How to Take Apart and Clean a 1911 Mag

Let’s make this as brief and straightforward as possible. Here’s your barebones guide on how to take apart and clean a 1911 magazine.

1911 Mag Disassembly

To take apart a 1911 magazine, you should need only a pin punch or a screwdriver that will fit through the witness holes on the mag tube. 

First, drop your mag from the gun and clear it. Then, use a screwdriver or a pin punch to push the follower down into the mag body, about halfway.

Then, use another screwdriver or pin punch as a detent, pushing it through one of the witness holes in the mag tube so it will catch and hold the mag spring, at a level beneath the follower.

Then, turn the 1911 mag over and shake it till the follower comes out the top of the mag.

Place your hand over the top of the magazine, and carefully remove the pin or screwdriver that you’re using to detain the mag spring. It will want to shoot out the top, so you need to be careful with this step.

At this point, you’ve removed both the mag spring and follower from the mag tube and are ready to clean them.

1911 Mag Cleaning

With the follower and spring removed from the mag tube, you can now clean your 1911 mags.

For most light cleanings, all you’ll need are a little warm water and a clean rag. Wipe down the exterior of the mag tube and use a nylon or brass brush to clean the inside.

You can also use a nylon or brass brush to remove any grease, tar, grime, or fouling that’s on the outside of the mag tube. Pay close attention to the feed lips as you will want to make sure that both the tops and bottoms of these are clean and free of fouling.

If water alone will not do the trick, you can use a powder solvent, soap, or even brake cleaner to dislodge the fouling and grease. Don’t use solvents or brake cleaner on polymer mags, though. Since most 1911 mags are steel or aluminum this shouldn’t be a problem but keep it in mind as harsh cleaners can damage polymers.

As for the follower, clean it off in the same manner used for the magazine tube. Make sure it is clean, dry, and free of fouling or tar before you attempt to reassemble the mag.

The mag spring will also need to be cleaned. Use a nylon or brass brush to remove any fouling deposits and wipe the whole spring clean with a microfiber rag. You can apply a drop or two of oil to the spring, but only as a protectant, not as a lubricant.

Oil in the mag is generally not a good idea because it will attract dirt and dust. Use very little and even then only to coat exposed steel, not as a lubricant.

Once you have thoroughly cleaned and dried the mag spring, follower and body, you can reassemble them in the reverse order described above.

1911 Mag FAQs

Here are a few common questions related to 1911 mags (or pistol magazines in general) answered in one place.

• Can you leave a 1911 mag loaded?

This is one of the most common questions out there related to gun mags, and the answer is, yes, you can leave magazines loaded. It is not the compression of the mag spring, but repeated compression cycles, that causes fatigue. Therefore you can leave mags loaded for as long as you like with no issues.

• Are all 1911 mags cross-compatible?

No, not all 1911 magazines are cross compatible, even though many are. The main thing you need to be aware of is whether it’s a single or double stack mag. Many single stack mags are cross compatible with single stack 1911 pistols, and double stack mags with double stack 1911s.

• What’s the difference between a magazine and a clip?

A magazine is a component that feeds the ammunition into the firearm’s action. A clip is a device that holds ammunition and feeds it into the magazine. Some clips are fed into the action, as in the case of the Garand’s en bloc clip, and others are used to charge the action or the mag, as in the case of a stripper clip.

• What are the parts of a 1911 mag?

Most 1911 mags have three main parts; the mag body, or tube, the magazine spring, and the follower, which sits on top of the magazine and makes sure the rounds are aligned and nested properly within the mag so that it feeds fluidly.

• How long does it take to break in a pistol magazine?

Usually it takes a few hundred rounds until a new magazine will be broken in, and a mag that’s been broken in will charge, feed, and drop more smoothly than one that’s brand new. You can speed up break-in, but the best thing is just to use the mag, as the process will occur naturally.

Here for a New 1911 Magazine?

SARCO carries one of the best 1911 mags in the industry, compatible with a wide range of 1911 pistols and clones, and at an unbeatable price. If your range bag needs a few spare mags, check them out at the previous link and stock up.