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Got my Fulton Armory M2 mag catch and...

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skunk62 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote skunk62 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Got my Fulton Armory M2 mag catch and...
    Posted: Nov 15 2021 at 6:24am
I'm not impressed. It's looks nice but it fits too tight. When I click any of my mags in, whether 30 shot or 15 shot, it does not retract all the way in and I have to push it in manually by pushing on the opposite side of the release button. You should never have to push the opposite side of the catch like that. 

Should I send it back to Fulton? It might eventually wear in I guess but I'd rather it work right out of the box as all of us would no doubt. Should I leave it in an hope it polishes itself up by wearing in? Should I try to polish it down myself with a grinder/moto-tool or diamond pads or something? I tried an extra drop of gun oil more than I normally would but that did not help. I have not contacted Fulton on it yet.


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floydthecat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote floydthecat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 15 2021 at 7:11am
The early mag-catch design was upgraded to provide a loser fit. They could bind in the same manner. A classic case of having the correct part in a carbine is not always the best part for actual shooting. I would be tempted to keep it tight and work it in. I would rather have one tight that I could wear in as opposed to having one floppy lose. Maybe take a fine file and slightly rake the contact areas shined up by the rub. Of course….monkey with the catch and not the TH. That catch would likely be a perfect fit in other TH’s.
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David Milisock View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David Milisock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 15 2021 at 8:40am
I got 2, definitely not military,  modern manufacture but fully functional and a real improvement with 30nround mags.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote skunk62 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 22 2021 at 4:13am
I ended up emailing Fulton and one of the top guys there sent me a free replacement, this one works perfectly! Thumbs Up 

After looking closely at the one that I could not get to work, (no matter what I tried) I see that there is a little crease in the metal in the dome-shaped hollowed out recess that the pin goes into to retain the whole thing from falling out. And even though I had scraped all of the parker coating out of that space and highly polished it, that little crease (looks like a smoothed out scratch would look) must have been impeding the pin every time I pushed on the catch or loading up a mag engaged it the catch. The pin could not slide across from one side to the other very well, despite the travel not being very far in that tiny space!! The spring pressure apparently was enough to make it glitchy and sticky when the pin was going across the crease. Not only did I polish all the places that slid, but I also tried generous amounts of Remington gun oil and then later I tried Shooter's Choice grease. All to no avail.

So kudos to Fulton for fixing this problem for me. The first catch was just a fluke with a defect in the metal.
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Dan Pinto, Photo Editor

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote New2brass Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 22 2021 at 8:49am
is it  marked M underlined?
Can you post a picture of the domed area that is giving you trouble
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skunk62 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote skunk62 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 28 2021 at 8:47pm
Originally posted by New2brass New2brass wrote:

is it  marked M underlined?
Can you post a picture of the domed area that is giving you trouble
No, the one that gave me trouble is a commercially made one from Fulton Armory, so it has no letter stamped on it. Fulton is not in the business of making parts and trying fake folks into believing they're original issue. They are a legit company. The newer one Fulton sent me is working good.

Can't post a picture because I can't find it. I found the bolt "hold back pin" for my old FN-49 though! The FN-49 is strange in that it has both a last shot hold back pin and a manually operated hold back. I was missing the last shot fired one! Glad I found it and already put it back in the FN-49.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DonFlynn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 28 2021 at 8:59pm
I just checked my new FA Carbine, the mag catch doesn't have a M on it either. I'm thinking new production. There was a run-on people ordering M2 catches over the summer IIRR for the Midway Italian return carbines over the summer plus the same with the RTI ones before that. Fulton probably ran out of any USGI ones they had left and contracted for new ones.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote skunk62 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 28 2021 at 11:42pm
i have one of the RTI ones but only recently converted to M2 catch.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote New2brass Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 29 2021 at 9:44am
Modified Work Order B28-W4 dated 16 May 1945 was for the "M" or modified mag catch to provide better holding power. This is not the Type 5 or what some call a M2 mag catch.

Change No. 1 MWO B28-W4 dated 29 October 1952 introduces the M underline mag catch (type 5)
this was classified as restricted even though the Type 5 mag catch was a WW2 item.
I bring this up as it mentions M under line and unmarked. These are the Type 5a on the datasheet
So there were USGI unmarked mag catches with the extra arm, as can be seen below

if you look at the back of the mag catch the plunger detent is not a full round cut, it is sort of squared off.


 there were also foreign made T5a mag catches.
So the question is if the Fulton mag catch is actually new made, NOS and if so USGI or foreign?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DonFlynn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Nov 29 2021 at 9:54am
Originally posted by New2brass New2brass wrote:

Modified Work Order B28-W4 dated 16 May 1945 was for the "M" or modified mag catch to provide better holding power. This is not the Type 5 or what some call a M2 mag catch.

Change No. 1 MWO B28-W4 dated 29 October 1952 introduces the M underline mag catch (type 5)
this was classified as restricted even though the Type 5 mag catch was a WW2 item.
I bring this up as it mentions M under line and unmarked. These are the Type 5a on the datasheet
So there were USGI unmarked mag catches with the extra arm, as can be seen below

if you look at the back of the mag catch the plunger detent is not a full round cut, it is sort of squared off.


 there were also foreign made T5a mag catches.
So the question is if the Fulton mag catch is actually new made, NOS and if so USGI or foreign?

Neat, you learn something new here everyday Big smile . I would imagine it's still the best quality Fulton can find and USGI spec.
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