Bushmaster factory mag retrofitting?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Bushmaster factory mag retrofitting?

Posted: 9/15/2004 9:17:12 PM EDT

Hello all;

Now that the BS Ban is a thing of the past, I want to set my 10-round Bushy mags up for 20 round capacity.

I heard that the mag body is properly proportioned for this, but it appears that there is a plug installed under the follower to prevent that, to be 'Legal' under the Ban....

From my tinkering, it is evident that the black pin in the lower front, that transverses the mag body, is held in place by a steel pin, inserted through the floorplate and epoxied in place.

This can be legally rectified now, but is it physically possible? If I'm not able to get 15 or more rounds in there, then I might just add a spacer to the block to make for an 'Oregon Legal' 5-rnd hunting mag....

Any thoughts?

TIA,

FastVFR800

Posted: 9/15/2004 9:32:02 PM EDT

[#1]

they say that if you try to disasemble the mag you will destroy it, just wait for some 20 or 30 rounders to go on sale

Posted: 9/16/2004 3:28:59 AM EDT

[#2]

I have taken them apart with tha same idea in mind (actuallt 15 rounds for NJ), but it looks like it is more trouble than it is worth. E-mail me if you wan pics as Hunt 101 is still down.

Posted: 9/21/2004 10:26:11 PM EDT

[#3]

i just completed doing two of them,one 5 round and one 10 round.
no damage what so ever.they will hold only 15 rounds using
all parts of the mag minus the steel pin located in the mag base.

Posted: 9/22/2004 3:18:07 AM EDT

[#4]

If you just remove the steel cross pin nothing will hold the base of the mag in place. The plactic base is what actually limits capacity. I considered cutting it down, but I would have to mill the spring pocket down too, and maybe use a longer spring for reliability. At that point it was easier to just buy new mags. Here are pics of the bushmaster internals if anyone has any ideas.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Joelk69/10rndbushy1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Joelk69/10rndbushy2.jpg

Posted: 9/22/2004 4:57:39 AM EDT

[#5]

Can you post pics of the mag? Specifically the bottom.
Can the base plate be replaced with a 30 rnd floor plate?

Posted: 9/22/2004 2:27:56 PM EDT

[#6]

They just cut a 30 rounder off, so there are no lock tabs. The plastic block slides up into the body, the cross pin hods it in place (through the large hole in the side of the block), and then a small pin goes up from the bottom to hold the cross pin in place, which is covered by epoxy. I will post some pics in a few minutes.

pic from bottom of mag body and top of plastic block
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Joelk69/10rndbushy3.jpg

Posted: 9/22/2004 8:50:20 PM EDT

[#7]

what i did was make a straight cut across
the plastic base about a 1/16th of an inch above the cross pin
then i cut the mag follower feet level with the followers rear
foot.i then used a sheetrock screw cut flush to replace the small
pin that was epoxied to be able to remove and replace the cross pin to be able to clean and maintain the mag.
it will almost hold 16 rounds and the spring tention is good on an empty
mag.loads and unloads fine.

Posted: 9/23/2004 3:03:54 AM EDT

[#8]

Sounds good, I will have to try it that way. Does the follower tilt now that the legs are short?

Posted: 9/23/2004 5:42:38 AM EDT

[#9]

follower doesnt tilt to cause any real problem

Posted: 9/23/2004 6:27:12 AM EDT

[#10]

Man, I was just in the process of getting online to post this same question. Sound easy enough.

Chad

Posted: 9/23/2004 2:33:23 PM EDT

[#11]

I think I figured out a way to do 15 (to be NJ legal

) without cutting the follower. It will involve a steped cut on the plastic base plate. I will play with the mill tomorrow at work, and if it shoots OK this weekend I will post pics/specs next week (I will be out of town this weekend).

Posted: 9/23/2004 7:53:07 PM EDT

[#12]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v510/Extracheeze/Picture1.jpg

You're on the right track with milling off the base, I milled mine completely flat except for the area where the new pin hole is drilled. Redrill the hole a little lower with a .110" drill, then finish the thru hole with a .125" drill you can use the steel pin you pulled out the bottom to hold the plate on. My mag now holds 19 rounds quite nicely, I will get it to twenty. I did put in a nice new 20 round spring, simply trim the post off a black plastic follower.

Posted: 9/24/2004 11:43:40 PM EDT

[#13]

I have drilled down to the small steel pin, but how do you remove it from the plastic base? Is it possible to punch it through or do you have to use some sort of hollow bit to drill around it?

Posted: 9/27/2004 1:14:49 PM EDT

[#14]

I tried it with the factory spring this weekend, but it did not reliably trip the bolt catch, so I will be trying longer springs when I can get some.
However I think this is a good starting point.

Here is what I have done to the plastic block:
Drilled circular hole to 5/16 to allow center leg of follower to go down into block.
Cut front of block to overall height of 1.3785 which limits capacity to 15 rounds to be NJ legal (those of you in other states need not leave this taller portion in the front)
Cut the rest of the block down to a little under 1 inch (I may have to go a little lower to prevent coil bind with longer springs)
I did this on the mill at work, but it could be done at home with a hacksaw and/or Dremel if you take your time.
Here are pics of where I am now with the block

Posted: 9/27/2004 1:17:28 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I have drilled down to the small steel pin, but how do you remove it from the plastic base? Is it possible to punch it through or do you have to use some sort of hollow bit to drill around it?

I drilled two more 1/8 holes a little deeper, one in front of, and one behind the steel pin, then just pulled it out with a needle nose pliers

Once the small pin is out the large one just pushes out to the side and it comes apart.

Posted: 9/27/2004 7:47:36 PM EDT

[#16]

Tag

Posted: 10/15/2004 10:02:57 PM EDT

[#17]

btt

Posted: 10/15/2004 10:04:33 PM EDT

[#18]

waste of time to convert it. just buy a normal cap mag

Posted: 10/16/2004 5:00:15 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
waste of time to convert it. just buy a normal cap mag

Well for us in NJ we can not have normal capacity mags and it is not a waist of time. JoelK has made a successful conversion of a 10rnd mag to hold 15rds.

Posted: 10/16/2004 7:26:51 AM EDT

[#20]

A normal cap mag is going to cost even more money. I say modify what you have.

Posted: 11/13/2004 8:03:40 AM EDT

[#21]

don't want to loe this thread.

Posted: 11/13/2004 10:32:26 AM EDT

[#22]

Better info HERE in NJ Forum.

Posted: 11/19/2004 7:43:05 AM EDT

[#23]

See Woodbury thread in Hometown Forum

Posted: 1/30/2005 3:25:24 PM EDT

[#24]

btt

Posted: 2/15/2005 4:27:44 PM EDT

[#25]

B T t

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Bushmaster factory mag retrofitting?

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