CW45/P45: Flush fit magazine - UPDATED

[LSP972]

Thanks, gb, that answered my question.

I couldn't stand it, and fired its first three rounds into the water tank today.

Tomorrow after work, I'll put the first 100 or so break-in rounds through it. The magazines should be here by week's end.

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[LSP972]

Mags are here. Going to finish the break-in rounds Saturday... then I'll start whittling.

125 rounds of full power factory ball through this pistol, in about half an hour, is NOT fun. 125 more to go, then I can start tweaking a light practice reload.

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[LSP972]

Made the magazine tonight. It feeds dummy rounds flawlessly, slide locks back, so far so good. We'll see if it works for real.

Over 500 rounds through the pistol so far. After 250 flawless rounds of factory ball, I put another 250 various reloads through it. It doesn't like SWC bullets, probably due to steep feed ramp angle. But it gobbled up ALL the 230 FMJ ball bullet loads I tried, including some very light ones that were quite pleasant to shoot.

I hope this magazine works... it makes a substantial difference in the concealability, I think.

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[LSP972]

Well, by gum, it works. I ran 50 reloads through it yesterday at work... light practice loads that it seemed to like during the "break-in". Nary a burp...

I will shoot this mag a lot more before trusting it fully, but so far, so good.

Kudoes to the OP for the idea and detailed text/photos. If you carry your P45 (or want to), this project is well worth the small investment of resources and time. Carried IWB under a T shirt, the flush magazine makes a difference. How much of a difference for YOU depends on many factors, of course.

I worked on the mag catch slot with needle files, and trimmed down the mag lips on a disc sander, then used a piece of crocus cloth to clean them up. Took about an hour, total.

I only used the D-tool for the "notch" at the bottom of the front strap, to clear the mag lip. I intend to grind a similar semi-circular notch on each side panel, so I can get both forefinger and thumb on the mag to rip it out if necessary; double-feeds really lock this particular pistol up tighter than ****'s hat band. While it has only done it with cast lead SWC reloads, which I would never use other than in practice, if I'm going to carry this pistol (infrequently, but nonetheless) I need to be prepared for the worst.

Anyway... a quick, easy project.

[gb6491]

Nice report LSP972!
It looks like the Officer's magazine fits closer to the bottom of the frame in your P45 than it does in my CW45. I like the cut out that you did in the front strap (BTW: excellent work).
Regards,
Greg

[LSP972]

Yeah, I ruined the first mag. The catch wouldn't fully engage, and I continued to remove metal from the catch notch until I snapped to the fact that the lip was hitting the bottom edge of the front strap and stopping any further upward movement. By that time, of course, I had enlarged the notch 'way too much. Oh, well... that's why I ordered two.

This also gives you a place insert a fingernail and strip the mag out if needed, but the side cut-outs will be more positive for this. The mag drops out easily when empty, but a double feed locks it in place pretty solid.

The light reloads make this a very pleasant little pistol to shoot. There are those who say that one MUST only practice with his carry load to "be real"... that's a load of crap. But far be it from me to go counter to I-experts...

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[Catshooter]

Gentlemen,

Do we have any updates? Inquiring minds ya know . . .



Cat

[JackDRipper]

I bought three stainless Metalform magazines from CDNN for $9.99 each to use in my cw45 two weeks ago. Looks like CDNN has raised these mags to $14.99 now. I ground down the tops a little and installed Kahr springs and followers in two of the three magazines. The two "kahr" magazines functioned 100% and locked back the slide when empty. The other magazine also fed 100% and locked the slide back about 50% of the time. I'm real happy with these converted magazines and glad I ran across this thread. Don't know why Kahr doesn't make a metal based mag for the 45. I also included a kahr mag that I have ground down the plastic base and finger rest some. My CW45 has been 100% so far and is a great gun!
JR

[wyntrout]

If you want to try to blacken the base, you might try the Presto "Gun Blue" pen for aluminum and other metals besides plain steel. I just got the regular one, but I know they have the other, too. It would require touching up for wear now and then, but it's not like using a Sharpie, which just wipes off.

Wynn

[gb6491]

Excellent post JackDRipper

Gentlemen,
Do we have any updates? Inquiring minds ya know . . .
Cat

Nary a problem with mine and it's been the primary magazine for my CW45 going on seven months now.

Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

Here's a quick video I shot the other day while killing some time at the range. It's of the CW45 with a modified Officer's magazine. I'm shooting it with my off hand. If you have the volume up some, you can hear my buddy drop the hammer on an empty chamber in the rifle he was shooting then mumble to himself about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HibsulReymc
Regards,
Greg

[JackDRipper]

I shot 43 more rounds in my CW45 and modified Officer's magazines on Saturday with 100% function.
JR

[LSP972]

Mine is a modified Colt Officer's Model magazine. I shoot it every range session, have maybe 200+ flawless rounds through the gun with this mag.

I now use this piece every night for a "walking gun". I change into shorts and T-shirt when I get home from work, and unstrap my normal EDC in the process. When its time to do the nightly walk, I just grab the P45, an extra Kahr mag, the E1B, and my walking stick.

I have confidence in the pistol and modified magazine; enough so that I wouldn't hesitate to carry it every day, ALL day, if need be. But the HK45C carries so well, I have no plan to put it aside.

The P45 makes a perfect piece for when I need to leave the house but don't want to mess with strapping up a holster, etc. This thing was MADE for mexican carry...

.

[Ljutic]

Recently picked up a Metalform Officers for a new Officers model 1911. For some reason the gun won't work with the magazine. So, I'm glad I found this post so I can still put the mag to good use. I'm concerned about the follower causing issues with the frame so I'll probably use it as a flush 6 rounder with Kahr spring and follower vs. a flush 7 rounder with stock spring and follower. Also, I may have a different mag model than gb6491. My base plate isn't wrapped by the mag tube and my base plate has much different stamping.

Started the shaping by hand, but think I'll have to get the Dremel involved before I'm done with this project.

[Ljutic]

Also picked up a factory Colt and Kimber mag for Officer sized 1911s. Colt fits perfectly on the mag release, but needs work on the feed lips. Kimber also locks in perfectly, but it too needs some work on the feed lips. Have a couple of Wilson 47OXCBs on the way so I will see how they fit.