I doubt it's the UpLula. I've loaded thousands of rounds with mine without damage, and thousands of other guys and gals have too.

I'd disassemble, clean, and reassemble the mag and then see if you still have problems. If you do, the next step might be a new mag spring.

 

+1

 

I don't think the Uplula could do anything to cause that. I use one all the time.
It might be worthwhile to disassemble that mag and clean it out well. Could be some okd lube and crude keeping the follower from moving all the way up to engage the slide lock. Also inspect the follower and compare it to the other to see if the follower broke (very unlikely) where it engages the slide lock.

 

I don't think the Uplula could do anything to cause that. I use one all the time.
It might be worthwhile to disassemble that mag and clean it out well. Could be some okd lube and crude keeping the follower from moving all the way up to engage the slide lock. Also inspect the follower and compare it to the other to see if the follower broke (very unlikely) where it engages the slide lock.

Dang auto correct! I doubt you'll find "crude" oil in your mag but you might find some "crud"! :lol:

 

Had that happen with my FNX 9. I dropped a loaded magazine and although it functioned it would not lock the slide back. Upon inspection the follower had cracked and the spring bent. FN offered to replace the magazine but could not send it to me due to 10 round restrictions. Since as LEO I can have the 17 rounders I asked if they could send the follower and spring which I got two days later. Problem solved.

 

I use an Uplula every week and have for years.

It's something else, not the Uplula.

 

Isn't crude the plural of crud???:lolu:

 

I've been using the same Uplula loader for 3 different pistols for over 2 years now and have never had a mag problem with any of about 14 or 15 different mags I have for both 9mm and 45 ACP calibers.

 

The Uplula pushes straight down on the center of the follower.
Has no contact near where the follower meets the slide stop. Impossible to damage the ability to contact the slide stop.
The main reasons for failure is spring, and follower. Also recoil spring. It is easy to see the contact, and compare working mags with no working to see how well the contact is accomplished.

Cleaning is a first step for me, because it is easy, and best done periodically anyway.
Mag springs wear by use, not standing full or empty. They usually take a lot of use, but anything can fail.

 

As the UpLULA instructions advise, always load the first round by hand so that the "beak" of the loader never presses directly against the follower.

 

I've come to learn that the Glock polymer mags have a whole lot less friction than my Beretta and Sig steel mags. Hense, I spray with Hornady "One Shot", clean & dry lube...a must for the steel mags.
In fact the Mec-Gar 226 & 229 mags have much less friction than the Sig mags....BIG differance!

 

Reagan, that's an interesting observation about the mags.

I've found that I absolutely need a mag loader for the Glock mags to avoid having a sore thumb for a day or two, while I don't need one with the Sig mags in spite of the fact that they're tight.

 

Pipe smoker is right, the metal tang that presses down on the plastic follower can scratch it if in direct contact with it. I keep forgetting to load the first one by hand though (my own version of old-man issue). But I'm workin on it.
M

 

So far I have had no MaLula related Mag issues, and I have several and they sure save my fingers at the range and when cleaning, loading/unloading, and inspecting mags. I do keep the mags all dry lubed up [absolutly nothing wet].

 

Been using the Uplula forever with no issues but agree that the magazines need to be cleaned. I just open mine up and wipe down the follower, spring and inside of the mag with the silicone rag I use to wipe my pistol down with.

 

I've loaded many 10s of thousands of rounds into various pistol magazines without encountering the OP's problem.

I do have some magazines with ruts carved into to plastic followers by the Lula's "beak" because I don't load the first round by hand.

It hasn't caused any issues though.

 

I always load the first round by hand, since if something could, only .0001% of the time, in the most absurd of insane situations, break, it will about the first 10 minutes in for me.

I have seen one mag damaged by an uplula. Mag was not straight /square in the throat, , and the user slammed it down on the mag like he needed to drive it to China. Lips bent in the process. But if you abuse the tool, it isn't the fault of the tool.

 

Sometimes it's the TOOL behind the tool.

 

The only damage I've got from my uplula is in my wallet.

Tha wife once put 5- 9's in backwards with the speedloader, once. Luckily it
was Mecgars, still going strong.

SS

 

Definitely not the Uplula. I'm sure the rounds you loaded backwards didn't help thought.

 

How does one put the rounds in backwards…even when not looking? By the way I have one as well and I love it. Brilliant little piece of design.

 

Exactly, it happen to my wife couple of times only but she is rare shooter and 22lr only Why would I blame Lula? it does whatever your finger can't - helping on sticking rounds into stiff mags. Some like P220 mags are imposible to load with just bare hands. Lula is a magic device!

 

I've seen very new shooters somehow put a bullet into a mag backwards just by hand…but that's someone who REALLY didn't know and I was frankly not all that secure with their being around a gun. Anyway, I've had other loaders before, but this one really gets it right and puts the extra 'pressure' where it needs to be. So glad I picked one up.

 

If you depend on your semi auto handgun,it's Mags should be able to always work clean or dirty.
If you have to worry if some of your Mags will work, or not work you need Mags that you can depend on.

 

These work pretty well to clean magazines:

Amazon.com : Kleen-Bore MAG & WELL BRUSH 22-25-380 CAL/9MM : Sports & Outdoors

 

I just run a rag through them with some alcohol.

 

Alcohols and some metals, esp. aluminum, don't go together. Not worth the risk, use some oil or a CLP and wipe it off to drynes.

 

If a good clean up to your mags does not help buy some new mag spings . Maybe a some wolff +5% springs if they have them .