2011 spring/follower compatibility?

[MoNsTeR]

Which of the fancy followers can take which springs? I had assumed they were all proprietary, but I read some interesting claims by DAA and CSRG that sent me down a rabbit hole.

 

• Grams: only claims to fit Grams
• TTI (formerly Bolen): only claims to fit TTI
• MBX: only claims to fit MBX
• Atlas: claims their followers take Atlas or Grams springs, and that their springs work with Atlas or Grams followers (to my eyes, their spring looks identical to Grams)
• DAA: claims their followers work with Grams or TTI springs, and that their springs work in "all 2011 style magazines"
• CSRG: says their springs are for their follower, but the follower says it also accepts TTI, Grams, and DAA springs
• Rune Tactical: explicitly says their springs only fit Rune followers
• Henning: claims to be for "factory followers" but the picture looks like it would fit fancy followers?
• There's other stuff too like SV, Arredondo, Staccato factory, Springfield factory, but I'm ignoring those

 

I only have Grams and TTI stuff handy. Eyeballing the springs, the top coils look like they might have about the same dimensions. I haven't yet tried assembling mismatched sets because they're such a pain to take apart...

 

What do we think? Is it possible these have quietly become standardized and the different brands would just prefer we don't catch on? TTI springs are never in stock so I'd love to have alternatives.

 

 

Edited November 24 by MoNsTeR
grammar

[ultimase]

 

This is an interesting thought as over the last few months I've picked up 7 MBX magazines. Of the 7 there is definitely two different sets of springs, and the followers vary quite a bit as well. They all function fine, though I was taught that I need to preload the springs a bit this past week, and all can get 23 rounds. I'm not sure if this is a generational change for MBX, or it might be distinctly possible someone went with another spring company. Unfortunately, no markings present anywhere on the springs, though the followers may have some markings.

[ultimase]

 

When I went to clean them this week I took a close look at these.

 

There are definitely two different types of springs. One's coils are consistent all the way through and one has a square coil at the bottom.

 

The one that are consistent has followers that are marked grams s2. The picture of the springs online appears to confirm that these are grams springs as well. Total 11 coils. These I can get 23 in easy with some space, but not a 24th. These followers are nice and smooth and look great. The post below the follower is definitely longer than the other ones.

 

The ones that have a square coil at the bottom have followers that are marked either 9, or X. Total 11 coils. These I can get 24 in, but it is a struggle. These followers are 3d printed, and don't look that great.

 

As mentioned before, even if the 3d printed followers don't look great they have not given my any issues.

[shred]

I've never seen an MBX with Grams guts that somebody didn't put there aftermarket.

[MoNsTeR]

After staring at pictures some more I'm like 99% sure the DAA stuff just is Grams stuff, and maybe 80% sure that the Rune springs are Grams springs (the Rune follower is clearly 3D printed).

 

I ordered an MBX kit to test. Supposedly it won't even work in my tubes but we'll see!

[ultimase]

4 hours ago, shred said:

I've never seen an MBX with Grams guts that somebody didn't put there aftermarket.

 

I got the mags used. Two have the grams springs and followers, one has the grams springs, but a 3d printed follower. Most likely they were replaced at some point.

Edited November 30 by ultimase

[shred]

Some 3DP followers are factory MBX.  People will ignore the initial break-in instructions and damage the followers going dry on a mag, leading to replacement with different springs and followers.

 

[keeph8n]

I have some of the new MBX 30 rounders and the baseplates and springs/followers will fit in the prodigy mags. The baseplates are a bit firm going on, but they install fine. Didn’t try and stuff 30 in the tube, but 28 went fine. 
 

Atlas has told me all of their followers and baseplates are compatible with the prodigy mag tubes, and work without issue. I have tried the competition and non competition followers myself from them in the tubes. 
 

realistically, picking up Atlas baseplates, springs, and comp followers and installing them on the prodigy tubes makes for a good mag at about a $15-$30 price difference depending on current promotions 

[CHA-LEE]

In my experience the TTI and Grams springs and followers are interchangeable. The hook portion of the spring in how they poke in the side hole of the follower is identical. The hoop of the spring at the top which wraps around the bottom of the follower is identical.
 

The MBX follower is about 1mm wider than a Grams or TTI. 1mm doesn’t sound like a lot but you will get rounds slipping past a TTI/Grams follower if you try to use it in an MBX tube. The MBX spring has a very similar top hoop to the TTI/Grams but is slightly different. The hook that engages the follower is also a sharp 90 deg bend.

 

McKenna Dynamics makes a thin height Follower for both MBX and STI/Atlas/SVI style magazines and the spring attachment style is made for the TTI/Grams springs. This setup is what I have been using in both Atlas and MBX mags for the last year with great success. 

[keeph8n]

Pulled some mag springs out just cleaning tubes and thought I’d show what I found. 
 

The four springs on the left are from stock prodigy mags. Far left two are from the 26 round magazine and inside two are from the 20 round magazine. 
 

the six on the right are all from atlas and have anywhere between zero and 5-6 full capacity runs through them. 
 

all are 11 coil. I also pulled apart my 30 round MBXs and they are 13 coil. The ultra thin follower from MBX will fit in only 1-2 of my 26 round tubes, otherwise it stops short. 
 

also interestingly enough the MBX tubes are a touch shorter than the Prodigy tubes. The wings at the bottom are also wider on the mbx tubes.