I Wanted Mags For My M&P, Not a Freakin' Maraca!

Hokus Grey

Hokus Grey

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Here's an interesting thing I ran into, the 2 mags that came with my M&P9 are matte black and seem pretty solid. I ordered 3 more mags with the gun, but they were delayed in getting to me (I've only received 2 of the 3 so far), so I went to a local store and picked up 2 more. The 2 I got from the store are a glossy black and one of them leaves a round loose in the mag, about round #7 or so. It sounds like a freakin' maraca. Also, the spring in the mag feels a little looser and they're easier to load. The other 2 mags that I got from Badger where I ordered the gun came yesterday and they are the same matte black as the factory ones, load up tight and no issues at all. The glossy mags function fine, just seems like a weaker spring or something.

So, what's the deal? Is there a first, or second generation of these mags? Anybody else have this kind of issue?
 
All the mags are factory 10 rounds. 2 matte black that came with the pistol, 2 matte black that are aftermarket 10 rds (not pinned) and then the 2 shiny, or glossy black mags I got from the store in town. All are "official" S&W M&P 9mm 10 round mags. The glossy ones seem to be lighter too.
 
there was a revision done to the mags at some point by S&W. I believe its signified by a grey follower in the mag. The original followers were black.

I would think that the mag spring/follower might be out of spec if it leaves a round loose in the mag. But if it functions properly maybe it's no big deal?
 
Dave_K said:
I've heard that this type of rattle or knocking isn't so uncommon with double stack magazines... No experience myself, just hearsay.
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I just find it odd that the matte black mags, both the factory ones that came with the gun and the aftermarket matte black mags seat the rounds tight and snug, but the two shiny ones rattle about the 6-7th rounds and seem to have a weaker spring and lighter mag housing.
 
Dave_K said:
I've heard that this type of rattle or knocking isn't so uncommon with double stack magazines... No experience myself, just hearsay.
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This definitely happens with my Sig 226 mags from time to time. For me it's never resulted in feeding problems, ymmv.
 
The original M&P mags were blued (the "glossy" black ones). After complaints from LE agencies that bought the pistols about the lack of duribility of the finish they (S&W) began finishing them in a slick e-nickle/NP3-type finish (the matte black). Much more durable and VERY easy to clean.

The round may be rattling because the mag spring is installed front to back - disassemble it and check it out - do it now.

That is all, you may go...
 
All my M&P and CZ mags have so rattle to them.

I recently bought one new magazine for my M&P. It had that new non-gloss finish, which didn't bother me one bit. What did bother me was that I could only get 9 rounds into it with my maglula and barely squeeze a 10th round in by hand. But with the 10th rd, there was absolutely no way of loading it in the pistol without the slide already racked back, because there was no slack left in the pistol (no space for the follower at the bottom of the mag).

I returned it (which went great thanks to the dealer) and traded it for another mag. In the back of the rack with the mags on it, I found one with the old glossy finish. Took that one home and it holds 10 rds just fine with enough room to seat the magazine in the pistol.
 
mudgunner49 said:
The original M&P mags were blued (the "glossy" black ones). After complaints from LE agencies that bought the pistols about the lack of duribility of the finish they (S&W) began finishing them in a slick e-nickle/NP3-type finish (the matte black). Much more durable and VERY easy to clean.

The round may be rattling because the mag spring is installed front to back - disassemble it and check it out - do it now.

That is all, you may go...
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That is the info I was looking for! Thank you!
 
Did reversing the spring on the rattling magazine help? One of my two gloss M&P mags rattles when loaded, but the other one does not. The other two matt magazines do not rattle. All have the grey followers.
 
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LOL. To be honest, I've got 7 mags for my M&P, so the one with the rattle is just a spare one that sits in drawer. I run 5 mags for IDPA and have a couple spares. I'm probably going to get 3 more mags if I can find the matte black ones.


Since you have so kindly brought this thread back from the dead, can anyone point me in the direction fo some instructions on how to dissassemble these mags? I'm scared as heck of breaking the plastic baseplates, or the grooves.
 
Hokus Grey said:
LOL. To be honest, I've got 7 mags for my M&P, so the one with the rattle is just a spare one that sits in drawer. I run 5 mags for IDPA and have a couple spares. I'm probably going to get 3 more mags if I can find the matte black ones.


Since you have so kindly brought this thread back from the dead, can anyone point me in the direction fo some instructions on how to dissassemble these mags? I'm scared as heck of breaking the plastic baseplates, or the grooves.
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All new stock mags are the matte finish. You can get spare baseplates from Brownell's...
 
Just use a punch through the hole in the bottom of the base plate. Push in and you'll feel the spring compress slightly. Then just slide the base plate off while compressing the spring with the punch. IIRC you can also use the "tool" from the backstrap, I think its long enough.
 
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