South African 17-round BHP Mag Problem

S

Skorzeny

New member
I own four of the oft-discussed South African 17-round mags for the High Power.

Three of them have worked reliably (so far).

I discovered, yesterday, that the last one won't feed reliably, especially if the magazine is loaded with more than 6-7 rounds.

Then every or every other round starts to get stuck half way into the chamber or hangs up on the feedramp (sometimes even the first round out of the magazine). Most of the time, a little tap on the magazine slams shut the slide and chambers the round.

It appears that the front part of the follower is not moving as smoothly up and down as it should. Thus, the front of the bullet sits slightly at a lower angle than it should.

I smoothed the feed lips of the magazine a bit and that seems to help, but I get the feeling that I am going to have to disassemble the magazine and deburr the follower (or whatever obstruction may be in the body).

Unfortunately, even with a moderate amount force, I cannot get the baseplate to budge. I don't want to use too much force and break anything.

Does anyone have any tip on how to accomplish this easily (meaning without a vise)? Or should I just vigorously move the follower up and down manually and hope that this problem with clear up with use?

Thanks ahead for any comment or thought!

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
Hello, Skorzeny! I had Hell when I went to completely disassemble the SA magazine, too.
Eventually, I tapped the floorplate forward with a small mallet. Try not to go too far or that spring will fly like a bullet. I then pulled the floorplate on off with my hand positioned to catch the spring.

I agree with your diagnosis of the problem and suspect that deburring and smoothing around the front of the mag follower might do the trick. Might also check to be sure that the spring wasn't inadvertently put in backwards on the one you have that gives problems.

I find disassembly to be the only fly in the ointment on these mags.

Best and good luck.
 
I've noticed a similar problem with some hi-caps when the springs weren't up to snuff.

If you other fixes don't seem to solve the problem, think "springs."

Try swapping springs with one of your good mags and see if it functions properly. If it does, you then need to pray that Wolff makes a spring that will work.
 
I knew you guys would come through...

I don't think the spring is the problem since, if anything, the problem magazine is harder to load due to a greater spring tension.

I think it is a matter of deburring. I will definitely wear a set of goggles when I attempt to push the floorplate off that magazine!

Thanks for your comments and help.

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
Skorzeny --

I have a similiar problem with my South African HP mags. In my case, the follower gets stuck in the mag tube. I haven't used the mags in my gun yet. I discovered it while unloaded the mags by hand. Anyway, to remove to baseplate, take a small rubber or plastic mallet. Or small ballpeen hammer. And gently wack the backside of the baseplate. The follower will move. When it gets about halfway, you shoule be able to remove it by hand. Please post your results
 
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