Mark 23 - Brand new broken Magazine

[Keller]

First off let me start by saying hello; first post here.

Now to the reason for this post.

Has anyone else had problems with the 10 round Mark 23 magazines? I hadn't even taken my Mark 23 to the range and was in my basement practicing with snap caps when it happened. I loaded the snap caps into the mag (4 of them), and with the slide back slapped the mag into place; but it popped back out just a little bit. I slapped it again just a little bit harder and as I took my hand away I had a floorplate and spring assembly falling into my hand.

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures before I took it back to the place where I purchased the pistol. But basically the little "ears" that stick up with the tabs that lock into the mag body were snapped right off. The "plastic/composite plastic" seems very thin and now I'm being overly cautious with the one mag that I have left.

The manual for the Mark 23 says to disassemble and clean your mags every now and then, but after this incident I am very hesitant to go bending and removing the floor plate from any 10 round magazine.

I am from Canada so I would love to be able to get the 12 rounders, but my government doesn't trust us with those extra 2 rounds. ;)

[308ster]

Here's a youtube link that explains differences and compatibility between various Hk magazines.
This happens to be part 1 of 3.
It's worth watching all of them when you get time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suufupDMg9M

It includes disassembly and reassembly instructions starting around 04:55.

The trick is to get the spring base in and push it into the mag body with the base plate tabs.
When the tabs snap into the holes in the mag body, the spring base pops down to hold the tabs in place.
You may still have to fidget with the spring base to get the button to pop into the base plate hole.

[ltbarber]

Keller,first,my sympathies on your magazine,and your Gov.t! I have used my 10 rounders for several years now,and have not had a problem. I'm sorry to not have more help,but if it were me,I'd contact H&K,it can't hurt.

[Hired Gun]

Maybe somehow the snap caps caused it?
To chamber a snap cap I insert them directly into the chamber.

[RyuNoKai]

I definitely wasn't the snap-caps. Perhaps, the magazine was assembled improperly; and when you smacked it, the ears caught. Quite a stretch, but look for damage on the mag tube, and where the ears took the force, and you should be able to deduce, or post pics! :)

[Big Bore]

Snap caps should be fed from the mag just like live ammo. Dropping the snap cap into the chamber then closing the slide forces the extractor to snap over the rim and it is not suppose to do that and you risk breaking the extractor or over compressing and damaging the spring.
What happened to your 10 round mag is not uncommon. Those ears are weak and if you send the mag to HK they will replace it free of charge. Call them Monday and see if you need a RAN but I don't think you do on mag returns. Include a letter stating what happened and your return address of course. I've returned a few mags to HK and there was never a question asked and I usually got them back within 10 working days.