Colt 20 Round Magazines

[NoBody]

Three of my Colt magazines (all 1970's production) won't hold the bolt open on the last shot now. Is this a problem with the metal follower or the feed lips? Does anyone sell a rebuild kit for them that would fix this problem?

Thanks,
NoBody

[John Fettes]

If you haven't done so, take the magazines apart, clean them and look at the parts for obvious broken springs or followers. I suspect that it could be the follower, magazine spring, or the bolt catch in the lower receiver that locks the bolt open when the follower reaches the upper limit of it's travel. If the lips are in good enough shape to feed ammunition, I wouldn't think they would restrict the upper movement of the follower.

You might try this: remove the magazine, visually and physically check the chamber for a loaded round, check it again; push the rear take-down pin out and pivot the upper forward carefully; insert your empty magazine and see if the follower pushes the bolt catch up. Also check the condition of the bolt catch to be sure it's not broken.

The bolt catch is part # 2 in this schematic:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/schematics/schemmfg.aspx?schemid=807&m=3&mn=Colt%c2%ae&model=AR-15+Lower+Receiver+All+Models

Brownell's has rebuild kits here:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=25018&title=AR-15/M16%20HIGH%20CAPACITY%20MAGAZINE%20REBUILD%20KIT%20&%20COMPONENTS

John

[markm]

Buy some new magazines. Sheesh!

NHMTG 20s are every bit as good as the old 70s mags. I don't care what the internut commandoes say!