I've seen some pics of Sten mags shortened to 20 rds and I was wondering if anyone has done this. I'm interested in doing this mod on some mags for my 9mm AR and I need more info. Overall length, how much spring to cut, etc... If anyone has a beat up Sten mag that they'd be willing to let it get bubba'd, then let me know.
Shortening Sten mags to 20 rds?
- Thread starter Leg
- Start date
I think most of those mags (if you're talking about the Indian 19 round conversions) weren't actually cut to shorten the capacity. Instead a brass rod was welded into the inside of the mag body making them a single stack instead of the british double stack which was sometimes prone to jamming if fully loaded to 32 rounds.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
I'll agree with the above responses; they will be the Indian mags with the brass rods down the sides to make the mags single column.
I have, however, successfully modified, by shortening, several dozens of sten mags to 5 round capacity. I usually use mags which were mangled by the army upon release. They would strike the body with an axe or a hammer. I simply cut the mag just below the 10 round indicator hole on the back spine, file away some of the front and rear edge, and bend the sides out to hold the base plate on. A bit of filing is required to get the dimensions just perfect to accept the baseplate.
I cut the spring at the 11 loop length, bend the upper coil so it is like the origional, and re-assemble the mag. Any minor adjustment required to get that last 11/2 round in can be made by shortening the legs on the platforms.
They are great for shooting competitions where you don't want to be dragging dozens of 30/5 round mags around. They fit nicely in the combat shirt pockets, with very little wasted space.
To make them 10 round capacity, you would make the cut just below the 15 round indicator hole, but you would have to pin the mag to 5 rounds anyway since they were origionally made for a carbine.
These mags are great for the sterling SMGs, for those that can still shoot theirs.
I have, however, successfully modified, by shortening, several dozens of sten mags to 5 round capacity. I usually use mags which were mangled by the army upon release. They would strike the body with an axe or a hammer. I simply cut the mag just below the 10 round indicator hole on the back spine, file away some of the front and rear edge, and bend the sides out to hold the base plate on. A bit of filing is required to get the dimensions just perfect to accept the baseplate.
I cut the spring at the 11 loop length, bend the upper coil so it is like the origional, and re-assemble the mag. Any minor adjustment required to get that last 11/2 round in can be made by shortening the legs on the platforms.
They are great for shooting competitions where you don't want to be dragging dozens of 30/5 round mags around. They fit nicely in the combat shirt pockets, with very little wasted space.
To make them 10 round capacity, you would make the cut just below the 15 round indicator hole, but you would have to pin the mag to 5 rounds anyway since they were origionally made for a carbine.
These mags are great for the sterling SMGs, for those that can still shoot theirs.
http://snsindustries.com/Gallery/9mmHybrids
I'm not talking about the indian mags. Just like stencollecter is saying, but 20 instead of 5, 10 or 15. If you look at the pics, I think that you'll agree that the 20 rounder looks more balanced in the AR than the 32 rounder does. So...who has some beat up sten mags to sell me for cheap?
I'm not talking about the indian mags. Just like stencollecter is saying, but 20 instead of 5, 10 or 15. If you look at the pics, I think that you'll agree that the 20 rounder looks more balanced in the AR than the 32 rounder does. So...who has some beat up sten mags to sell me for cheap?
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stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Leg said:I'm not talking about the indian mags. Just like stencollecter is saying, but 20 instead of 5, 10 or 15. If you look at the pics, I think that you'll agree that the 20 rounder looks more balanced in the AR than the 32 rounder does. So...who has some beat up sten mags to sell me for cheap?
I occasionally get some that are whacked on the lower 1/4, but then the baseplate is usually missing and the spring mangled. Most of the mags were mangled in the center or top portions.
Non-Mangled sten mags are relatively cheap. They seem to show up in the exchange forum for around $20-27 bucks all the time.
