CW45/P45: Flush fit magazine - UPDATED

[wyntrout]

Every chance I get, I put in a request for reasonable things that they have for most models... flush-fitting metal bases for the .45 magazines, a K45, an extended-grip, higher capacity .380 magazine, and ported barrels for all models... and maybe some threaded ones, too... nothing that they haven't done for other models/calibers.

Wynn

[camsden1]

Flush Mag

I was trying to find another Meg-Gar clip to modify and I could not find one. I did come across a 7 round Colt magazine very reasonable . The original spring was to weak to hold the slide open so i put in a longer spring from another magazine. After modifing the clip to fit and clear the extractor the magazine works and locks the slide back. Here is my issue though, when I rack the slide by hand to eject shells it works great until I get to the last one and it is a bear to get iti to extact. Any ideas on this?

camsden

[gb6491]

Here is my issue though, when I rack the slide by hand to eject shells it works great until I get to the last one and it is a bear to get iti to extact. Any ideas on this?

camsden

That was my experience as well with the Devel/McCormick style follower.
I believe the tip of the follower is getting up behind the case as it is being extracted. Removing some material from the the front of the follower might fix this, but this style follower moves around so much I didn't feel it was worth the effort (see posts 27, 47, 48, and 50 for others experience with this style follower).
Regards,
Greg

[94zcar]

Very Nice!! I'd love to find a magazine like that for my CW9.

[0311Hoosier]

Hey all!

I just wanted to report that today, at the NRA range, one of my modified MecGar mags blew the welds and dumped spring and ammo out onto the ground.

I was so pissed, not to mentioned slightly embarrassed.

Is there any way to "beef up" the remainder of the mags that I have? They only welded the things twice on each side of the base, and during firing, they had enough and blew out.

Suggestions?

[gb6491]

Hey all!

I just wanted to report that today, at the NRA range, one of my modified MecGar mags blew the welds and dumped spring and ammo out onto the ground.

I was so pissed, not to mentioned slightly embarrassed.

Is there any way to "beef up" the remainder of the mags that I have? They only welded the things twice on each side of the base, and during firing, they had enough and blew out.

Suggestions?

Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the one magazine. MecGar generally has a sterling reputation for making quality products. Suspecting this magazine to be an anomaly, I'd be inclined to think you would not have any problems with the remaining magazines from them; besides, I really can't think of any way to beef them up.
FWIW, CDNN has the stainless version of the Metalform magazine I used when I posted this modification on sale for $9.99
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/co19of456rds.html
This magazines has the sides folded under to secure the base:

Regards,
Greg

[0311Hoosier]

Thanks Greg! You know, I should have picked up the ones with the folded bottoms the first time. All of the ones I have work perfectly, but then the bottom fell out! I hope it doesn't happen again.

I purchased 2 of those mags just now, and I'll mod them when they arrive!

-0311

[Jarhead]

Up until about 2 years ago Wilson Combat made a .45 1911 "Sentinel" that was about 5/8" shorter than an Officer's size frame... I no longer have a PM45, but I believe Wilson still carries the ultra short 6-round in stock and it should be about the size of a PM45 magazine? I have some Wilson Sentinel mags left if anyone wants to know any particular dimensions of the mags...

[LSP972]

Seems to me we're mixing the P45 and PM45 set-ups in this thread.

To the OP; great work, many thanks, and I have a few questions.

If I'm reading you correctly, you got the best results with the blued 7 round Colt Officer's model mags, and replaced the issue follower with the Kahr follower by removing/re-installing followers through the feed lips of the Colt mag?

I hope that's right... because I ordered a pair of those mags from CDNN this morning, along with the stainless 6 rounder with removeable floor plate just for good measure.

I scored a NIB P45 yesterday, and the first thought in my head after handling it was... "This thing needs a flush carry magazine."

And here I find this thread. I was going to try to cut the body off and weld a new floor plate onto the issue Kahr magazine. This method looks to be a lot less painful...

.

[gb6491]

Seems to me we're mixing the P45 and PM45 set-ups in this thread.

To the OP; great work, many thanks, and I have a few questions.

If I'm reading you correctly, you got the best results with the blued 7 round Colt Officer's model mags, and replaced the issue follower with the Kahr follower by removing/re-installing followers through the feed lips of the Colt mag?

I hope that's right... because I ordered a pair of those mags from CDNN this morning, along with the stainless 6 rounder with removeable floor plate just for good measure.

I scored a NIB P45 yesterday, and the first thought in my head after handling it was... "This thing needs a flush carry magazine."

And here I find this thread. I was going to try to cut the body off and weld a new floor plate onto the issue Kahr magazine. This method looks to be a lot less painful...

.

LSP972.
Welcome to the forums and congrats on the P45
Yes, the combination that works best for me is a modified Officer's magazine body with a Kahr follower and spring. I have had nary an issue with this combination. Capacity is six rounds, but it feeds flawlessly and locks the slide back. The Kahr follower and spring are indeed installed through the feed lips of the modified magazine:
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=35268&postcount=14
Regards,
Greg

[LSP972]

Excellent.

Thanks for the response. Did you use a regular sanding drum, or one of the specific metal-cutting drums, or what, to re-shape the magazine upper area?

.

[gb6491]

I used files and an aluminum oxide drum on my Dremel, but anything that removes metal should work. Just work carefully around the feed lips and the magazine latch window (if it needs adjustment).
Regards,
Greg

[LSP972]

An aluminum oxide drum is what I was planning to employ.

I am curious about one thing: your photos show a radical re-shaping of the front top edge. Is that to accomodate the Kahr follower?

.

[gb6491]

An aluminum oxide drum is what I was planning to employ.

I am curious about one thing: your photos show a radical re-shaping of the front top edge. Is that to accomodate the Kahr follower?

.

Are you referring to this photo?

If so, these magazines are from different manufacturers; thus the different front profiles. The magazine on the right is the Metalform I used for the conversion, but only the top edges of it have been modified as illustrated on the left in this photo:

The top photo was meant to show approximately how much material I removed from the modified magazine in comparison to a stock Officer's magazine.
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Up until about 2 years ago Wilson Combat made a .45 1911 "Sentinel" that was about 5/8" shorter than an Officer's size frame... I no longer have a PM45, but I believe Wilson still carries the ultra short 6-round in stock and it should be about the size of a PM45 magazine? I have some Wilson Sentinel mags left if anyone wants to know any particular dimensions of the mags...

That must have been similar to the Detonics, can't remember the model but it had a short magazine also.
Like to stick one in a PM45 and see how it fits.