After a trip to the range or your latest shooting competition, it’s very likely that you sat down at your workbench with your favorite beverage and did a complete teardown and cleaning of your rifle. The barrel was cleaned of any leftover powder, everything was wiped down and oiled, and the rifle was gently placed back in the gun safe.
But your magazines likely didn’t get the same love.
Perhaps because they're so affordable, or because they are so common they would be simple to replace, or because you never really put any thought into it, the magazines you use in your AR-15 rifle likely do not get the level of care that your rifle does. For casual shooters and rifle owners, the idea of cleaning the rifle magazines has likely never crossed their mind. But what they're not thinking about is likely impacting the performance of the rifle. With time and use, the parts that make up your magazine will wear out, eventually leading to malfunctions and other problems.
Fortunately, maintaining your rifle magazines isn't nearly as tedious or complicated as cleaning your AR-15. In fact, the process of cleaning your magazines is downright easy even the first time you do it.
Why You Need to Clean Your Magazines
When Eugene Stoner first designed the AR-15 platform, the magazines were meant to be disposable and GIs were content to just leave them on the battlefield. However, because simply discarding magazines was a bit too wasteful for the military’s liking, the military decided that these magazines should be retained and maintained. The design of the magazine itself was changed to ensure that it can be easily disassembled and cleaned.
Your AR-15 rifle magazines are good at two things: One, they're great at keeping your rounds in place ready for action. Two, they’re also great at collecting dirt, debris, and grit that can lead to jams in your magazine or even in the rifle. In fact, many of the most common rifle malfunctions you will experience while using AR-15-type rifles stem from abused or dirty magazines.
Disassembling Your AR-15 Magazines
Provided you're using GI-style magazines, the actual disassembly process is fairly easy; keep in mind, however, that you will need a few tools to actually complete the disassembly process. While you could spring for a magazine disassembly and cleaning tool, we found that a pocket knife, screwdriver, a pair of needle-nose pliers (or even just a multi-tool) is all you need to complete this process.
Start by looking at the bottom of the magazine. At the back, you'll find a tab you'll need to flatten so it is no longer flush against the spine of the magazine. Once this tab is flattened, you can use your pliers to pull on the tab and remove the baseplate from the magazine. This plate serves to keep the spring in place so it's important that you catch the spring with your hand or thumb as you pull the baseplate out — otherwise, the magazine spring will launch out of the magazine and somewhere across the room. Next, you'll gently remove the spring and remove the follower from the body of the magazine. At this point, the magazine is in its major component parts and can be cleaned and reassembled from here.
Cleaning the Inside of Your Magazine
Unlike cleaning your rifle, you will not want to use any solvents or oils to clean your magazines. Instead, you should stick with using a clean cloth or stiff brush. Essentially, your goal is to remove any built-up powder, dirt, or debris that is collected inside the magazine. If your magazines are particularly filthy, you can use a bit of gentle dishwashing soap and some water. Wipe any remaining moisture out of the magazine and allow them to air-dry overnight. Additionally, you should check the magazines for any obvious signs of damage to the body. Make sure that the feed lips are straight and do not show any signs of bending or cracking. Minor dents can be reformed but if there is major damage to the magazine you should just dispose of it.
Your magazine spring and follower should be the focus of special attention. First, check to see if your springs are still serviceable. Over time, springs begin to set and become less effective. You can check to see if your springs are still effective by comparing them to the spring from a new magazine. If the spring is set and compressed noticeably, it's time to replace them. Wipe down your followers and springs and then coat the spring with a light coating of oil.
Once the magazine has been cleaned and oiled, you can easily reassemble it by reversing the steps above.
Caring for Your Rifle Magazines
Cleaning and maintaining your rifle magazine should be a regular part of your rifle-owning duties. While you’re cleaning your magazines, take the time to inspect each one carefully. If one has been causing issues on the range, this is your time to diagnose those issues. If the springs are bad then you can replace them, and the same can be done with followers. However, it’s also good to recognize when it’s time to cut your losses and run. Don’t hesitate to throw out a magazine that is badly damaged or does not show noticeable changes in performance even after a thorough cleaning.
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