Lubricating Mags

[Richard Simmons]

Just curious if anybody does this? Was wondering if a shot of silicone spray inside the mag body would improve/maintain proper function?

[Noah Zark]

Richard:

I don't recommend a shot of anything inside a mag for two reasons:

1) Most lubricants will attract dust, dirt, etc.
2) Excessive lubricant on mag sidewalls can transfer to the cartridge case and result in increased thrust on the boltface.

I disassemble my mags and wash the components in an old dishpan using a little Dawn or Simple Green in water, and scrubbing the inside with a kid's toothbrush (they are narrower and fit inside easier). I rinse in very hot water and immediately pat dry with a clean, dry towel. Using a clean paper towel mositened in Corrosion-X, I wipe the springs by rotating the wire through the towel. This leaves the thinnest of films for protection without excessive lube. FP-10 or CLP is fine, also but Corrosion-X tends to last a bit longer in my experience.

Noah

[Richard Simmons]

Thanks. Was just wondering about the silicone since it seems to dry to a light film.

[Epinephrine]

What tool can I use to remove my stubborn base plates? They are stuck on there and I cant get them off without sctraching them up.

[Circuits]

Your firing pin in the little hole on the mag baseplate is the tool by which your magazine was designed to be disassembled. The end of your cleaning rod will do just fine, too.

Coincidentally, the front and rear sights are designed to be adjusted with the tip of a 5.56x45 cartridge, and the divot around the firing pin retaining pin is meant admit the cartridge tip for removing that. All other small parts are designed to disassembly using the firing pin as a field-expedient punch, including the narrow part at the front of the pin, which serves to remove the auto sear pin on an M16.

The shoulder diameter and tip to shoulder dimension of the 5.56x45 cartridge is also the perfect size to use for pushing out stubborn takedown and pivot pins.

The tip of a cartridge is also suitable for releasing the trigger guard retaining pin, while the firing pin can be used to disassemble the extractor pin and ejector pins on the bolt.

An AR-15/M16 and a round of ammo is pretty much its own field takedown and adjustment kit.

[Richard Simmons]

Interesting info. Thanks:)

[JE3146]

that is really good info to know.. :)