[Bubba]

Purchased 4 30rd PMI's from Delta. Took them to the range this week and was completely disapointed. My mini does not like them at all. Once seated in the mag well they rock back and forth, up and down which causes misfeeds. I also have 5 el cheapo high caps that lock up tight and perform well. Any suggestions?:usa:

 

[cajungeo]

Hey Bubba. Sorry to hear about your misfortune on the PMI's. I believe the problem maybe the length of your mag latch. If you do a search on magazine latch, posts from mike of oregon, mentions that the newer 195-196 mini's have a shorter mag latch than the older ones. He gives the dimensions in his post. Now on the older ones, their mag latches being longer have to file down the latch tabs on the mags, while the newer ones can have their mag latches welded to add metal to make them longer. One fix you could try is adding some JB Weld to the magazine latch tab (on the bottom of the tab) dress it up so the latch will catch. Don't know how long it will last. Make shure to clean metal with alcohol or acetone before applying the JB.

 

[Bubba]

Thanks Cajun,
Ill give it a try. Btw my Mini is 185 std. series.:usa:

 

[ksregulator]

I am having the same problem with three new 30 round PMI's I got from Delta Force. They do not feed correctly in the magazine.

I don't buy this latch deal. The latch feels very positive.

I have the same problem just loading the mag and pushing the rounds out by hand (without the mag in my new 196 series mini-14).

It seems like the mag follower is getting hung up or snags and tilts downward toward the front of the mag causing the bullet end to tilt forward (down) and the rim end of brass to rise up.

Any ideas guys?

 

[Flak 2]

make no mistake there are differences in latches (and other parts)on Mini's! As far as defective P.M.I's I can't say. The 40rnd. stainless have had problems. If it were me I'd strip the mags and make sure the springs are in properly and the followers move up and down with no friction. For bolt over base failures buy a spare BLUED latch from Brownell's or Gunparts Corp. and build the engagement end up with brazing, gas welding or tig welding and file to fit. From my experience Masen 30rnd. mags seat higher than P.M.I's allowing the bolt to engage more of the case head stripping the round from the mag. Owning a Mini will make you very good at tuning mags!

 

[Dave3006]

Mine did the same. You have to trim the plastic follower with an exacto to make it move without friction on the side of the mag. Trim the sides where it hangs up.

IT IS NOT THE LATCH. I HAVE DONE THIS TO AT LEAST 10 AND THEY WORK.

 

[ksregulator]

Dave:

That's the solution I was looking for. You have had the same exact problem I take it?

Can you give me some more detailed instructions...... How to take the mag apart properly? How you trimmed the follower? etc. etc.

I really need the help. Thanks!

 

[Dave3006]

About half of mine did this. They were binding on the side of the follower. You can take a razor and trim the side until it moves freely in the mag well.

It is pretty easy.

 

[cajungeo]

To take the magazine apart, insert a drill bit, or allen wrench in the hole in the bottom plate. Pry up slightly, and slide it out. Watch the spring!

 

[dchi]

I just got 10 of them from Frank's 2 weeks ago located in the shotgun news. I bought them based on what good stuff i read on this post. I have a 196 series min 14 R. They worked great at first and then after loading 8-10 times the lips start to spread and the rounds sometimes pop out causing stovepipe like jams with a live round. I tried to bend the lips back but the just loose their shape after a few loadings. Now im out $300, I returned them but they didn't guarantee a refund. Does anyone know where I can get high quality Mini 14 mags? If im forced to pay $80 for factory mags, I will sell my mini and buy an AR15.
PS. They had a 10 mag minumum order.

 

[Dave3006]

This is puzzling. Did all ten mags do this? When you say the lips, you mean the curved portion of the mag at the very top, right?

This is the first time I have ever heard of this with PMIs.

 

[mikr]

Originally posted by dchi

Does anyone know where I can get high quality Mini 14 mags?
Factory is usually the best, albeit most expensive, way to go
If im forced to pay $80 for factory mags, I will sell my mini and buy an AR15.
Many that do are very happy with a usually very accurate rifle with USGI mags found from $10-20 a piece and total rebuild kits available at about $5 each--not uncommon for people to accumulate lots of surplus mags.
PS. They had a 10 mag minumum order.
That I don't like

If you go the AR route you won't be disappointed, but the mini has its' own virtues as well.

 

[Grinch]

The bending feed lips really surprise me. I had that problem with a "no name" mag I had, but my PMI mags are really solid.

 

[dchi]

Yes I mean the curved part of the mags. The metal seemed fairly thick but very soft and easy to bend. I only checked 2 since they were all sealed in PMI marked bags. Checking to the pics on the board, the mags I got were most diffinetly PMI mags. I thought about maybe trying to heat treat the lips with a propane torch and drenching them with cold water but when i took the floor plate off of one, it bent so much I almost couldn't get it back on. That piece had no "spring" to it at all. I felt like tin. Also too I had an AR15 but like the feel and handling of the mini better. Kinda reminds me of the light handy 30 carbine.

 

[Dave3006]

I will go look at mine tonight. Did all 10 mags do this?

 

[cajungeo]

Hey dchi. Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the PMI's. Were they 40 rd. mags? I have 30 rdrs, They work fine, if I load em with the mag open. No jams yet. Maby a bad batch came thru, as Quality control sacraficed for quantity, just before the ban. All I can say is I've had no problems yet with mine.

 

[Dave3006]

I looked at mine close last night. I don't see how the lips could spread. They looked pretty sturdy. I hope you get your money back. Maybe they were counterfit PMIs?

 

[Flak 2]

never heard of this problem. I have some Fed Ords. and PMI's that have seen lots of rounds with no problems. Probably been loaded 50 or more times

 

[dchi]

well I sent them back to Franks Center and Im glad to say they refunded my money minus a $15 restocking fee. But I lost $28 in shipping from and to them.

 

[Mengo]

I've never experienced this. I've had mine for 8+ yrs. 9x30, 2x40 and 6x20 none of them ever did this. Bad batch maybe?