AR rivet location

stormbringer

stormbringer

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I am thinking of back riveting my AR mags instead of an internal copper tube block.

I want to make a test mag.

What size of rivet is used?

What is the distance in mm along the back of the mag to the position where the rivet goes to make a 5.5 round mag?

This would be for both black and green followers.

Thanks
 
There's definitely an art to it as all mags are a little different (can't really use a general measurement as some mags might squeeze in 6). This is what I have done:

Remove floor plate & spring, insert 5 rounds into the mag on it's side with pressure on the follower (using a pencil) and measure 5.5 rounds. Insert something along the spine which can bend to get an accurate reading and use it to measure where it makes contact with the follower. Take that "something" (I use very thin wooden dowel - almost toothpic like in diameter) on the outside of the mag to get an idea of where the follower is. Now, take into account the diameter of the rivet (when expanded) and drill at that point so that the rivet will be touching the follower ;)

*TIP* you can buy counter sunk rivets which will fit flush (sucks seeing regular rivets which people just file down to make flat).

Good luck - hope this gives you some ideas. Sorry I don't have any exact measurements to pass along.

P.S. I believe Black and Green followers are different in length (I no longer have any black ones so I can't tell you for sure).

Last tip: It's better to favour going higher on the spine rather than lower as you can always shave off a little plastic to get a perfect fit.
 
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I've had great luck and success using 1/8" rivets (aluminum).

I'm using green followers (USGI issue)....

Then I will center punch / landmark EXACTLY ONE inch (no joking) or 2.5 cm. down from the back edge of the magazine (a square notch... the very bottom, measure ONE inch and mark it)

Seriously, this gives me 5.5 cartridges for my Service Rifle and Tac Carbine matches.

I figured out that if I ended up with 5.25 cartridges loading, and not enough slack... I will grind a teeny tiny portion of GREEN Plastic from the REAR and BOTTOM of the green follower... trial and error until I get the 5.5 cartridges. ONLY had to do this ONCE... The rest of my many, many AR magazines worked by drilling and riveting 1" down from the bottom of the square notch at the rear spine of the magazine. Hard to believe, but it's that easy.....


Hope this helps....

Barney
 
^Awesome info. Nice and easy ;)
I have a bad C-Products mag here now and some USGI followers. I will give that a try this weekend.
 
Gunslinger said:
Storm,

Not trying to "plug" the mags I have for sale so delete this if you think it's necessary. I had the guy who plugged these rivet an aluminum bar inside the spine of the mag that way the rivet doesn't ride inside the magwell and damage it.

Here's the link to the pic.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98057
Click to expand...

I too find this to be the best method...
 
I have done ther regular rivet method but I counterbored the magazine so that the rivet was just below the surface. I also did some of the old 20 round straight mags with a ""Ü"" shaped insert which went up the front and back of the mag then I put a rivet in the base of the mag to prevent easy removal.
 
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