Is your handgun MAGNETIZED?

[peacefuljeffrey]

I recently discovered that when I put my watchband compass near the slide of my handguns, mostly near the muzzle or grip end, the compass swings in response.

My handguns are magnetized!

I'm guessing that since I observed this among GLOCKs, HKs, even a puny Beretta Bobcat .22, it's gotta be a common thing.

I'm not crazy about magnetic properties in objects or tools that don't use those properties by necessity, but I guess it can't be avoided if it happened without my specifically doing something to cause it, even inadvertently.

Check your guns. Are they magnetized as well?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[kd5nrh]

Well, it is possible to magnetize soft iron by tapping it repeatedly while holding it in the same orientation with respect to the earth's magnetic field, and most of us fire pretty much all of our practice ammo in the same direction, so maybe they're taking on some magnetism from that?

More likely, though, you'd see the same effects from any ferrous metal in close proximity to the magnet in the compass.

[ICTsnub]

Yes, as a matter of fact, I noticed that when my slide came back from being milled for a front sight dovetail, it was magnetic.

[peacefuljeffrey]

I don't know much about machining or anything like that, but I would imagine that when drilling and milling are involved, the chance of magnetizing goes up. I mean, the drills themselves operate using electric motors driven by magnetism, right? Probably a big field right around that drill...

Anyway, I don't suppose it affects much. I was really just hoping to see that mine are not the only guns 'suffering' from this effect.

[Daddy Warcrimes]

I've not checked any of mine, but it seems to be pretty normal and common. Nothing to worry about anyway.

[OPFOR]

A compass needle will gravitate to any ferrous metal that it comes in close enough proximity to, not only "magnetized" metal. The needle, after all, is itself a magnet.

Not saying that your guns haven't picked up a bit of extra "pull," but I would suspect it's just the natural tendency of the magnetic needle being attracted to the iron (steel) in your handguns.

[ICTsnub]

My slide was able to pick up a paper clip.

[OPFOR]

My slide was able to pick up a paper clip.

Now that's magnetized!

[QKShooter]

A steel slide running back & forth (and forth and back) on a steel frame can slightly magnetize both.

[retsupt99]

None of my pistols seem to be able to attract other metal (paper clips, etc.), nor do I care...
Makes no difference to me!

[nn]

A compass needle will gravitate to any ferrous metal that it comes in close enough proximity to, not only "magnetized" metal. The needle, after all, is itself a magnet.

Not saying that your guns haven't picked up a bit of extra "pull," but I would suspect it's just the natural tendency of the magnetic needle being attracted to the iron (steel) in your handguns.

+1...

[P95Carry]

Remember folks - your gun could get you outa trouble if lost and no GPS.

Place gun on piece of wood floating in water ... and let it rotate to find north/south line LOL! Ultimate survival tool in more ways than one.

[glock21guy]

My G21, and G30 as well as my wifes HK USPc are not magnetized.

[peacefuljeffrey]

A compass needle will gravitate to any ferrous metal that it comes in close enough proximity to, not only "magnetized" metal. The needle, after all, is itself a magnet.

Not saying that your guns haven't picked up a bit of extra "pull," but I would suspect it's just the natural tendency of the magnetic needle being attracted to the iron (steel) in your handguns.

I honestly can't think of why this did not occur to me...

Thanks for pointing that out.

It does seem, though, that some of my guns attract the needle more strongly than others do; I assume this is because those guns are more magnetized, rather than just assuming that all the guns are neutral and the compass is doing all the attracting...

Heh.