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 40 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 40 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 40 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 30 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 30 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.