Mags that won't fit with stated capacities

[Wapiti]

Not sure how many of you members use detachable mags, but I do a bit for rifles used on the farm.
For hunting where you fire one shot or two, I like the sleek flush fit of a floorplate that won't stick out, and carrying 10 shots just makes the firearm heavy. But some quality rifles come with them and they look like floorplates, like Sako 75, 80 and 90's, and are double-stack to fit adequate cartridges for the job. 4 for magnums, 5 for 308 size, and 6 for 223 size that fit flush. Don't "need" more than that for hunting for meat or trophies. I mean, if you don't have them it's no loss at all.
But rifles used for controlling animals professionally, I mean as a necessity, or a real job, are best with detachable mags as they have 10-shots and in the case of categories of D for primary production have 20 to 30 rounds. But I usually swap out to 20 for 223 and 10 for 308 as the whole shebang gets bloody heavy and swings like a besser brick.
But ever noticed that when a 10-shot mag is full, in a lot of cases the mag won't clip in the rifle, or has so much pressure from the top cartridge on the bottom of the bolt that you struggle to open the action or load the rifle.
This is unnecessary I reckon, and in most cases can be easily fixed.
I show a couple of examples as I just got a delivery of some more magazines here.

AIAmag1.jpg (689.12 KiB) Viewed 189 times

Above is an AIA 10-shot double stack mag in 308. Coincidentally these are the same as M14 mags, and the makers of AIA modern Lee-Enfield copies use the much better M14 mags, what these are.
Now these hold 10 rounds, but the 10th one is hard to pop in, and certainly you need a hammer just about to get them in, unless you only load 9 cartridges in. can you see the capacity limiter underneath the floorplate? These two tabs bottom out on the mag base when full, and don't allow the 10th round to be pushed down enough when seated on a closed bolt.

AIAmag2.jpg (697.13 KiB) Viewed 189 times

Above is a close-up. What we want to do is grind these two tabs down to the same level as the rear folded-down guide behind them. We don't want to take anything off the back of the floorplate because this stops the follower from tilting and possibly causing the floorplate to stick.
Obviously, but just a mention, is to unclip the mag spring before doing this.

AIAmag3.jpg (699.68 KiB) Viewed 189 times

Above is the job done. You can see that the two depth-limiting tabs are ground down to match the length of the rear guide. the rear guide has not been touched.
This now allows the full mag of 10 rounds to have easily enough extra travel to clip into a closed bolt rifle without any force and works perfectly.
This can also be done with the 5 and 10-shot MDT (superior copies of the AICS mags fitted to everything nowadays) or P-Mags that fit all the 223 pump and button rifles still out there.
I'll show the P-mag steps next, it's slightly different, but still the same.

[Wapiti]

So here's the mod to some P-Mags.
In this instance, these are 308 versions, but the smaller 223 ones are just the same.

Pmag30a.jpg (682.92 KiB) Viewed 179 times

Above are two disassembled. On the left is a 20-shot Cat D mag, with the follower already shortened. On the right is a 10-shot version for those without a Cat D license or firearm, with the follower unmodified - as it is from the factory.
In an autoloader, I can't clip these in with the stated capacity of cartridges, i.e. 10 or 20 rounds, unless I run around with the bolt locked open. NOT a good idea in the dust and sh*t that blows everywhere, and unsafe. I travel with a loaded mag, but NOTHING in the chamber.
The safety comes on after a round is fired and is only on whilst the rifle is unloaded before moving on.

Pmag30b.jpg (676.21 KiB) Viewed 179 times

Above is a close-up of the two followers. The 20-shot one has had 6-7mm sanded/ground off it. NOT enough to cause the follower to jam as it slides up and down in use, but enough for the full mag to push the top cartridge down enough to easily and securely clip in and load when needed safely.
Don't take off any more material than that.
Or try and take so much off to get an extra cartridge in. You'll crush the mag spring.

For other magazine designs, disassemble the mag as you would for cleaning every few years or so and see if this is an option for you.
Hope this helps for those of you who wondered about this or see the need for it.

[bladeracer]

Not sure how many of you members use detachable mags, but I do a bit for rifles used on the farm.
For hunting where you fire one shot or two, I like the sleek flush fit of a floorplate that won't stick out, and carrying 10 shots just makes the firearm heavy. But some quality rifles come with them and they look like floorplates, like Sako 75, 80 and 90's, and are double-stack to fit adequate cartridges for the job. 4 for magnums, 5 for 308 size, and 6 for 223 size that fit flush. Don't "need" more than that for hunting for meat or trophies. I mean, if you don't have them it's no loss at all.
But rifles used for controlling animals professionally, I mean as a necessity, or a real job, are best with detachable mags as they have 10-shots and in the case of categories of D for primary production have 20 to 30 rounds. But I usually swap out to 20 for 223 and 10 for 308 as the whole shebang gets bloody heavy and swings like a besser brick.
But ever noticed that when a 10-shot mag is full, in a lot of cases the mag won't clip in the rifle, or has so much pressure from the top cartridge on the bottom of the bolt that you struggle to open the action or load the rifle.
This is unnecessary I reckon, and in most cases can be easily fixed.
I show a couple of examples as I just got a delivery of some more magazines here.

AIAmag1.jpg

Above is an AIA 10-shot double stack mag in 308. Coincidentally these are the same as M14 mags, and the makers of AIA modern Lee-Enfield copies use the much better M14 mags, what these are.
Now these hold 10 rounds, but the 10th one is hard to pop in, and certainly you need a hammer just about to get them in, unless you only load 9 cartridges in. can you see the capacity limiter underneath the floorplate? These two tabs bottom out on the mag base when full, and don't allow the 10th round to be pushed down enough when seated on a closed bolt.

