magazine disassembly

[Morgan88]

Afternoon  just jamming to the blues doing some tinkering

For the fun of it I purchased a Lorcin L22.  Mint condition. I am assuming from the early 90s.   As happens most of the time these don't work that great. I thought I would monkey with it a bit. I am wanting to change out the spring in the 9 shot magazine (failure to feed)  and I am not sure how it comers off. Usually there is a button on the bottom but not in this case. There are what I would call crimp marks near the bottom at the base plate.  I have tried sliding without to much force.   Thought I would get some qualified guidance before I "force it"    A new spring is 4$ and a new magazine is $30 plus shipping.  You see my point.   The magazine otherwise looks new but 25 years + old.   Tried to add pics but unsuccessful. Thanks in advance for any qualified input.

Morgan88

Gave it one more try and it comes off the bottom and does not slide off.

Edited August 30, 2019 by Morgan88
answered my own question

[Guest BCR#1]

If the FP is crimped, not made to be removed.

Bill

[Morgan88]

BCR

My choice of words might not convey it correctly.  Anyway a moot point. It's off.   Ordered a new mag spring and recoil spring from Numerich.   I know pics are worth gold on these sites. Could not get it to load them.  Argg!   Thank you very kindly for the reply.  If the springs work like a charm I will voice that on here.  I have hope

Morgan88

New recoil spring and magazine spring installed and away I go to Prentiss Cooper WMA this morning with high hopes.  Seems to be better but in no way good. I did find the brand Aguila to work the best.   After 2 magazines of several well know brands it reverted back to finicky.  The usual failure to feed   failure to eject.   Stronger magazine spring?  I have just put in a new factory spring, not to say new factory is very good.    Wolfe company proclaims their springs are 5 to 10% stronger than factory but to no surprise they don't make one for a Lorcin L-22   OH POO!!     More to come

Edited September 12, 2019 by Morgan88
added info

[xtriggerman]

The general procedure to remove the follower and spring in a sealed bottom mag is relatively simple. Most of the time there are holes in the sides of the mag. Depress the follower down to about 1/3rd or so, once you have the follower positioned just over one of the holes, push a wire or fine screw driver threw the hole and out the other side. This is to retain the spring only . Leaving the follower free to be worked up off the now compressed spring and out threw the front of the feed lips. Good Luck with it.

[DaveTN]

That gun was junk when it was new and had new springs. There is a very good possibility it will fire with the safety on, or if it is dropped. Be very careful.

DISCLAIMER: I am an admitted gun snob, but even the bottom feeders agree on this.

[Morgan88]

 Dave it's ok.  U might believe I have heard the disdain for these little jewels a time or 2     Not surprisingly I bought it inexpensively and knew what I was buying.  Just something to tinker with and see if I can improve.  I absolutely love the size and feel of it. Looking at the bright side it does work most of the time, er ,sometimes.   Don't most of us have at least 1 finicky tool in our arsenal?

[DaveTN]

13 minutes ago, Morgan88 said:

 Don't most of us have at least 1 finicky tool in our arsenal?

[Guest BCR#1]

1 hour ago, DaveTN said:

Same here. If it doesn't run 100%, I'll get rid of it.

Bill