47D Slam Pad Failures

329 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by 45Shooter2, 11 d ago

KS_TLE2

Discussion Starter · 13 d ago

Has anyone ever had a polymer Wilson 47D slam pad fail?

I was shooting yesterday and when I inserted a magazine, the slam pad split.

It split because the polymer toe of the magazine that acts as an insertion stop took all the load of stopping a fully loaded magazine.

After it failed, my magazine overinserted and locked my gun up by forcing the slide stop up. I had to press the magazine back out via the ejection port.

Now I see that aluminum and steel replacement pads are sold by Wilson. I guess I will need those before I trust these magazines again.

Reactions: 1

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Squidsix

· #2 · 13 d ago

I never had it happen, but I have absolutely seen it. I have also seen the toe of GI-style mags bend so badly that the same thing happened: Over insertion and jammed weapon.
I use the metal pads on my Wilson mags purely to prevent this.

Reactions: 1

flechero

· #3 · 13 d ago

KS_TLE2 said:
I was shooting yesterday and when I inserted a magazine, the slam pad split.

Just curious as to the age of that mag/pad? I have a handful that are pretty darn old and have not split one myself... The pads are cheap so maybe it's a repalce every few years kind of thing or to your other point maybe just buy the metal pads.

7.62

· #4 · 13 d ago

I’ve always used the metal concealment basepads simply because they are shorter and don’t stick out as much. Guess this is also a benefit to them.

Reactions: 1

KS_TLE2

Discussion Starter · #5 · 12 d ago

flechero said:
Just curious as to the age of that mag/pad? I have a handful that are pretty darn old and have not split one myself... The pads are cheap so maybe it's a repalce every few years kind of thing or to your other point maybe just buy the metal pads.

New from Brownells a month ago. Used for fewer than 100 rounds.

Also, my older ones have a glossy rubber bottom, these new ones have a more plastic like matte finished pad.

Maybe Wilson changed the material to an inferior one.

TPC

· #6 · 12 d ago

I have had it happen with several Wilson mags over the years. I now use the metal base pads on all of my Wilson mags, and haven't had a problem since.

bladeandbarrel

· #7 · 12 d ago

Plastic basepads break and metal bases that are spotwelded on will pop off. Carry mags get metal, removable bases.

Reactions: 4

Arkansmay

· #8 · 12 d ago

I'm probably too feeble to slam it so hard as to break it but jeez it seems like they could/should be made out of stronger stuff since it's not exactly a garbo tier magazine.

Reactions: 1

TPC

· #9 · 12 d ago

The problem isn't that it breaks from just one time being slammed into the gun. Doing that over and over eventually causes small cracks, and then they just give way when you least expect it.

Uncle Bob

· #10 · 12 d ago

Nope I use CMC Shooting Stars, never a failure of any kind except an occasional dirty mag. I do drop mags on reload.

45Shooter2

· #11 · 12 d ago

I’ve used Wilson Combat 47D mags for over 30 years myself for duty and competition use. I’ve had 2-3 of the plastic base plates break through the years. Not a real big issue, but it does happen. Mainly I see it when training on a hard surface and dropping the mag partially loaded onto the ground. This starts small cracks which leads to the issue you described. I switched to Wilson’s steel and aluminum base plates years ago and don’t worry about them anymore.

KS_TLE2

Discussion Starter · #12 · 12 d ago

See less See more

2

Reactions: 1

Whiten

· #13 · 12 d ago

Wilson is running holiday sale right now, 25% off some things.

Base Pads & Retainer Plates | Wilson Combat

Reactions: 1

KS_TLE2

Discussion Starter · #14 · 11 d ago

Anyone have reason to believe aluminum would be more likely to fail than steel? Obviously both are orders of magnitude stronger than plastic.

Reactions: 1

45Shooter2

· #15 · 11 d ago

KS_TLE2 said:
Anyone have reason to believe aluminum would be more likely to fail than steel? Obviously both are orders of magnitude stronger than plastic.

Steel is obviously stronger than aluminum but I’ve never had either one fail on me. I’ve fired enough rounds and dropped enough magazines to have had an issue, if there was one.

1 - 15 of 15 Posts