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How to stop clip feed probs and jams
- Thread starter philster
- Start date
Cleaned, lubed, ready to re-assemble after the CLP "cures" for two hours - that's what the directions say! With my saved-up Cabelas' points I picked up the 12 oz. spray bottle, a plastic pistol transport case, and a padded scoped rifle case/bag for $13. I probably won't get to the range for over a week, I'm going out of town for a few days.
Whew, I bet that anybody still following this thread thought it was a total waste of time! I got to the range today, and fixed all of my mags. The final solution was based on properly bending the feed lips. I used a pair of mini-channel lock pliers. After getting it right, all of my jams stopped - except for a brief problem on one where the rds jammed upright instead of downward. It was weird because it always happened on about the 6th or 7th rd of an 8 rd mag. I tweaked it a little, and that went away too.
So here's the deal. The longer part of the lips at the flat/back of the mag should be closer together (keeps the base lower, but still catchable as the slide moves forward), and as you move toward the tip of the bullet along the longer lip edge - they should flare out slightly. The small tangs that then reach forward should be just wide enough and contoured to let the rd rise in the mag without touching the bullet. We're talking about very small tolerances here. As the rd is pushed forward, the front of the bullet needs to clear the mag and be pushed up by the spring in time for the nose to hit the feed ramp high enough to continue into the chamber.
As for the latter problem of the rd jamming straight up, I had a little too much outward flare on the lips - so the mag spring flipped the rd up too fast and the nose of the bullet flew up past the chamber opening as the slide moved forward. Bending them back together a smidge solved the prob.
I'm now emptying entire mags without jams, and my PD hollow point ammo feeds perfect as well.
One last thing that I probably should have realized is that keeping all of my mags loaded to max capacity isn't good for the springs. The advice I got was to keep only one mag loaded for home defense, then rotate to a different mag every month to try and save the springs.
Thanks to all who have contributed and to all those who've had the patience to follow the thread. I've had some family illness, travel, and work situations that have kept me from getting to the range sooner. I hope that this helps somebody else find and fix their pistol mag feed and semi-auto jam problems.
So here's the deal. The longer part of the lips at the flat/back of the mag should be closer together (keeps the base lower, but still catchable as the slide moves forward), and as you move toward the tip of the bullet along the longer lip edge - they should flare out slightly. The small tangs that then reach forward should be just wide enough and contoured to let the rd rise in the mag without touching the bullet. We're talking about very small tolerances here. As the rd is pushed forward, the front of the bullet needs to clear the mag and be pushed up by the spring in time for the nose to hit the feed ramp high enough to continue into the chamber.
As for the latter problem of the rd jamming straight up, I had a little too much outward flare on the lips - so the mag spring flipped the rd up too fast and the nose of the bullet flew up past the chamber opening as the slide moved forward. Bending them back together a smidge solved the prob.
I'm now emptying entire mags without jams, and my PD hollow point ammo feeds perfect as well.
One last thing that I probably should have realized is that keeping all of my mags loaded to max capacity isn't good for the springs. The advice I got was to keep only one mag loaded for home defense, then rotate to a different mag every month to try and save the springs.
Thanks to all who have contributed and to all those who've had the patience to follow the thread. I've had some family illness, travel, and work situations that have kept me from getting to the range sooner. I hope that this helps somebody else find and fix their pistol mag feed and semi-auto jam problems.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Unless the feed ramp is integral with the barrel, leave it alone. HiPoint frames are made of plated zinc. You don't want to polish that!
Glad to hear it's working more reliably!
I wouldn't worry about the springs, it's a myth that they get tired from being left compressed. Spring fatigue happens when they are over-worked, or when they are worked thousands of times. You can measure the free length if you want to verify this.
I wouldn't worry about the springs, it's a myth that they get tired from being left compressed. Spring fatigue happens when they are over-worked, or when they are worked thousands of times. You can measure the free length if you want to verify this.