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1/8/2019 1:19:18 PM EDT
I'm wondering if I could get some reproduction aluminum followers available from John Masen and swap them in the brand new Okay/Surefeed straight 20 mags for a 'lookalike' old school vintage mag?

A shooting buddy is getting close to buying a clone of a 60's A1 and rather than see him overpay for some refurbished Colt mags, I thought this might be a cheap alternative that will be reliable.

The followers are $6 and I'm just looking to do 3 or 4. I've already got some Okay 20s I can try but wasn't sure if the factory springs are the same.

If not, I'll just give him some factory fresh Okays and remind him you can't see the follower when it's loaded anyways.
1/8/2019 2:07:30 PM EDT
[#1]
Unsure.

Personally,  I'd just buy legit retros at ~$20 in the EE.  The Okays are not going to have the correct markings at floorplates, so correct cloning is out.
1/8/2019 2:14:18 PM EDT
[#2]
Yes, they'll fit.  But why bother?  Vintage mags are not hard to find in excellent to new condition, nor are they particularly expensive.
1/11/2019 9:41:51 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I'm wondering if I could get some reproduction aluminum followers available from John Masen and swap them in the brand new Okay/Surefeed straight 20 mags for a 'lookalike' old school vintage mag?

A shooting buddy is getting close to buying a clone of a 60's A1 and rather than see him overpay for some refurbished Colt mags, I thought this might be a cheap alternative that will be reliable.

The followers are $6 and I'm just looking to do 3 or 4. I've already got some Okay 20s I can try but wasn't sure if the factory springs are the same.

If not, I'll just give him some factory fresh Okays and remind him you can't see the follower when it's loaded anyways.
View Quote
I had actually thought of doing that too.  I already have a few Okay mags but wasn’t sure if the aluminum followers would be correct for my retro rifle.  Can someone tell me when they began manufacturing mags with plastic followers?
1/20/2019 7:05:35 PM EDT
[#4]
I ordered a few of the alloy followers from johnmason.com.  I put them in 4 of my Okay Ind. 20 round mags and none of them will reliably lock the bolt back.  They are slightly shorter than the plastic followers and barely engage the bolt catch.  I’ll be sending them back.
1/21/2019 11:32:10 AM EDT
[#5]
Well that sucks but thanks for posting that.

I just gave my buddy some new OKAY 20 rounders, and links to some vintage GIs and a source for replacement springs. I’ll let him know.

I like the straight 20s, they run great for me and they run up to 15 rounds of 5.45x39 as well. But don’t care what follower, as long as they work.
1/22/2019 12:59:56 AM EDT
[#6]
Leave your OKAY 20 round magazines alone. They'll work fine as is.

Everything I have ever seen or purchased from John Masen is junk. Made in China junk.
1/22/2019 4:01:56 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Quoted:
Leave your OKAY 20 round magazines alone. They'll work fine as is.

Everything I have ever seen or purchased from John Masen is junk. Made in China junk.
View Quote
In their email response to me, they referred to magazines as clips.  That tells me all I need to know about them.
2/18/2019 9:42:46 AM EDT
[#8]
John Masen sells nothing but crap.
2/27/2019 10:42:14 AM EDT
[#9]
Used USGI 20’s from VN era.
2/28/2019 4:43:22 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:
I had actually thought of doing that too.  I already have a few Okay mags but wasn’t sure if the aluminum followers would be correct for my retro rifle.  Can someone tell me when they began manufacturing mags with plastic followers?
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm wondering if I could get some reproduction aluminum followers available from John Masen and swap them in the brand new Okay/Surefeed straight 20 mags for a 'lookalike' old school vintage mag?

A shooting buddy is getting close to buying a clone of a 60's A1 and rather than see him overpay for some refurbished Colt mags, I thought this might be a cheap alternative that will be reliable.

The followers are $6 and I'm just looking to do 3 or 4. I've already got some Okay 20s I can try but wasn't sure if the factory springs are the same.

If not, I'll just give him some factory fresh Okays and remind him you can't see the follower when it's loaded anyways.
I had actually thought of doing that too.  I already have a few Okay mags but wasn’t sure if the aluminum followers would be correct for my retro rifle.  Can someone tell me when they began manufacturing mags with plastic followers?
Back in the 80's.  The 20s have had black followers longer than they had aluminum ones.
3/2/2019 10:28:54 AM EDT
[#11]
GI issue 20 rd mags need nothing extra to work, except ammo....

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