[DocCasualty]

I just bought three new M-G 15 rnd mags for my BHP MkIII and none of them will lock the slide back. I read lots of comments about these, including Stephen Champ’s site and they all sounded pretty positive when compared to the 13 rnd mags, so I thought I would try them out.

I just bought this pistol used (recent thread) with two 13 rnd mags that lock when empty as expected, one M-G and one OEM. Is this a known issue with these? The hump on the follower is definitely not as tall as those on the 13 rnd mags. I sent an email to the online store where I ordered them as I don’t know is this is a defect or the way they are. Any thoughts?

 

[smith10]

Have never had a problem with one's I have used. Hope you get it figured out. Enjoy your HP.

 

[Borg Warner]

My mec-gar 15 round HP mag is as reliable as the 13 round factory mag. I've never had a single problem with it.

I would suggest sending them back for replacement or refund.

 

[fnfalman]

I just bought three new M-G 15 rnd mags for my BHP MkIII and none of them will lock the slide back. I read lots of comments about these, including Stephen Champ’s site and they all sounded pretty positive when compared to the 13 rnd mags, so I thought I would try them out.

I just bought this pistol used (recent thread) with two 13 rnd mags that lock when empty as expected, one M-G and one OEM. Is this a known issue with these? The hump on the follower is definitely not as tall as those on the 13 rnd mags. I sent an email to the online store where I ordered them as I don’t know is this is a defect or the way they are. Any thoughts?

Three new mec gar mags that don’t lock back on your pistol? My guess is that it’s probably your pistol.

I have fifteen of these mec gar mags for my Hi Powers. They all work as intended.

 

[DocCasualty]

Three new mec gar mags that don’t lock back on your pistol? My guess is that it’s probably your pistol.

I have fifteen of these mec gar mags for my Hi Powers. They all work as intended.

Might be. Why would two old 13 rnd mags work then?

 

[ACE31]

Always heard the 13 rd were the one to buy. But that was due to follower leg design and less change of nose dives. Check out the below for BHP mag opinions/details.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070302094508/http://www.ont.com/users/kolya/bhpmagfaq.htm

 

[DocCasualty]

Always heard the 13 rd were the one to buy. But that was due to follower leg design and less change of nose dives. Check out the below for BHP mag opinions/details.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070302094508/http://www.ont.com/users/kolya/bhpmagfaq.htm

Thanks for the link. Doesn’t seem to apply to my current issue but a good reference in general.

 

[Victor Dubya]

I just tried 2 15rd Meg-Gars in my Hi-Power. Both held the slide open. They are older magazines, 10-15 years old I think. The Hi-Power is 70's vintage.

 

[Wayward Son]

I just bought three new M-G 15 rnd mags for my BHP MkIII and none of them will lock the slide back. I read lots of comments about these, including Stephen Champ’s site and they all sounded pretty positive when compared to the 13 rnd mags, so I thought I would try them out.

I just bought this pistol used (recent thread) with two 13 rnd mags that lock when empty as expected, one M-G and one OEM. Is this a known issue with these? The hump on the follower is definitely not as tall as those on the 13 rnd mags. I sent an email to the online store where I ordered them as I don’t know is this is a defect or the way they are. Any thoughts?

Reading your thread on your new Hi-Power inspired me to dig mine out for a range trip. While digging it out I came across a pile of new magazines I had bought for it. Among these were several Mec Gar 15 round magazines.
I took one of these to the range with me and mine functioned fine. I'm not sure but I believe I bought these mags 5 or 6 years ago. They are in a packaging with a blue background and silver lettering.

 

[gwes351]

I have not had any issues with my M-G 15 rd mags - or any of my BHP mags for that matter: OEM 10 & 13 rd;M_G of any variety (13 & 15 rd), or South African 17 rd mags. Strange all 3 won't lock back, so as others have said, check the mags/followers out, but also the gun too.

 

[faawrenchbndr]

Id be locking at the slide stop lever, the likelyhood of three bad MecGar mags is nearly impossible.

 

[Kaibab270]

I've heard not many but enough 15rder problems that I stick with the 13s and haven't had issue. Though most of the problems I've heard with the 15s are tilting followers so maybe they aren't engaging the lock because of that?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Bill Keith]

That's interesting Doc. I have an Argentinian licensed Hi Power and bought an extra MecGar magazine and it works well locking the slide back when it runs out of bullets.

 

[fnfalman]

Might be. Why would two old 13 rnd mags work then?

I don't know what to tell you. Both of my Hi-Powers are MkIII: a chrome plate/gold accented Browning and a plain jane FN. The Browning was used and came with only one 13-rds mag. The FN came with 3-factory 10-rounds mags and 3-Mec Gars with 15-rounds capacity - that was how FN America packaged these Hi-Power. They were imported at the end of the AWB, so FN included the high-cap Mec-Gar mags as accompaniment to the 10-rounders.

I then bought 12 more Mec-Gar 15-rounders. They all worked in both guns as intended.

For less than half the price of the factory mag, I went with the Mec-Gar. Gained 2-rounds in lieu of that spring heel thingie that helps kick the factory mag out of the mag well.

 

[DocCasualty]

Id be locking at the slide stop lever, the likelyhood of three bad MecGar mags is nearly impossible.

You might be on to something though it looks fine I guess it could be out of spec. Again, it locks up with OEM and MecGar 13 rnd mags it came with just fine. If anything, I would think older used mags would be the more likely thing to go OOS.

I pulled out my calipers and didn’t see any difference in what I was measuring. However, looking through the ejection port with the slide locked back more light seems to be coming through between the slide lock catch and the mag with the 15 rnd mag than my 13’s. Makes me wonder if the cut radius of that left forward lip is different on these.

I hope to hear back from the online seller tomorrow and see what they have to say. If they not aware of any issues with this lot I hope they’ll let me return them anyway. Not sure if I should just stick to 13’s or not at this point.

Reading your thread on your new Hi-Power inspired me to dig mine out for a range trip. While digging it out I came across a pile of new magazines I had bought for it. Among these were several Mec Gar 15 round magazines.
I took one of these to the range with me and mine functioned fine. I'm not sure but I believe I bought these mags 5 or 6 years ago. They are in a packaging with a blue background and silver lettering.

Yes, those are how mine are packaged too.

Really appreciate the help guys!