Magazine question.

[Sweeney]

What is the purpose of the 'spring' clip attached to the front of the magazine? I've seen magazines with and without. It clips over the upper front edge and inserts down the interior front wall.

Thanks!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[jona]

The official term for the the spring clip is "magazine assist spring." My guess is that it assists the magazine platform by making it easier to move up and down by giving it a smooth surface to rub against.

[Peter Laidler]

The actual designation is SPRING, auxiliary, magazine.

It was used to smooth the path of the nose of the bullets as they slid up the inside face of the magazine case. HOWEVER, there is another train of thought that it was to offer a bit of a buffer to prevent the nose of the rounds 'mushrooming' as the rifle was fired. There was a similar spring fitted into Bren magazines early after its introduction. This was to cover up some of the rough butt welding along the join. This rough welding did interfere with the smooth path of the bullet nose up (or down) the magazine case.

The Boys rifle however had a similar spring and this WAS to prevent mushrooming of the nickel bullet nose that occurred during the fierce recoil

Next question

[Sweeney]

Thank you, gentlemen. I suspected it was to cover the seam in the front of the magazine.

[Peter Laidler]

................ there's no seam in the front of a No1 or 4 magazine is there? They are wrapped front to rear and seamed down the rear. Or am I missing something

[Sweeney]

Now you've got my mind going... I thought the No.4 was two stampings joined together. I'll have a look at mine when I get home.