Beretta factory mag only holds 9 .40

[Thrash1982]

I recently bought a new Beretta 96 that came with the usual 2 factory 10 round mags. I just bought some ammo today and started to load the mags to break in the springs a little.

One of the mags works fine but the other will only hold 9 rounds. Has this happened to anyone else? Is there any way to fix it or should I buy a new mag. I know it's only one round but when I spend money on something I like it to work as it should.

Thanks everyone

 

[WonderNine]

I've heard this problem before with the Beretta .40 mags. Makes me think there is something to it.....

Anyways, have you tried out a magloader to get that last round in? The medium sized one fits my thumb perfectly. I won't use anything else to load mags again! Saves on your thumbs bigtime and it's so quick and easy. Give it a shot, they're only 5 bucks, I guarantee you won't regret it.

I can load 15 round 9mm mags in 30 seconds with it.

 

[Thrash1982]

Those little magloaders look pretty sweet. I think i might look into getting one. What do you think about those HKS loaders?

Yeah, it's hard on the thumbs but I can actually get the last round in. Although when I do the magazine will not seat properly in the gun. Kind of at a loss at what to do. I have taken the mag apart to see if there is anything lodged inside taking up space but there seems to be nothing wrong with it. Also I took apart the mag that will hold all 10 to see if there was a differance between the two and I can't find anything wrong. As far as I can tell they are identical.

 

[WonderNine]

They are the best loaders I've ever seen. And they're just a piece of plastic that fits on your thumb! Sorry, I'm not familiar with the HKS magloaders.

IMO, the follower in the mag has got to be hanging up somewhere if the mag is not seating properly. Apparently there is nowhere for the follower on the faulty mag to go when the mag is inserted? Perhaps the bottom of the follower is just a tad to long. Did you compare the followers from both mags side by side?

 

[Thrash1982]

Hmmmm, I just took both magazines apart and compared each part side by side and as far as I can tell they are identical in size and shape. I just can't think what it is I'm missing. There's got to be something wrong.

 

[WonderNine]

Switch followers and springs on both mags then load them. Then switch the baseplates and load them again. That way you will narrow down the problem. See if it's the magazine or one of the parts that's causing the hangup.

 

[Thrash1982]

Well, I did what you suggested and switched the springs and followers. It worked slightly better. The spring and follower from the tight magazine in the box from the good mag. I can fit 10 in a little easier but it still will not seat quite right although will go all the way in with a little more force than normal (the way it was before it would not go in at all). I then switched the floor plates and that made it worse. So I feel like I'm getting close but am still missing something. But definately getting there. Thanks a bunch for all your help so far WonderNine.

 

[WonderNine]

And the original mag works fine with the spring and follower from the faulty mag? I think you've probably narrowed it down to either the mag or the floorplate. I'm guessing it's the mag. I would think that something in the mag is probably causing the spring or follower to hang up.

 

[Thrash1982]

Ouch *rubs thumbs* looks like I've probably got it as close as I can. Any modifications to the mags (and the parts therof) that might get it to work? If not I'll probably end up getting a couple new mags at the next gunshow I go to. Thanks again!

 

[WonderNine]

There could be a slight difference in tolerances in the problematic mag which is causing the followers to push down at an angle causing them to catch on something. I used to have a mag in which the follower would go in at an angle and always catch on the mag catch, but it worked fine. The other identical mags I had would never do this.

Or perhaps there is a bur in the metal of the mag internally. I would just give the inside a look. That could be smoothed out easily enough with a file. Other than that, Beretta should replace the mag. But it's probably not worth the shipping unless you can get them to send you out a label.

 

[chaoslord]

I've got a similar problem, maybe you could answer this one wondernine...

I have a Ruger P94 9mm which as you know comes with 2 factory 10 round mags. They both work great at the range with WinClean, the ranges reloads, and Winchester Whitebox bulk packs...

However when I load it for HP at night I use Federal Hydrashocks and with 9 of them in the mag it snaps into place fine, with 10 in the mag I have to force it into the butt of the gun. This happens with both mags, but only with the Federal Hydrashock JHP's.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Newton]

This is very common and not just with Beretta mags. The manufacturers are scared of pushing out a mag that will take 11 rounds with a shove, what a risk to humanity that would be.

For the record my Beretta 9000S mags take 10 comfortably, probably because they were designed to hold 10 as standard.

As for magloaders, I have yet to find one that can load as quickly as a plain old thumb.

Newton