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Posted: 5/29/2007 6:15:58 PM EDT
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I have to give credit to PFD for this mod. I just took his idea and ran with it taking pictures. Tips: Tie the knots TIGHT Use a lighter to burn the ends of the line (it makes it a lot easier to thread through the holes) Take your time Here is how I did it . . . I went to my local ACE hardware and purchased some Mason Line. ($3.47)  Take apart the mag.  Drill a small hole.  String the line through the hole tying 3 TIGHT knots. Make these tight because I ripped my first one out. I taped the loose line so it wouldn't interfere with the spring.  After some trial and error I learned it was best to pull like this once I made the three TIGHT knots.  Set the mag on its back so the string does not interfere with the spring going in.  Drill a hole in the floor plate toward the end. I tried several locations and none of them made it easier than the other.  Loop the string through the back of the floor plate slot.  Push the floor plate into the slot and then string the line through the hole in the floor plate.  Push the spring and locking pin in and then slide the floor plate all the way in.  Take a screw driver or pin or something to pull the rest of the string out.  Cut off the excess. Knot three times . . . TIGHT. And then cut off the rest of the excess.  Here is what the ends will look like. I am not wild about the way it looks but for 5 minutes a mag and a 3 cent a piece of line you can't beat it!  This is the easiest way I have found to load it. PFD said he used his belt buckle which would probably work well too but just getting back from the gym I had no belt.  Here is the three. Once I got the process down each one took less than 5 minutes.  Once again I don't really like the look but for the price it can't be beat. It will certainly work until I can mod my Ramline Loader. Once I get that working as it should I will post that process as well.  Enjoy |
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Thanks. You are the man for thinking about it! Super glue is a GREAT idea. I though about the releif cuts as well but didn't have the right tools for that plus was a little afraid it would weaken the mag. I know it sure would have made it easier to pull out the line though. Thanks again. |
No third leg or hand is involved.  I pull the line with the knot fold it over and hold the line tight with left hand against the mag body with my thumb, load about 10 with my right hand and then repeat. I tried several different ways and found that way to work the best for me.
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OK...here's an idea for some mechanically inclined tinkerer to take this concept to the next level... Take the mag apart and mount a spool in the bottom on which the string can be wound to compress the spring. The spool could be something like a sewing maching bobin (sp), or a couple of plastic buttons glued to an axel. The axel for the spool should extend to the outside through holes drilled in both sides of the mag body. Axel should be hollow and have a slot or hex shaped opening that a key can fit to wind the spool. Probably need something like a high strength fishing line to conserve space. Key should be a T-handle shaped tool with the key portion being like the body of a small diameter screwdriver that would slide through the center of the axel. Get the picture?  
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| I had modded mine this way and posted a week ago. I found that the hole works best in the middle of the floor plate and I tied on a keyring that fits over my thumb. Slip the ring on your thumb and as you work your hand up the mag it pulls the follower down as you feed the bullets in. I guess no one saw that post. |
Works great!
I think that until BDM actually comes up with a loader that works with their magazines, or adds slots or something to allow external tools to do what your string idea does, THIS is THE way to go. |
Thats what I thought up when I saw the picture of the AR with the mag inserted. Looked like someone stuck a tampon up the magwell. |
| Ok guys. Played around with my BDM mag after looking at jem55's pic. Went to lowes and bought a pack of 8-32 x 1" socket head cap screws and a pack of # 6 flat washers. I tapped the washers out to 8-32 threads. I then took the mag apart and set the washer inside one half of the mag where i wanted it to be located. Marked the hole, drilled a small pilot hole through that half. I then snapped the mag back together and drilled a hole just a bit bigger than the threads of the cap screw, through both halves of the mag. I then put the cap screw through one side of the mag and threaded one of the washers on to the cap screw till it was barely touching the inside of the mag. I used thread lock on it. I then threaded the other washer on to the cap screw a little farther in than the inside diameter of the mag, snapped the mag back together and screwed that washer till it was just touching the other side of the mag. Gonna let it sit over night to let the thread lock set, then go buy a spool of Fire line a wm. Not sure what lb i'll get yet, but i use that stuff and it's damn tough. I'll try to post a few pics to let you all see what i did. Not sure if the thread lock will hold, if not i'll use a dab of jb weld on the threads. If all works out all you will need is an allen wrench. How bout some feed back? |
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