keeping mags loaded

[Bpolcyn2]

Wow, can't say I expected that.  Thanks for sharing.  Wonder what CZ USA would have to say about these results.

[copenhagen]

Wow, can't say I expected that.  Thanks for sharing.  Wonder what CZ USA would have to say about these results.

I'm going to call and tell them tomorrow.

[Obiwan]

I only exhibit moderate Google-fu, so perhaps someone can find more and/or better information. Just upfront a personal experience. As you know, engine oil comes in plastic bottles. I once (and only once... lol) stored used engine oil in a milk jug (plastic is plastic, right?). It didn't take too long (a week or two) until the jug was dissolved enough for the oil to leak out. I guess the used oil, being acidic and having other pollutants in it, is just way more aggressive than "clean" engine oil. Lesson learned. Also, different types of plastic react differently to certain chemicals.

Here is a link with a chart of the effecst of various chemicals on plastics/polymers: http://www.plasticsintl.com/plastics_chemical_resistence_chart.html

What I found so far is that Militec apparently contains chlorine:
"Furthermore, DOD has had a standing prohibition against the use of lubricant
additives containing chlorine since late 1950s?prior to the Navy and Marine Corps
test and evaluations. MILITEC-1 contains chlorine. DOD and Navy officials could not
explain why the Navy and Marine Corps conducted these tests and evaluations, given
that MILITEC-1 has always contained chlorine. "
(Source: http://gao.gov/new.items/d09735r.pdf)

I suspect that it is the high chlorine content that weakens the magazines.
More reading on polymer degradation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_degradation
Note the section about "Chlorine-induced cracking".

I have not yet found out what type of polymer the Scorpion magazines are made of. If it's High-Density Polyethylene, or HDPE (more info on that here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylene), then apparently the D rating in the resistance chart linked farther up is well deserved. "D = Material will decompose or dissolve in a short(time)".

Yup, looks indeed like a short amount of time.

My hope is that synthetic or natural gun oil WITHOUT aggressive additives won't degrade the polymer used in the magazines as quickly. But after seeing the test pictures above, and reading above links, I think I will clean my magazines only with water from now on.

[copenhagen]

Dang, I didn't expect that would happen either.  Especially not in this short amount of time.  And it looks like another militec sprayed mag is about to fail too.

I guess moral of the story is to keep oils away from it.

Both remaining militec mags have cracks already after 24 hrs.  I fully expect two more catastrophic failures.

[longgonedaddy]

Wow...that is incredible.   

[biggerhammer]

Unbelievable! I would have lost a a ton of money on that bet. CZ is going to owe you one hell of a thank you.

[Border Dave]

Would you post a picture of the feed lips of the mag that failed?

[mursalot]

 
Passing the antifreeze. Would you like butter with your pancakes as well?

Great test by the way. I admire not only that you used a control AND another product to compare, but you used 3 in each. That would rule out a faulty mag which might have marred the results.

Thank you for posting your results so that fellow scorpion owners will be a little more aware of what they're applying to their tools.

[nitesite]

Really eye opening thread, at least for me.  I've learned a lot by reading it.

Thank You all for contributing.

And John thank you for pointing me in this direction.

[copenhagen]

Would you post a picture of the feed lips of the mag that failed?

[mtl111]

I'm really interested in hearing what CZ's comments are on this!

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[copenhagen]

I'm really interested in hearing what CZ's comments are on this!

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Have ya'll actually seen this advice from CZ?  I asked him where he thinks atomized oil from the action goes...

"We advise customers to not put lubricants, cleaners or anything else containing an accelerant on our magazines as, with the vast majority of clear polymers, it will weaken the polymer and cause cracking to occur rapidly.  It is best to leave your magazines dry and only clean them with a dry nylon brush.

 

Thank you,

Andy

 

CZ-USA

Warranty Gunsmith

1-800-955-4486 ext 336"

[mtl111]

I actually have never oiled any polymer mags, metal ones ...yes. I still have a problem getting the last round or two loaded in these mags, its bleep near impossible to do so. Seems to me the magazine spring is a little too long and with the added pressure could be causing cracks on the feed lips. Has anyone clipped a coil or two off these things and tested the function?

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[copenhagen]

On another forum, a fellow mechanical engineer made the comical observation

CZ-USA: "Our gun is allergic to oil. We tried to warn you."

[fr3db3ar]

I actually have never oiled any polymer mags, metal ones ...yes. I still have a problem getting the last round or two loaded in these mags, its bleep near impossible to do so. Seems to me the magazine spring is a little too long and with the added pressure could be causing cracks on the feed lips. Has anyone clipped a coil or two off these things and tested the function?

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I had to do this on my 5rd Grendel mag that only take 4.  Clipped one loop off the bottom and that allowed the last one to seat.

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