I think it would be really neat to fabricate your own magazine for your rifle. I am wondering if there would be a way to legally do it (I assume its illegal, like anything fun related to guns here). I am betting people have wondered the same thing and I am curious to know how far along you got and if you were stonewalled legally.
Making Your Own Magazine
- Thread starter DirtyHarold
- Start date
Why would it be illegal to make a magazine, provided it was not over the allowed capacity?
It is perfectly legal to build your own firearm. I am designing my own 50BMG.
Having said that, the feed lips on a mag are really finicky things so it might be more of a PITA than its worth.
It is perfectly legal to build your own firearm. I am designing my own 50BMG.
Having said that, the feed lips on a mag are really finicky things so it might be more of a PITA than its worth.
Nope, it isn't illegal at all. It is only illegal if you are making mags that are over allowed capacity for your particular firearm. For instance if you want to make up copies of the AIA mags, I can see no reason why you shouldn't BUT make darn sure you stamp them "For AIA Rifles Only."
If you decide to make your own, you need some special equipment. You might be able to #### around with a vice/hammer to make up something. The best way I've found is to cut out a blank with all of the outside edges cut and form it over a positive mandrel. This usually entails some welding or brazing.
I made up such a mandrel to make clips for an M95 straight pull that we converted to 45-70. That rifle was ALMOST more effort than it was worth but it was accurate and would handle any loads we could make up for it, including those we used in a Ruger No1.
It can be done and it is legal to my knowledge. If you are planning on building mags for something that are extended beyond legal limits, I don't want to know about it.
If you decide to make your own, you need some special equipment. You might be able to #### around with a vice/hammer to make up something. The best way I've found is to cut out a blank with all of the outside edges cut and form it over a positive mandrel. This usually entails some welding or brazing.
I made up such a mandrel to make clips for an M95 straight pull that we converted to 45-70. That rifle was ALMOST more effort than it was worth but it was accurate and would handle any loads we could make up for it, including those we used in a Ruger No1.
It can be done and it is legal to my knowledge. If you are planning on building mags for something that are extended beyond legal limits, I don't want to know about it.
Honestly, I'd love to make my own magazine, but I have to admit it'd be a garbled hodgepodge of;
-nudity
-pointless pontificating about our eroding rights in Canuckistan
-a little more nudity
-Gun ####
-a touch of nudity
-Right-wing rants
-Celebrity nudity
-Fast car centerfold
Come to think of it, I'd buy that magazine!
-nudity
-pointless pontificating about our eroding rights in Canuckistan
-a little more nudity
-Gun ####
-a touch of nudity
-Right-wing rants
-Celebrity nudity
-Fast car centerfold
Come to think of it, I'd buy that magazine!
Seems a lousy use of time and materials to save the price of one available off the shelf. Won't tell you not to, just that I sure wouldn't. Save the effort for something you cannot get easily enough.
Making a set of dies to form the mag side panels and form the guides for the spring and cartridges, is non-trivial. Not impossible, though.
The homegunsmithing forum has some good pictures in the magazines sub-forum. You need to set the default settings over to "from the beginning" to see them though, or they wont show in the index.
Draw lots of pictures, make lots of cardboard mock ups.
Cheers
Trev
Making a set of dies to form the mag side panels and form the guides for the spring and cartridges, is non-trivial. Not impossible, though.
The homegunsmithing forum has some good pictures in the magazines sub-forum. You need to set the default settings over to "from the beginning" to see them though, or they wont show in the index.
Draw lots of pictures, make lots of cardboard mock ups.
Cheers
Trev
Its not so much that I can't get the magazine at the store, its more for the experience and satisfaction with using my own, custom made magazine. Thanks for the info on the homegunsmithing forum!
Go for it.