AIAmag2.jpg

Above is a close-up. What we want to do is grind these two tabs down to the same level as the rear folded-down guide behind them. We don't want to take anything off the back of the floorplate because this stops the follower from tilting and possibly causing the floorplate to stick.
Obviously, but just a mention, is to unclip the mag spring before doing this.

AIAmag3.jpg

Above is the job done. You can see that the two depth-limiting tabs are ground down to match the length of the rear guide. the rear guide has not been touched.
This now allows the full mag of 10 rounds to have easily enough extra travel to clip into a closed bolt rifle without any force and works perfectly.
This can also be done with the 5 and 10-shot MDT (superior copies of the AICS mags fitted to everything nowadays) or P-Mags that fit all the 223 pump and button rifles still out there.
I'll show the P-mag steps next, it's slightly different, but still the same.

Yep, my 10rd MDT AICS mags were tight with more than eight, but eight is more than enough for chasing deer.
My Browning Hi-Power 10rd mags were ridiculous for getting that tenth round in them, so I took some off the bottom of the followers.

[Wapiti]

Yep, my 10rd MDT AICS mags were tight with more than eight, but eight is more than enough for chasing deer.
My Browning Hi-Power 10rd mags were ridiculous for getting that tenth round in them, so I took some off the bottom of the followers.

Yeah personally I prefer a nice streamlined floorplate rifle for hunting, can't stand unnecessary sharp bits sticking out of a hunting tool. There's way better designs out there holding cartridges in rifles used to fire one or two shots in a day.

But I just offer this bodgy idea and take the time to put up the pics, for the blokes for whom this issue of not being able to get mags in a gun at capacity. Like maybe comp shooters, pro shooters and spotlighters for whom fumbling around changing 3,4, 5 shot mags in the dark and would rather have more capacity in a mag without needing a longer one.
For example, you mention that after and including putting 8 in your mag, it gets ridiculously tight, do this mod and it won't. Changed all of mine completely.
For those blokes going out at night, or in a comp with a 10-shotter (and need 10 shots) and want to easily load and insert it without wasting time, maybe someone can get some benefit.

[Wapiti]

For those interested, the latest version of the MDT 10-shot AICS-fit mags are streets ahead of the Accuracy International so-called "Rolls-Royce" of magazines.
The mag on the left is the newer, double-stack 10-shot MDT, and the right is an original AI 10-shot mag. Ignore the steel blocks tigged front and back, these make them fit my 308 7600 pump action rifle.
The difference in length and width is marked, the Canadian MDT is evolutionarily advanced in comparison.
Both have had the followers modded to easily get 10 cartridges in and clip easily into a rifle with a closed bolt.

AIvsMDTa.jpg (688.53 KiB) Viewed 116 times

How these MDT mags have stepped up the original design is marked.

AIvsMDTb.jpg (697.42 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Anyone interested in how to do this mod to make these bolt-action mags work in a .308 7600 pump action, let me know and I'll give the dimensions of the bits you need to make.
You don't need a tig welder either, you could easily silver-solder them on.

AIvsMDTc.jpg (674.97 KiB) Viewed 116 times

But I would use the new MDT mags, not the long original AI versions or ones of other brands.
MDT have managed to get their double-stack, single-feed mags the same length as the awesome P-Mag .308 10-shot double stack double-feed mags, which is unreal.

[Wapiti]

Pmag vs latest MDT AICS versions. The fact they've got these single-feed mags virtually as short as the P-mag for the SR25-type rifles is just a great advancement.
Check out the Cerakote on the MDT all scratching off from use. This coating is just hyped up spraypaint, doesn't last out here very well.

PmagVsMDT.jpg (692.48 KiB) Viewed 110 times

[Die Judicii]

Wapiti,,,,,,,,,,,

Yep, most mags regardless of what capacity, are notoriously difficult (if not impossible) to get the last round in.

I find that a lot of the polymer mags also swell width wise when filled to capacity which also makes them hard to insert into the rifle.
And that issue alone never existed when the mags were made of good old "metal"

I'll also send you a PM

[Wapiti]

DJ has made a good point regarding magazines...
In Qld, I have the applicable licenses for all the mags I've shown in my post, including the 20-round ones. I show that one because I needed to show the comparison between that one, and the unmodified one, and how to get that little bit of extra give to:
Insert the mag into a rifle with a closed bolt and empty chamber for just prior to your legal and licensed use of your firearm, and;
I did state that we aren't trying to add an extra cartridge into a now-legal magazine, and promote you to make it then illegal in your state's firearms laws' eyes.
Actually, if you try and do that, not only will it be illegal to go over the maximum capacity for B class in some states, you'll also f**k it and it won't work.

Sorry, but with police, politicians and certain nasty narcs just waiting for someone to just "go a couple of km's over the limit" and then knife you, it has to be said again.

On one very high turnover online gunshop, I donotice that there are Cat B MDT magazines available for 308's that hold 12 cartridges from new, and here i could purchase one online. How about that.

[bladeracer]

On one very high turnover online gunshop, I donotice that there are Cat B MDT magazines available for 308's that hold 12 cartridges from new, and here i could purchase one online. How about that.

In Vic we can have 15rd CatB mags, but _only_ in bolt-action rifles, other CatB actions can only be 10rd detachable mags.