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JKP
Senior MemberPosts: 2,541 Senior Member
Replacing Glock Mag Springs?

I've got a Model 21 that is stovepiping and I think the old magazines are causing it. To put into perspective how old the mags are, they are labeled 'Restricted LE/Govt Use Only.'
Has anyone had good luck just replacing the springs? Thoughts on the Wolff springs?
Finally, I've seen some reference to Glock part # 5397 (mag follower) that needs to be used on older mags to prevent issues. Anyone know about this?
Has anyone had good luck just replacing the springs? Thoughts on the Wolff springs?
Finally, I've seen some reference to Glock part # 5397 (mag follower) that needs to be used on older mags to prevent issues. Anyone know about this?
Replies
― Douglas Adams
Thought about that but don't want to sell something that isn't in good working order.
Mike, Glock followers are plastic but they can wear out.
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and politician
But as for your magazines. . .that'll be failure to FEED (round stops before clearing the feed lips of the mag). If it clears the mag, then you might be getting failure to CHAMBER and LOCK into battery. Again, I'd be looking for filth in the extractor channel and on the breech face first.
Pretty much all my Glock repair/rebuild experience is with the .40 caliber guns, so I can't really say how much of this directly translates to your .45 magazines.
The .40's are up to at least follower revision #9. Followers #1 through #5 used a different mag body than the #6 and up ones do. #1 through #5 followers had a hole that clipped onto the end of the mag spring wire, just like you see in an AR mag. #6 and up snap onto the top of the spring.
What I have noticed is that the #6 and up followers and accompanying mag bodies do a much better job of keeping the spring close to its original shape, and I haven't witnessed the same tired spring, failures to feed issues that came up when the old springs started to bow in odd directions.
A re-springing can work wonders, but if you're thinking you may have to go to war with it some day, I would just buy a stack of new Gen 4 mags (they'll work in a Gen 3 just fine).
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee