Posted: 11/16/2009 6:29:08 PM EDT
| Does anyone have a source for metal magazine bases for .40 cal mag bodies? I ask becase while shooting, the plastic mag base top rail cracked and fell off mid recoil. The magazine insert was still secured to the mag spring so the rounds stayed in the mag body. This may have been a "1 in a million" occurence, but I would feel better if I could replace them with something more durable. |
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Do you mean 40cal P-99 mags?
If any of this info is useful for 40 cal.....I don't know, I don't own one. I don't know if the 40cal and 9mm mag bodies are the same size, but.....If you have a caliper post the dimensions and I'll measure the 9mm to compare. I can also post some pics if you want to see anything. I may be mistaken, but as far as I know the mag tube dimensions are the same overall, but with a different form to the feed lips. I say this because my buddy bought a P-99 9mm at a gun show, and when he got it home he had no idea there was a problem till the mag wouldn't hold a 9mm round in it. It was in the box from the P-99 40cal that was right next to it on the sellers table, the mags fit in the gun just fine but my knowledge stops there. I can tell you that the metal base plates from Beretta 92 mags will fit the 9mm P-99 mags perfectly. The problem with that is the thickness of the plate itself. The lack of material above the "lip/flange" on the bottom end of the mag tube allows the magazine to be pushed further up into the grip frame. This lets the magazine feed lips come in contact with the ejector which I would think isn't good. Therefore I don't use the metal plates, although I know for a fact they will work, and also lock with the stock retainer. The 92fs mag is almost identical to the P-99 and they are easily modified to work in both guns. I also use Mec-Gar +2 adapters on a few P-99 mags for 18 rounds and a bit of grip extension. |
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Quoted:
Do you mean 40cal P-99 mags? If any of this info is useful for 40 cal.....I don't know, I don't own one. I don't know if the 40cal and 9mm mag bodies are the same size, but.....If you have a caliper post the dimensions and I'll measure the 9mm to compare. I can also post some pics if you want to see anything. I may be mistaken, but as far as I know the mag tube dimensions are the same overall, but with a different form to the feed lips. I say this because my buddy bought a P-99 9mm at a gun show, and when he got it home he had no idea there was a problem till the mag wouldn't hold a 9mm round in it. It was in the box from the P-99 40cal that was right next to it on the sellers table, the mags fit in the gun just fine but my knowledge stops there. I can tell you that the metal base plates from Beretta 92 mags will fit the 9mm P-99 mags perfectly. The problem with that is the thickness of the plate itself. The lack of material above the "lip/flange" on the bottom end of the mag tube allows the magazine to be pushed further up into the grip frame. This lets the magazine feed lips come in contact with the ejector which I would think isn't good. Therefore I don't use the metal plates, although I know for a fact they will work, and also lock with the stock retainer. The 92fs mag is almost identical to the P-99 and they are easily modified to work in both guns. I also use Mec-Gar +2 adapters on a few P-99 mags for 18 rounds and a bit of grip extension. Do you have more info on these..???? link..?? ETA: sorry for the thread highjack OP |
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All of mine are 9mm Smith branded SW99 mags made by Mec-gar.
Smith & Wesson's Parts List, lists the same part number for the magazine butt plates on the 9mm and 40 cal. Look under MSW999 and MSW9940. Here's some pics of the different base plates. The thickness deference between original plastic and a metal plate off of a Checkmate military M9/92fs magazine. You can see the oil residue that was hidden behind the factory plate I took off for the pic. 
The thickness difference shown in the gun. 
This one came out a bit blurry, but you can see the ejector problem I spoke of. Compare the space that the base plate will travel upward (.097") with the distance between the ejector and feed lips (.015"). With the metal base plate, the lips DO hit the ejector. 
This is a Smith 16 round SW99 magazine with a Mec-Gar plus 2 adapter. This package has the base plate and a new retainer in it. It's been dead reliable for about 300 rounds. It holds 18 rounds with the stock spring and follower, 19 will fit, but I don't like how tight it is, and it won't go in the gun. *ETA: A while after I posted this I pulled my carry mag apart cleaned it and put in a new spring. I put 19 rounds in the mag by accident and it seated well enough I didn't realize it. About an hour later I was standing in the kitchen with the gun holstered in an IWB holster. The baseplate blew off. I got lucky and nothing got hurt. It would have hurt a person. DONT PUT IN 19 ROUNDS 
The 18 round magazine in the gun. My daily carry gun. 
While the mag works just fine in the gun, the plus 2 adapter floats back and forth a bit, occasionally when it was all the way to the rear it would hang up on the very bottom of the grip that protrudes down. I filed a bit of an angle on the protrusion and have never had the problem since. It's very minor and you really can't notice after. This shows one that I filed on the right and one that I didn't on the left. Notice the missing flat just behind the adapter. 
The SW99/P99 magazine ($35.00+) next to a Beretta 92fs Checkmate military magazine ($7.00). The Checkmate magazine in the picture has the feed lips ground back in length a bit to match the P99's. It ends up being unneeded, they function just as well with the Beretta lips. The zip tie is a spacer to keep the mag from pushing up....to protect the ejector. I had to narrow the working end of the zip tie just a hair. 
This one is two grip frames stacked up, showing the working end of the magazines for comparison. 
Just patiently cut the mag catch hole into it with a dremel. 
Then it seats and functions flawlessly in the P99. This one has about 300 rounds through it and never a problem. Slide locks open on reliably on the last round. 
Cut this hole in the magazine also and it'll work in the Springfield XD-9 perfectly too. Use the same zip tie, just put the working end of the zip tie toward the back. 
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I have only had my P-99 for about a
month. I have already aquired 4 92F mags, but I haven't modified them yet. I really like the idea of the plus 2 extensions, but I haven't ordered any yet. I really like my P-99 & my P-22. Thanks for the reminder on the mag options. John |
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I edited my post above as follows:
This is a Smith 16 round SW99 magazine with a Mec-Gar plus 2 adapter. This package has the base plate and a new retainer in it. It's been dead reliable for about 300 rounds. It holds 18 rounds with the stock spring and follower, 19 will fit, but I don't like how tight it is, and it won't go in the gun. *ETA: A while after I posted this I pulled my carry mag apart cleaned it and put in a new spring. I put 19 rounds in the mag by accident and it seated well enough I didn't realize it. About an hour later I was standing in the kitchen with the gun holstered in an IWB holster. The baseplate blew off. I got lucky and nothing got hurt. It would have hurt a person. DONT PUT IN 19 ROUNDS I don't want anyone getting hurt. Other than this one mistake on my part, I've had no troubles at all with the extension. I don't remember when I put them on, but I'd say I've had one on my carry gun for almost 2 years. Just make sure you file that flat on the grip frame if you want the ability to do a quick magazine change, It will hang up. |