Another curiosity noticed was when checking the same dimensions on the follower of a Colt magazine manufactured by Checkmate. Like the Numrich follower, the 5/16 distance down to the SS lifting ledge from the followers top was way short of the minimum spec of 5/16 - 1/64 = 19/64 = 0.297". This dimension was then checked on all available USGI-style followers and were found shorter than minimum spec by anywhere from 10% to 22%. The average of all eleven was 17% or 0.052" short.
The good news is that in spite of this, all lock the slide open after the last shot is fired - but that's to be expected. And this prompts two questions:
Q1: How close can the lifting ledge get to the top of the follower before it causes a problem?
Q2: How far can the lifting ledge get from the top of the follower before it causes a problem (fails to lock the slide open)?
When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind. [Lord Kelvin]
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