Re-pinning magazines from 4.5 to 5.5 rounds.

autocrash

autocrash

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
16   0   0
Location
Ontario, adjacent to the center of the universe.
Hey All,

Just purchased some 5/30 AR magazines (aluminum) - opened the first package today: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4.5... The fifth round won't fit unless I tilt the follower (pinned at the front).

Being a DIY kind of guy, my first thought is re-pinning these... I'm currently leaning towards dealing with the vendor, and have contacted them.

In the event that my concerns are not addressed, or for future knowledge, has anyone done this - any tips?

Any hints on measurement? (Drop the base plate and spring, hold upside down, stuff 5 rounds in and add a bit?)

Or do I just take some plastic off the front of the follower and call it a day?

Thanks,

Matt
 
If it almost takes the 5th round I would just trim the front of the follower a bit. I had to do this to a bunch of 9.5 round XCR pistol mags purchased from Wolverine. The followers were already butchered before I removed the base plates though, looked like they were chewed down by a grumpy wolverine lol
 
Instead of having to drill and rivet another hole a couple mm below the existing one, just chop off a couple mm off the leg of the follower instead and use the existing rivet hole.

Edit: Damn it, beaten by Canadian_Zuk. lol
 
Canadian_Zuk said:
If it almost takes the 5th round I would just trim the front of the follower a bit. I had to do this to a bunch of 9.5 round XCR pistol mags purchased from Wolverine. The followers were already butchered before I removed the base plates though, looked like they were chewed down by a grumpy wolverine lol
Click to expand...

x2 I'd just trim a little off the follower. Don't do it all at once, take a little off at a time, put it back together and check the capacity, obviously you don't want to take too much off of the follower.
 
autocrash said:
Wow, you guys are fast - thanks, I'll see what the vendor offers first - I currently own just about every tool known to man EXCEPT a pop-rivet gun, making removing and replacing the follower a little difficult.

Thanks again,

Matt
Click to expand...

Every gun owner needs a rivet gun. Just wait for CrappyTire to put them on sale, which is like almost every couple weeks. Removing them is as easy as slowly drilling out the old rivet. Piece of cake. The cost to ship them back to the retailer and back again ain't worth it. They'll probably end up doing the same thing.
 
Trinimon said:
Every gun owner needs a rivet gun. Just wait for CrappyTire to put them on sale, which is like almost every couple weeks. Removing them is as easy as slowly drilling out the old rivet. Piece of cake. The cost to ship them back to the retailer and back again ain't worth it. They'll probably end up doing the same thing.
Click to expand...

I agree on the need for a rivet gun - like I said, I own practically every other tool, it's only a matter of time for that too.

The vendor has really stepped up to the plate on this one - I have to say that dealing with CGN supporting businesses is always a pleasure.

Thanks again for all the help,

Matt
 
TRIM IT. I would do it with any mag...ie: 10rd pistol mags are 10.5 ish....not 11....so it loads easier.
 
I did this for my USA shoot, and had to drill and pin the mags I won there to bring back with me.

It's actually super easy. Have a power drill, have a $20 rivet gun from CanTire, and 10 minutes of time.

Having a "good" mag that's already got the pin where you want is great to have as a reference point. I pinned my magpul M3 and Troy Battlemag just my indexing on a previously well pinned mag and was right at the 5.x mark.
 
So this may be asking a dumb question but I've never done this before so....

I have 4 pmags that I'd like to do this too. To trim the leg of the follower you clearly need to take the magazine apart but you can take out the follower without removing the rivet first, correct?
 
Rivet guns are cheap, and generally come with an assorment of different sized rivets. So cheap, that years ago a I wouldn't bother bringing one to the US; I'd just buy one there to use.

Limiting mags is a PITA....you have to get inventive. I HATE rivets, makes the mags look awful. I like to limit mags via the follower, for instance JB welding on a metal rod to limit its travel. Wire coat hangers work well for that. Just did some Beretta 9mm mags that way, and you can't tell from the outside its a neutered mag.
 
Repro77 said:
Rivet guns are cheap, and generally come with an assorment of different sized rivets. So cheap, that years ago a I wouldn't bother bringing one to the US; I'd just buy one there to use.

Limiting mags is a PITA....you have to get inventive. I HATE rivets, makes the mags look awful. I like to limit mags via the follower, for instance JB welding on a metal rod to limit its travel. Wire coat hangers work well for that. Just did some Beretta 9mm mags that way, and you can't tell from the outside its a neutered mag.
Click to expand...
Yeah that would not meet legal requirements as the body needs to be the limiting factor as they have charged and convicted for empty mag bodies.. The way some have been limiting is welding a flat metal piece to the inner bottom of the body thus limiting the follower
 
volitaire said:
Yeah that would not meet legal requirements as the body needs to be the limiting factor as they have charged and convicted for empty mag bodies.. The way some have been limiting is welding a flat metal piece to the inner bottom of the body thus limiting the follower
Click to expand...

Since when? I get them from retailers done that way. I have multiple mags done that way, some from the manufacturer. Sorry, I don't buy that one. If it makes you feel better, pop rivet the base plate on.
 
volitaire said:
Yeah that would not meet legal requirements as the body needs to be the limiting factor as they have charged and convicted for empty mag bodies.. The way some have been limiting is welding a flat metal piece to the inner bottom of the body thus limiting the follower
Click to expand...

Yeah you don't know what you're talking about, there are several methods that can be used to legally limit magazine capacity, the body is one of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom