magazine followers-design

[Sport]

We all know that 1911 magazines come with
several different styles of followers.
An article I recently read identified
the metal "split lip" style like we find
on USGI mags as a "hardball" follower.
That makes sense since that's what the
1911 was designed to shoot.

My question is o certain style followers
seem to work better with certain style
bullets?

Have no idea how that "smiley face" got
there..nor how to undo it. The word is
supposed to be "do".



[This message has been edited by Sport (edited February 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Sport (edited February 23, 2000).]

 

[Matt VDW]

Sport,

To avoid unwanted smilies, you have to put a space after your colons and semicolons.

Colon, space, "D" = : D

Colon, "D" =

Or you could check the "Disable Smilies in This Post" box after typing your message.

Regarding your question: I think that the magazine's lips have more impact on how well a given bullet shape will feed than the follower shape does.


[This message has been edited by Matt VDW (edited February 23, 2000).]

 

[bubbaturbo]

I don't think the bullet even touches most followers. I just looked at a MecGar and only the cartridge case comes into contact with the follower.

 

[Sport]

So there's no "practical" reason
for all of the various follower
designs?

 

[Bud Helms]

Sport,

There are many "practical" reasons for different designs of mag followers. Some are cheaper to manufacture, i.e., most are stamped. Some are designed for supposed superior function, such as polymer compounds for lubricity with the surrounding metal parts without a "wetting" lubricant (oil).

Think about the functional requirements of a mag follower. Then look at the different designs and you can see how they emphasize different requirements. That is a truism of hardware design.

The most important requirements are: <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>the follower must move through the magazine smoothly, maintaining a consistent angle throughout it's range of travel<LI>the cartridge must be presented to the returning-to-battery slide in a consistent manner, i.e., same angle, same height, each time and<LI>the follower must operate correctly with frame-mounted functions such as the slide stop, to catch the slide open after the last shot has gone.</UL>
I have dispensed with quotes from mfg's functional descriptions and used my own descriptions.

The last of the above is truly a function of the follower and the slide stop alone. The first two are functions of how the follower moves through the magazine body, so the interior smoothness and consistent shape, from top to bottom, of the mag body is part of that function.

Chip McCormick, for example has designed a follower of heavy gauge metal that is folded so that the view from the front of the follower is an "open jaw". The top leaf is the follower, per se, and the bottom leaf is shaped to engage the slide stop. It is easily removed, but under normal use maintains its position throughout its range of travel. The top and bottom leafs may be shaped, bent, ground, spread open, squeezed closed, etc. to meet individual magazine-to-slide requirements.

The shape and position of the lips of the opening of the magazine body, the material, position and shape of the follower and the design of the spring are all vital, interrelated functions of the operation of an automatic pistol. Not to mention the shape and angle of the loading ramp, the shape of the bullet, weight of the return spring ... ad, seemingly, infinitum.

One thing leads to another. One thing affects another. It is a system.

------------------
Sensop

"Get your mind right and the body will follow." - Shino Takazawa, sinsei, hachi dan, Keishinkan do.
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