Has anyone here modified their M&P9 magazine follower or spring?

[CanuckShooter]

Ugh, I've always hated 10 rounders. Doesn't matter if they're Glock or S&W.

I've been gathering all the information I can about modifying the follower and spring to make the mag easier to load, and make it possible to insert the tenth round into the magazine. Why they use the exact same spring when the actual mag body is about a third shorter is beyond me. It's way too hard to load. Then they change the follower design so it's too tall.

Anyway, has anyone done this mod? I've watched the youtube videos, and it's pretty straight forward, but they all do it a little differently. Some ONLY trim the follower, and some do the follower and clip a coil or two off the spring to make it proportional to the length of the mag body relative to the 17 rounders.

Also, does anyone know of a source for M&P9 followers and springs aside from Brownell's?

Thanks!

 

[Canuck44]

Take a dremel and reduce the bottom of the followers on yor M&P mags. The followers bottom out on the springs on the 10 round mags. Reduce the amount of material until you can seat the 10th round with a touch of play. The latter will allow for easier mag changes when the slide is still closed. I would not be cutting down the springs. I have done this on the two newer mags I have for my M&P. The older versions worked fine.

Take Care

Bob

 

[Ganderite]

The follower legs are U shaped. I filed off material until the U was gone. Mags load ok now. Did not clip springs, but would do so if required.

 

[Wendell]

...a source for M&P9 followers and springs (aside from Brownells)?

https://www.smith-wesson.com/international/international-dealers-distributors

 

[Wester]

The info I have gathered says leave the spring alone, file the follower legs down, I have three of them I will be tackling very shortly.

Like this:

 

[Canuck44]

Yes. Once you get the bottoms flat just check them for function, You want just a tad of wiggle room when the mag is loaded with 10 rounds. Just so pressure on the last round moves the cartridge down a bit. Makes for easier reloads when the slide is shut.

Take Care

Bob

 

[gnmontey]

The follower legs are U shaped. I filed off material until the U was gone. Mags load ok now. Did not clip springs, but would do so if required.

Yup.... exactly what I ended up doing as well. Load a lot easier now.

M

 

[spc]

I did mine by laying a piece of sandpaper on my bench and rubbing the follower back and forth. I reassembled several time to check if 10 rounds would fit. I didn't want.to remove too much and have an 11 round magazine.

 

[4n2t0]

The follower legs are U shaped. I filed off material until the U was gone. Mags load ok now. Did not clip springs, but would do so if required.

I did something similar but possibly a little easier?! I laid the follower on some 300 grit sandpaper and worked it back and forth until the legs that form the "U" (picture below) was gone. This method also removed material evenly from the center peak and thinner legs on the other side of the follower.

 

[CanuckShooter]

I did something similar but possibly a little easier?! I laid the follower on some 300 grit sandpaper and worked it back and forth until the legs that form the "U" (picture below) was gone.

This is exactly what I did last night. I saw it as the best way to evenly remove material.

When I look at the tilt of the follower as it sits in the mag body, only the rear legs are too long, so I only sanded the rear. I ended up sanding them so they still protrude about 1mm or less past the fin in the center of the follower. The tenth round goes in now with my Uplula, though it requires muscle. I can force the 10th round down an additional 2mm, but the fully loaded mag still requires a good hit to seat it in the gun, whereas with only 9 rounds it seats easily. I'm not satisfied with the result. From what I understand (and as pointed out by Canuck44), the legs of the follower are mashing, not against the floor plate, but against the fully compressed coils of the spring. Peering into the witness holes on the mag body confirms this. I think snipping off a coil or two would help, as it would reduce the height of the fully compressed spring by about 1mm per coil, and it would reduce the excessive tension. As far as I've read, the 10 round and 17 round magazines use the exact same spring, so I don't see how this could negatively affect anything. It would still have a greater spring tension than a 17 rounder, even with a coil or two removed. It's possible that I'm overlooking something though.

I remember going through this same thing with my G17's ten rounders. Oversprung, annoying flat top follower. Only jams I ever had with that gun were with ten rounders. Bought 10/17's, and never looked back. Seems like pure laziness on Glock and S&W's part that this has not been addressed after being an issue for many years now.

 

[Ganderite]

If it takes a lot of effort to seat #10, remove more leg or clip the spring. I have seen a lot of points lost in matches where a tactical reload did not work and mag fell on ground. You want the spring to compress a bit so the mag can seat easily.

 

[Canuck44]

Don't clop the spring. Cut back the follower and they will work.

Take Care

Bob

 

[romurra]

I sanded the followers as others mentioned, and found that in conjunction with leaving them loaded to capacity for a month or so did the trick.

 

[Wester]

No need to clip the spring, just sand down the follower legs, and centre nub. Did my three mags, way easier to load now. Seating the mag requires a slap but I think this is best to be sure it is seated.

Mine are always loaded to capacity in my safe, not sure it made any difference in loading them, sanding the follower did.

 

[Sinasta]

This really needs to be a sticky. This gets asked every month.