One works just fine.
They have the S&W logo stamped on them and came in what looks like real S&W packaging.
Could it be just a bad mag from them?


It could be.

If they're genuine, I would contact the seller, or S&W, for a replacement pair. See what they say.
 
Mags can be subtlety damaged where they won't work even if nothing appears to be wrong.

Cut your loses and send it back.

BSW
 
Originally Posted by marine65
I have a S&W .380 Bodyguard.
2 mags came with it and they are fine.
I bought 2 more S&W mags off Amazon.
I loaded both mags.
1 mag with 6 rounds will not seat in the gun,lacks about an 1/8 " or so of seating.
If I take out one round out it goes in.
I even tried different ammo and same thing.


They aren't S&W originals are they?
 
Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Originally Posted by marine65
I have a S&W .380 Bodyguard.
2 mags came with it and they are fine.
I bought 2 more S&W mags off Amazon.
I loaded both mags.
1 mag with 6 rounds will not seat in the gun,lacks about an 1/8 " or so of seating.
If I take out one round out it goes in.
I even tried different ammo and same thing.


They aren't S&W originals are they?

They are real S&W mags.

But I stopped at a gun store and the guy fixed the mag no charge.
The spring was installed backwards and did not compress properly.
It goes in the gun just like the other 3 now.
 
Originally Posted by marine65

They are real S&W mags.

But I stopped at a gun store and the guy fixed the mag no charge.
The spring was installed backwards and did not compress properly.
It goes in the gun just like the other 3 now.

Whoops.

I need to look at a couple of my Shield mags. It's almost impossible to get the last round in.
 
Originally Posted by marine65
I have a S&W .380 Bodyguard.
2 mags came with it and they are fine.
I bought 2 more S&W mags off Amazon.
I loaded both mags.
1 mag with 6 rounds will not seat in the gun,lacks about an 1/8 " or so of seating.
If I take out one round out it goes in.
I even tried different ammo and same thing.


If it seats right with one round out, then sounds like the spring basically bottomed out with 6 rounds and doesn't have enough travel left to account for the top round to move down even slightly when the mag is installed in the gun.

I'd take that magazine apart and see if there is anything wrong causing it to not allow any more down movement with it fully loaded.
 
Originally Posted by marine65
I have a S&W .380 Bodyguard.
2 mags came with it and they are fine.
I bought 2 more S&W mags off Amazon.
I loaded both mags.
1 mag with 6 rounds will not seat in the gun,lacks about an 1/8 " or so of seating.
If I take out one round out it goes in.
I even tried different ammo and same thing.


Under warranty ( if applicable) return them is probably the best option

but usually when these conditions exist ( key thing being a good lock up and feed with lesser bullets which says the magazine crown stamps are good) its most likely a bind either on the spring or follower

Pull it down and clean it, possibly light sanding of the follower and look for any possible deformation of the well.

That's most likely going to fix it.
 
I stopped at a gun store and the guy fixed the mag no charge.
The spring was installed backwards and did not compress properly.
It goes in the gun just like the other 3 now.

It's fixed.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by hatt
Originally Posted by marine65

They are real S&W mags.

But I stopped at a gun store and the guy fixed the mag no charge.
The spring was installed backwards and did not compress properly.
It goes in the gun just like the other 3 now.

Whoops.

I need to look at a couple of my Shield mags. It's almost impossible to get the last round in.


Post if it was backwards springs please.
 
Originally Posted by marine65
I stopped at a gun store and the guy fixed the mag no charge.
The spring was installed backwards and did not compress properly.
It goes in the gun just like the other 3 now.

It's fixed.


Congrats, now that's unique, LOL

Score 1 for occam
 
Originally Posted by ABN_CBT_ENGR
Originally Posted by marine65
I stopped at a gun store and the guy fixed the mag no charge.
The spring was installed backwards and did not compress properly.
It goes in the gun just like the other 3 now.

It's fixed.


Congrats, now that's unique, LOL

Score 1 for occam

I had to look that up.
Then it was oh yeah I remember that.
 
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