During Glock magazine disassembly, removing the base plate from a Glock magazine can be surprisingly stubborn.
The small locking tabs on the magazine body help keep the floor plate secure.
They can also make routine cleaning more difficult.
In the video below, I demonstrate four different ways to disassemble a Glock magazine and remove the base plate, from the basic punch method to the GTUL magazine tool and a simple channel-lock method you may be able to do with tools you already own.
Safety note: Work only with an unloaded magazine and keep live ammunition away from your work area. The magazine spring is under tension, so keep your thumb over the base plate as it comes off and wear eye protection.
Why Are Glock Magazine Base Plates So Hard to Remove?
For Glock magazine disassembly, those tabs engage the base plate.
They help prevent the base plate from moving unintentionally.
However, they also make the floor plate harder to slide off when you depress the insert button.
There are several ways around this. Some use leverage to force the base plate past the tabs, while others squeeze the magazine body slightly so the tabs move out of the way.
Method 1: Remove the Glock Base Plate With a Pin Punch
The traditional method uses a pin punch that fits through the hole in the bottom of the magazine base plate.
Insert the punch straight into the hole and depress the magazine insert. Keeping the punch aligned with the magazine, use it carefully as a lever to start moving the base plate forward. Once it begins to move, remove the punch, cover the bottom with your thumb to control the spring, and slide the base plate off.
This method is inexpensive and doesn’t require a specialized tool, but it doesn’t work perfectly every time. The internal insert can move into a position that doesn’t give the punch good leverage.
If you need a suitable punch, here’s the gun punch set I use/recommend (paid link).
Method 2: Use a Glock Magazine Base Plate Removal Tool
The second method uses a dedicated leverage-style base plate removal tool. Its pin depresses the magazine insert while the tool uses the edge of the magazine for leverage to move the base plate forward.
This is quick and is the type of tool I often use when I simply want the magazine apart. The trade-off is that forcing the base plate past the magazine tabs can cause some cosmetic wear to the base plate or gradually round the tabs.
For most working magazines, that minor cosmetic wear may not matter to you, but there are other options if you want to avoid forcing the floor plate past the tabs.
Method 3: Use the GTUL Glock Magazine Disassembly Tool
The third method is the GTUL. Instead of simply forcing the base plate past the locking tabs, the GTUL squeezes the magazine body enough to move those tabs away from the base plate.
Slide the magazine into the GTUL until it is seated correctly. Squeeze the tool, depress the insert through the base plate hole, and slide the base plate forward while maintaining control of the spring.
This method can be especially useful if you want to minimize damage to the magazine tabs.
Check out the GTUL Glock Magazine Tool (paid link).
I also have a separate article and video devoted specifically to the GTUL Glock magazine disassembly tool.
Method 4: Use Channel-Lock Pliers
You can accomplish something similar to the GTUL with a pair of channel-lock pliers, but you need to protect the magazine body from the jaws.
In the video, I fold a 3×5 index card several times and wrap it around the magazine. Adjust the pliers so only the tips contact the protected sides of the magazine. Apply only enough pressure to squeeze the magazine body slightly, depress the base-plate insert, and begin sliding the floor plate off.
This method worked well in my demonstration and did not damage the magazine body or locking tabs. The key is using padding and not crushing or deforming the magazine. If you’re uncomfortable judging the pressure, use a purpose-built tool instead.
Which Glock Magazine Disassembly Method Is Best?
If you’re only going to disassemble a magazine occasionally, the punch method may be all you need. A leverage-style removal tool is very quick, but it can cause some cosmetic wear.
If you want to preserve the locking tabs as much as possible, the GTUL is my favorite purpose-built solution because it moves the tabs out of the way instead of simply forcing the base plate over them. The padded channel-lock method works on the same basic principle using tools you may already own.
How to Reassemble a Glock Magazine
Once the magazine has been cleaned, make sure the follower and spring are oriented correctly before putting everything back together. The large, flat portion of the follower faces the rear of the magazine.
Insert the follower and spring into the magazine body, position the magazine insert on the bottom of the spring, and compress the assembly slightly below the bottom edge of the magazine body.
Start the base plate onto its rails while keeping the spring assembly under control. Slide the base plate fully into position until the insert engages the hole and locks the base plate in place.
If you’re trying to avoid forcing the base plate over the locking tabs during reassembly, the GTUL or carefully padded pliers can again be used to move the tabs inward slightly.
When Should You Disassemble and Clean a Glock Magazine?
You generally don’t need to take your magazines apart every time you clean your pistol. Magazine disassembly becomes more important if a magazine has been dropped into dirt, sand, mud, water or other debris, or if you’re experiencing feeding problems that may be related to contamination inside the magazine.
For a more complete cleaning walkthrough, see my Glock magazine disassembly and cleaning guide.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t just one way to remove a stubborn Glock magazine base plate. A punch can work, a dedicated leverage tool is fast, the GTUL helps move the locking tabs out of the way, and padded channel locks can accomplish something similar if used carefully.
Watch the video above to see all four methods demonstrated side by side and choose the method that makes the most sense for your magazines and tools.
Related Videos
Glock Magazine Release Swap for Left Handed Shooters
Glock Gen 6 Field Strip: What has changed?
Disclosure: Some links on this page are paid/affiliate links. I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through them.
