Lakeline Metal Followers testing in my 2010 PM45
I bought some Lakeline followers to try in 9mm(two), .40(three), and .45(two). I had no problems with my regular 9mm and .45 Kahr mags, but was having problems with my P40 with failures to feed. I'll report my results on the .45 followers here. I installed a Lakeline follower in each of two mags... one a 5-round flush-based Kahr mag and the other a 7-round extended grip Kahr mag. All of my Kahr .45 mags have the correct new springs and there are no weak springs involved.
I took a bunch of pictures of the stock and LL followers out of the mags in the mags, and with one or more rounds inserted in the mags with both types of followers. There are way too many and I can't post them all, but I'll post a few of the more important ones and I will show comparisons and the wear from testing.
First off, the two mags with the LL followers would not lock the slide back when empty under actual firing until empty, or with an empty mag inserted and the slide pulled to the rear. It just didn't happen with MY PM45. YMMV. Other than that, the mags seemed to feed several kinds of ammo without any other problems.
The angle of of presentation seemed about the same for loaded cartridges. First the Kahr follower on the left and the LL on the right.
Loaded with one Speer 230-gr GDSB each:
My marks on the two LL--equipped mags:
Wear from testing:
There does not seem to be enough of a landing area for the slide lock to be actuated. I fired a box each of American Eagle and Blazer-Aluminum-cased 230-gr FMJ, as well as some Speer GDSB in both the LL mags and the stock mags, all with the same results... feed but no lock back with the Lakeline followers.
I appreciate Adolphe offering these aftermarket followers and other parts, but my results from MY PM45 show they're not ready for all pistols, in mine anyhow. Your results might vary.
Wynn
USAF Retired '88, NRA Life Member. Wife USAF Retired '96
Avatar: Wynn re-enlists his wife Desiree, circa 1988 Loring AFB, ME. 42nd BMW, Heavy (SAC) B-52G's
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