M14 Forum

Sweets

I bought one of these cheap when they were the up&coming firearm for various police forces and have had it for all those years without putting more than a couple of hundred rounds through it. All of a sudden though, the empty magazine hold-open feature doesn't work with one of the two 10 round factory magazines that the gun came with (no problem with mag #2). I hope there's an easy home fix for this?

RandyB45

Do the mags have an "A" stamped on them? Those were, IIRC, improved mags to address some of the issues early models had.

XSabers

It may be that the follower is worn at the point that it contacts the slide stop. Just something to check.

redlegagent

If it is a worn magazine follower, you can get replacements from Numrich.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/...spx?catid=6276

MackR

Wasn't the Model 59 originally equipped with a double-column 14/15 round magazine?

Sweets

That wouldn't surprise me but the legal max capacity where I am is 10 rounds, so that is what came with the thing. Anyway I only use it for target shooting.

1saltygrunt

First, replace your magazine springs, if tat doesn,t fix the problem, replace the magazine followers. Do this to all your magazines wheather they are failing ir not, its just a preventative measure to future failures.
This should fix your problem.
Lew

Sustinemus

Yes. The Model 59 was the first semi-auto pistol with a double-stack magazine manufactured in the US. It was introduced in 1971.

Mine still goes bang every time. A fine weapon.

mercman

This was my first semiauto pistol back in the late 70's. I was a jamomatic until I replaced the magazines with the upgraded units. The accuracy was pie plate groups at 25 yds. It was not my favorite pistol and was traded off very soon after I got it. I got it from an SPD officer who had tried it as a duty sidearm and found it not to his liking......................

Semiauto pistols have come a long way since those days. I went to a Browning Double Action .45ACP (Sig Sauer P220 w/European mag release) after that and it was and is a great pistol. It was so good that I bought three more of them.............

TexIndian

I bought one new in 1979. The handle always felt too fat for my liking but it shot okay and never had any mag or jamming issues. It's been a safe queen for at least 20 years now, mainly because of my mistake - buying a nickel-plated version. It gets fingerprints on it if I just walk by and if I don't catch them right away, they have to be buffed out. It was known then as the first of the wonder-nines.

Sweets

One reason I bought it was because of the fat grip- but I do find it's an easy gun to overcontrol just because my grip is so good as to be too good.

CharlieEcho

I've had my 59 for longer than I can remember. It was used when I received it. I'd had a 39 before that. I like them both but don't use them all that often. I had the 59 gone through by S&W about fifteen years go. That was just before my son went through the police academy.

He used the 59 while going through the academy and has carried it on occasion. We have one original mag and two of the A mags. Never have had any problems to my knowlege. My son's regular duty gun is a Glock, 40S&W. The 59 is nickled.