magazine followers ?

[sjones]

I'm just getting into shooting and collecting carbines and already have a question.Do different mags have different type followers in them?I have already run into 2 types.one has the back of the follower at a slant and the other one is not slanted.The one that is not,the bolt won't close on an mt mag and the one that is slanted will.Is that normal?are they made that way like pistols that stay open on an mt mag?Thanks

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[DaveHH]

What you are seeing is the original 15 rd magazine did not have the feature. Which befuddles me. How many soldiers lost their lives by running out of ammunition without their knowledge? Anyway when they developed the 30 rd magazine to accommodate the M2 automatic carbine, they added a modified follower which stopped the bolt from closing on an empty chamber. It was simply a sloped follower cut flat. It was actually developed sometime before, but apparently the change would have been too disruptive to magazine production. There were multi millions of 15 rd magazines made, most if not all with the sloped follower. WW2 footage of the fight at Tarawa shows a Marine taking aim at a group of Japanese bugging out of one pillbox heading for another. His carbine is empty and you can see the frustration on his face as he lets this priceless opportunity get away.

So all 30s have the stop follower, most if not all of the 15s do not. You can cut them yourself if you feel the need.

[sjones]

Are the 30 rounders dependable?All I'm looking for is a good shooter.

[INLAND44]

The G.I. 30-rd are dependable but pricey, and it takes experience to tell one from a repro. I bought a bunch of aftermarket ones 15 years ago, probably made by USA, but the ones I've tried worked. On the market now are 15 and 30-rd made in Korea for their military when they were issuing the M1 Carbines that we gave them. I don't remember hearing from anyone if those worked okay, but if they do that would be what I'd buy.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Here are some I have showing both types.

[Mikey51]

A close up of the difference. Mag base plates are always of interest too. Flat, early, indented, later. I have a lot of imitation 30's and if cared for, they shoot O.K. but the Collector will always go for the genuine USGI, "Hardback". I'll try and find a pic. Hope this helps. Mike.

[Mikey51]

The ones to look for are the ones where the indentations on the side of the mag follow the curve of the mag itself, and with no seams. Mike.