Tip #3: Magazine Maitenance

Intro

Maintaining your magazines is a very important issue in action shooting. Magazine malfunctions are one of the most common malfunctions in the sport today. This major problem can be avoided by following the quick and easy steps to success. It is very easy for someone to be lazy and say well I dropped the mag but it really didn't get dirty and then stick it back in the bag for the next sage. We have all seen this happen time and time again. Why should you give up valuable points to your opponents because of laziness or because you simply just do not know the proper way to clean your magazines? I can assure you your opponents do not mind. Get those points back and prove that you are the best shooter in your area!

Quick and easy steps to success:

• After using or dropping a magazine completely unload it
• Take the magazine apart
• Brush out the magazine several times ensuring that all the dirt is out
• Run a very slick silicon rag through your magazine (This will get that last little bit of dirt out of your mag and will provide a slick surface)
• Brush off the follower and also wipe it with the silicon rag
• Get a clean cloth and spin the spring through it making sure there is no sign of sand, dirt, etc.
• Ensure your base pad is clean
• Finally, put your mag back together

Helpful hints:

• Polish your magazines inside and out every 6 months
• Replace your magazine springs every 3-6 months depending on what type of springs you are using, some springs will last longer
• The Arredondo mag brush is a must have
• Any slick silicon rag will do the trick but keep it in a closed zip lock bag so it will not dry out
• Also use the silicon rag to slick up your bullets before putting them in the magazine (This will give you just a little more added insurance)

The Arredondo mag brush and the slickest silicon rags can be found in our online store .

Conclusion:

By following these steps and helpful hints I am sure you will notice a more consistent and reliable magazine. It is just too easy to avoid the troubles of a major magazine malfunction. We can take 5 minutes after every stage to properly clean our mags, or else pay the price. Which would you prefer?

Copyright © 2004 Max Michel, Jr. All rights reserved.