My local range runs a couple of practical/action shooting matches each month for pistol caliber carbines. Of course, reloading costs time, so I decided to make myself a big stick magazine. I started with a couple of Uzi magazines; they are cheap and don't have the rear rib like the Colt mags (simpler to modify). I can live without last round hold open... hell, if the mag is big enough, I should never reach the last round .

To start with, I had a friend mill the mag catch slot in the top magazine and I squared off the bottom:





Next, I cut off the top of the second magazine just below the side indentations:





Before welding the two tubes together, I fabricated a backing block by beating on a piece of 1" copper pipe:









Now for the worst welds you will ever see (fortunately Dremel sanding drums can hide a multitude of sins):





I cleaned up the inside of the tube with a couple of extra-long files from Harbor Freight.

Next, I needed to join the two standard springs together into one long spring. I calculated the spring length to get the same ratio of uncompressed spring length to tube length, cut top and bottom spring to preserve the floorplate and follower connections, and joined the two springs using a piece of brass tubing; I filled the tube with flux, assembled it over the two spring ends, heated the tube and allowed lead-tin solder to flow in and fill the tube. The spring never gets hot enough to lose its temper, and the join is quite robust:







Lastly, I ground down the back of the magazine between the feed lips so that it would accept my MagLULA Colt 9mm loader (loading these magazines with thumbs SUCKS):







This is what it looked like before I gave it a shot of OD Green KG GunKote:



And in my 10.5" 9mm SBR:



The FrankenMagazine Gods must be smiling on me because this magazine has run flawlessly for two matches so far. I do put in generous amounts of graphite powder when I am loading it (one puff for each 10 rounds), but this may be unnecessary - I'll try running it unlubed at the next match and see how it runs. You can see videos of the mag running in the matches HERE and HERE.

Any questions, post 'em here.

Dude I got to say I laughed at the last picture. That is one LONG magazine.

You should see the one I made for my MAX-11 subgun... I joined 3 tubes together for an 83 round capacity:

Just add a couple more and you'll have a monopod.

I'd like to see it in an M16 lower.

Looks good. If you want it to activate the bolt hold open, M60 Joe modifies Uzi followers for that purpose. I have no idea what he charges, though.

Outfuckingstanding! That was a really good idea with a great follow thru.

I glad other people come up with good ideas... I can't handle my head hurting from thinking. Vey cool OP and those videos look like a blast!

Your modified magazine reminded me of years ago when I used to use cheap Sten mags and found a Lanchester 50 round mag that seemed to be nothing more than a Sten magazine that was made longer. Needless to say it was just a bit too long for me although I kept the mag because it was different.

awesome.. great shooting too..

man why did you have to show me this

I was just making the decision to go with the glock mag DDLES lower

time to get some uzi mags and bust out the tig machine now

I have seen a few 90+ round mags made this way, almost long enough for a walking stick.

Sweet nice shootin in the video

Long stick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNxfEU4h5Xs

Gotta admit...pretty damn cool. Necessity is the mother...

You did a really nice job on that magazine although a bit long for me. I just wish that Surefire, the maker of the 5.56 magazine shown below, could do the same type of magazine in 9mm.

Nice pics and Post.
jealous....

Nice job.

Good job and nice shooting at the match.