AR Sponsor
Posted: 8/29/2008 8:28:20 PM EDT
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I currently have a 9mm with RRA upper and RRA block using CP and modified Uzi mags that has been flawless so far. But, I'd still like to build another one and was thinking about trying the Oly/Sten/Hahn setup this time. Are there any downsides to this setup? They seem to work well. But, I'm wondering what's wrong with them since they seem to be a in the minority when compared to the Colt pattern. Are there any negatives to the Oly/Sten/Hahn setup? Thanks for your input. |
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I have both. All things considered, I like the Oly setup better, but it is a personal choice. I used to use the hahn/sten setup, but, with it you have to let the magazine hange. There is no up-stop, so if you bush up on it with an open bolt, it will become a bolt hold open. I like the dedicated sten mag with welded on block better. It seems more solid and reliable than even the Uzi mags do in my RRA set-up. The sten setup is easy to make if you can TIG or know someone who can. I made 20+ the other week and somewhere there is a thread. So, to recap, I prefer the Oly setup using a sten mag with a welded in block. The biggest downside I have is trying to use a magwell adapter and an unmodified magazine. ~Dan |
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I have the oly setup (bought used during the ban) with both a block and also some oly adapted mags . Runs great but I dislike the block as I generally forget and hit the standard mag release dumping the mag and block into the dirt. Adapted mags work fine but are too long to shoot prone . I need to shorten a couple for prone and bench use . The real huge issue is that the sten mags are a nightmare to load . I have tried several loaders that are only slightly better than by hand and don't work well with the adapted mags. I believe the hot setup would be the complete gun from Oly with the wider mag well for the glock mags . I have never seen one other than a note in the catalog but it is shown as available with a flat top upper . This would give me the best of both worlds as I have a stack of 9mm glock mags from 10 rounds on up to 33 rounds . |
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The Oly modified STEN mags are MIG welded, not TIG. As long as you don't get carried away with the heat setting, you won't hurt a STEN mag by MIG welding a block to it. I bought 30 of them from Ohio Ordinance a while ago for $3 each. I'm going to the shop, cutting up some square tube and welding it pieces on later on this week, then setting up a jig in the milling machine to cut the slots. Looking at the welds on the Oly modified mags, they work, but I think the heat was a little low and the feed was a little high, at least on the ones I have. |
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OK, granted you could go either way, I just TIG'd them b/c I think it looks a ton better, and I think the factory welds have about 4X too much weld metal for the intended purpose. All of that a sidetrack, I have to RRA setups and one Oly setup, and all things considered my personal favorite and most realiable is the Oly setup with welded perm. modified sten mags..  |
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I have the Oly setup w/ hahn top loader. It is nice to know that if I do hit the mag release, the setup is not going to be droping out the bottom. It has been reliable in every aspect, and fired every type of ammo I have fed it. ETA: The biggest downside I have found is parts. Only one shop is making and selling parts, so if anything breaks, you are at the mercy of their warehouse. Whereas with the colt patteren, 3 or 4 shops at least are making parts, with tons of vendors selling them. |
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My Oly also runs flawlessly. I made my own mag block for slightly modified Sten mags & I get to use the standard AR mag release. Yes, the mags are a pain to load, but at $2.50 each, I don't care. I love my Oly. The only time it doesn't go the range with me is on .22 only days. Good Luck! Johnny C! |
| I have the oly set up. I use std Sten mags with a slot cut for a std mag catch location, then I made a block to fit in the mag well, it stays in place with set screws.. I made the slot for the mag catch a little longer and made my own mag catch to engage the slot in the sten mags. This was done on an 80% receiver. All I have to do if I want to fire a 5.56 upper is switch out the mag catch and remove the block. But it is pretty much a dedicated receiver. |
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Quoted: OK, granted you could go either way, I just TIG'd them b/c I think it looks a ton better, and I think the factory welds have about 4X too much weld metal for the intended purpose. All of that a sidetrack, I have to RRA setups and one Oly setup, and all things considered my personal favorite and most realiable is the Oly setup with welded perm. modified sten mags.. What size square stock did you use. I have been unable to find a match to the Oly modified mag. |
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I went with a SNS block, I guess they are calling it the MWB-1. Mines was in the white but it looks like they are painting it or parking it now. You just have to notch your sten mags and you can use your mag release. The mags might or might not drop free. Mine looks like the photo in the link except it's a flattop with cheap Hakku red dot. http://www.snsindustriesinc.com/prod05.htm Sten mags are cheap and durable. Cons are they are a mother to load after a certain count. Better have some type of loader if you want to get close to 30 in them. Oly doesn't have the greatest rep but their 9mm AR system works great for me. Only weakness is the ejector. Might get one or 2 extras. I've been meaning to get the .45 ejector as folks say it works on the 9mm setup and is beefier. |
You could use heavier sheet metal and bend it into a U shape for this. When I get a new Sten mag, I disassemble and clean it well. I then use melted wax to lube the inside. Lately I have been using SailKote with Dupont Krytox (drylube). This makes them easier to load. I hope you guys are using the Sten Mag Loader that many folks sell. I hope someone comes up with a better LULA-type solution some day. .............heading off to check the LULA site again....... 
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I bought my Oly 9mm set up on teh EE here used several years ago. I love it. Everyone who has ever shot it loves it. I sloved my problem with accidently dropping the mag well adapter by getting a mag lock button that disables the standard AR mag release. Its easy enough to remove if I want with an allen wrench (one set screw really). I've used the Oly factory STEN mags with the block and the mag well adapter. I must admit that any pressure upwards on the mag (using the unmoded STEN mags and block) while firing will jam the slide as the mag slides upwards into the bolts path. If you do go the route of the mag block and unmoded STEN mags, for the love of God go with the Hahn block that is a top loader. I chose the Oly pattern because the Colt pattern requires a ramped bolt or special hammer that you can't use with a 223 upper. Ramping the bolt was expensive when I bought mine. As a side note, if you call Oly they will tell you that their pistol caliber uppers all use the same ejector. No lie. I have Oly uppers in 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm and 45ACP. All have the same ejectors and are interchangeable (I've done it in a pinch before). |
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I use the Oly/Hahn/Sten set up. I have the top loading block. Locks in rock solid. My lower is a Tommy15.com lower that is marked 9mm. I haven't had a bit of problems with it. There was a short tweaking period with the Oly ejector. But it was a one trip to the range to get it right. The Oly ejector rubbed the carrier pretty badly slowing it down. After tweaking, it runs great. |
| I use an Oly CAR-15/9mm and the modified oly sten mags and this gun is a real piss to shoot. As accurate as it can be for 25m, 50m and 100m targets. Have shot 1,000s of rounds and NEVER a failure of any kind. Their bolt and feeder system from the mag to the chamber is better than anyone else's system and is 100% reliable. Sure, the Oly upper and lower are both a real POS and way out of spec compared to other AR builders, no doubt. However, mine works great and is 100% reliable with those frakensten mags. All of my other ARs (colt, RRA, bushy) have failed to fire or had some other mechanical hiccups at one point or another. This Oly, has NEVER failed and as such is my real SHTF piece. I just wish the mags were not so hard to come by and maybe a bit more friendly price-wise. |
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