Hey Everyone,
I have noticed a lot of people in the Equipment Exchange forum asking for the old style Stevens/Savage magazines. I thought i would share how I make mine out of the stock MKII magazine. It seems a lot of people are afraid to give this a try but there is really nothing scary about it.
I timed this and all toll it took less than 10 min to make this mag including fitting to the gun.
Here is what i started out with
First step is to file a small notch just below the raised rib on the back of the magazine. This will serve as a starting point for the magazine catch on the stevens. I use a file or a hacksaw blade to mark this you want to be right below the raised rib. Remember its better to be a little low as its harder to add material to the magazine if needed.
here is the before
and here is the after
Next step is to remove the raised rib on the back. This can be done with a file but i used a belt sander. All you are doing hear is smoothing the back of the magazine so that it is a continuous curve on the back like so
another shot after it was followed up with 600 grit sandpaper to remove all sharp edges.
The next step is to disassemble the mag. This is by far the hardest part for me. You will cuss a bit here and remember parts are sharp. Bend up the front of the bottom of the mag and use a screwdriver to rock the bottom plate off the magazine.
this is the piece your are removing it should slide off.
once removed the magazine will come apart like so. Remember how i said parts are sharp? take note as to which way the follower comes out. You will need to put it back in the same way or the spring will bind
Next take the follower and remove the the hump. The MKII rifle uses a very steep feed angle and the Stevens uses an almost flat feed angle.
go from this
To this. I used the belt sander again here go slow if you do. After i touched it up with some 800 grit again
resemble the magazine and all that is needed now is to finish filing the magazine catch. To do this insert the mag into the rifle to where the feed lips just clear the bolt. about 6 passed with a bastard file and you are done. again its really easy to take off more not so easy to put it back.
Here is a pic of the completed mag. Notice i do not fully reassemble the bottom of the magazine until it feeds correctly in case i need to tweak some things. 99% of the time it works first try.
I have noticed a lot of people in the Equipment Exchange forum asking for the old style Stevens/Savage magazines. I thought i would share how I make mine out of the stock MKII magazine. It seems a lot of people are afraid to give this a try but there is really nothing scary about it.
I timed this and all toll it took less than 10 min to make this mag including fitting to the gun.
Here is what i started out with
First step is to file a small notch just below the raised rib on the back of the magazine. This will serve as a starting point for the magazine catch on the stevens. I use a file or a hacksaw blade to mark this you want to be right below the raised rib. Remember its better to be a little low as its harder to add material to the magazine if needed.
here is the before
and here is the after
Next step is to remove the raised rib on the back. This can be done with a file but i used a belt sander. All you are doing hear is smoothing the back of the magazine so that it is a continuous curve on the back like so
another shot after it was followed up with 600 grit sandpaper to remove all sharp edges.
The next step is to disassemble the mag. This is by far the hardest part for me. You will cuss a bit here and remember parts are sharp. Bend up the front of the bottom of the mag and use a screwdriver to rock the bottom plate off the magazine.
this is the piece your are removing it should slide off.
once removed the magazine will come apart like so. Remember how i said parts are sharp? take note as to which way the follower comes out. You will need to put it back in the same way or the spring will bind
Next take the follower and remove the the hump. The MKII rifle uses a very steep feed angle and the Stevens uses an almost flat feed angle.
go from this
To this. I used the belt sander again here go slow if you do. After i touched it up with some 800 grit again
resemble the magazine and all that is needed now is to finish filing the magazine catch. To do this insert the mag into the rifle to where the feed lips just clear the bolt. about 6 passed with a bastard file and you are done. again its really easy to take off more not so easy to put it back.
Here is a pic of the completed mag. Notice i do not fully reassemble the bottom of the magazine until it feeds correctly in case i need to tweak some things. 99% of the time it works first try.
