How to Clean Your Glock Mags

Glock mags, well, any magazines, that are kept clean and clear of dirt and fouling will feed more smoothly and last longer.

While it’s true that Glock magazines lack the steel design of many other firearm magazines and therefore are more resistant to corrosion, a surplus of oil, fouling, and other dirt can easily damage them and hinder smooth feeding.

Here’s how to keep them clean.

Disassembly

With the exception of Glock’s single-stack .22 mags with loading assist, pretty much all Glock mags consist of a mag tube with a polymer exterior, a base plate, and an insert, along with a steel mag spring and polymer follower.

More or less, they all disassemble in the following fashion.

First, clear the Glock and remove the mag from the handgun. Ensure that both the firearm and magazine are unloaded.

You will need a pin punch or a screwdriver small enough to engage the base plate pin.

Depress the base plate pin, then squeeze in at the sides of the base of the magazine to disengage the two plastic tabs that secure the base plate from sliding off.

Slide the base plate forward, then slide your thumb over the bottom of the mag to prevent the spring from shooting out the bottom. Remove the base plate entirely, along with the insert, and let the mag spring out.

The follower will come out the bottom of the mag attached to the spring. You don’t need to remove the follower unless you are deep-cleaning the mag.

Cleaning a Glock Mag

With the mag disassembled, you can now clean it.

Use an appropriate powder solvent on the magazine tube, as well as the interior. You can use the same cleaner on the mag spring and follower. Make sure any solvent you use is safe to use on polymers.

Make sure you scrub away any deposits of fouling that are visible using a rag or nylon brush, and allow all components of the magazine to fully dry before attempting to reassemble.

Do not use rubbing alcohol as a fouling solvent as it can cause discoloration, brittleness, and cracking of these polymer magazines, especially with repeated exposure.

You can use rubbing alcohol on the mag spring if you wish as long as you don’t get it on the follower or other polymer components.

Also, if you do use alcohol on the mag spring, apply a very light coat of gun oil to the spring after it dries and rub off the excess. This is to serve as a corrosion barrier only and not as a lubricant, as polymer mags do not need to be lubricated frequently if at all.

If the follower is particularly dirty, you can remove it from the spring and clean both the spring and follower separately. Make sure to dry them fully before re-engaging the follower onto the spring.

Ensure all parts are fully dry before reassembling.

Replace the follower on the spring if you removed it, then insert the spring through the bottom of the mag tube with the follower oriented so that the wide part is at the back.

Re-orient the base plate insert over the mag spring, compress the mag spring, and slide the base plate back over the bottom of the mag, so that the ears and insert re-engage it.

Where Can You Get Replacement Glock Mags?

Need a few replacement Glock mags for your favorite pistols? Get them online at Bucking Horse Outpost.

They carry a wide range of spare magazines for Glock pistols (including bundles) as well as spare mags for S&W, H&K, Ruger, Colt, Springfield, Sig Sauer, and other popular makes and models.

Visit their website for more information and make sure you check out their deals when you’re there.