When cutting down a mag, does it work properly?

[The_Matrix 105]

I read that some of you cut your hi-cap mags down to shorten them so not to attract attention at the ranges.

 

Does the spring tension get screwed up because of the different length of the mag? Does it cause FTF, FTE issues?

 

Or is pinning with a rivet a better opinion?

[vladtepes 1,060]

attracting attention at the range is not a viable reason to modify a magazine..

 

can the magazine hold 15 or less rounds? YES? LEGAL.. doesn't matter if it is a 75rd drum.. as long as it can only hold 15 rounds.. that is what matters..

 

your guns are legal.. or they are not.. nothing else matters..

 

to answer your question directly.. some mags may work.. some may not.. some may require you to modify the spring itself.. when I cut down a surefire mag to make a really small one.. I had to trim the spring.. so there is no specific answer...

 

pinning is the best option IMO..

[vladtepes 1,060]

unless of course you WANT them short.. for shooting prone for example.. in that instance cutting is obviously the best option.. but other modifications may need to be made.. (like I was saying.. the spring MIGHT have to be shortened.. )

 

just make sure you are pinning.. cutting.. whatever.. in America.. because if you are doing it in NJ you are guilty of a crime..

 

sometimes it is easier just to buy modified mags from retailers.. I purchased several different modified magazines from PK90.. and they were great..

[vjf915 456]

It really depends on the magazine in question. You have to remember that after cutting down the magazine body, you still need some way to attach the floor plate back to the magazine. Surefire magazines were designed for this, and you can cut down the body. A good portion of other magazines I have come across would make it quite hard to cut the magazine down, because it would require cutting in a certain pattern, and bending new lips for the floor plate to attach to. Can you post a picture of the magazines you are considering cutting down? (obviously they aren't yours yet, just an internet picture.)

[The_Matrix 105]

vjf,

 

I see a lot of pictures with cut down mags so I was just curious if it worked properly.

 

I do not have any mags to cut and see no reason to do so.

 

There are a few dealers, especially in Kalifornia that sell pinned mags in 10 rd formats. I never load more than 10rds anyway.

 

I prefer the long mag look vs the short mag look---->if it makes any sense.

[PK90 3,573]

If one were to cut down a magazine to a ONE round capacity, there would still be no reason to shorten the spring. Look at it this way. If you load 30 rounds in a 30 round magazine, the 30th round would have the same spring pressure and rate as the 1 round capacity magazine with the 30 round spring.

 

 

[tony357 386]

you sure will not have any nose dives..

[vjf915 456]

If one were to cut down a magazine to a ONE round capacity, there would still be no reason to shorten the spring. Look at it this way. If you load 30 rounds in a 30 round magazine, the 30th round would have the same spring pressure and rate as the 1 round capacity magazine with the 30 round spring.

Yea, but it's gonna be a b*tch to get that floor plate back on if you cut a 30 rounder down to 1 and don't cut the spring

[vladtepes 1,060]

If one were to cut down a magazine to a ONE round capacity, there would still be no reason to shorten the spring. Look at it this way. If you load 30 rounds in a 30 round magazine, the 30th round would have the same spring pressure and rate as the 1 round capacity magazine with the 30 round spring.

 

 

while that may sound logical.. two cut surefire mags kept binding up after being cut.. I tool a LITTLE off the spring.. and they ran smooth as could be.. maybe a fluke? but that is what I personally experienced..