Magazine design questions

[Supersapper]

Fellow CalGunners:

Hope all is well! To start, I am in San Diego if, after reading this, you might be able and willing to assist.

I have decided to embark on a bit of a challenge and need some basic help. I have moderate machining knowledge, but lack in the finer details or the metallurgy, welding and machining for the specifics.

BLUF: I want to build a double stack 9mm Luger P-08 magazine that reliably feeds.

The best idea I've had so far is to modify an existing double stack by grinding back the feed lips to the correct angle and then re-pressing the feed lips together to the right dimensional width. Then machining or 3D printing a follower to fit.

Cutting and welding 2 P-08 mags together is also a thought, but I have to heavily modify the top (since it's a single stack).

I know it's a big little project; I was told by a Luger expert (The "LugerMan" back east) that you need to start with a reliable magazine.

Any help would be appreciated.

And, Gunsmiths, if you have any damaged magazines that I can use for the R&D (practice feedlip grinding and getting the angle right if that's the direction to go in), that would be awesome.

I hope to hear from you guys!

Mark

[ar15barrels]

Rather than worry about the actual magazine, start with the magazine well.
Figure out a reliable magazine that will present the top cartridge similarly to your original magazine and then adapt your magazine well to hold that magazine without any modifications to the magazine.

[Supersapper]

Rather than worry about the actual magazine, start with the magazine well.
Figure out a reliable magazine that will present the top cartridge similarly to your original magazine and then adapt your magazine well to hold that magazine without any modifications to the magazine.

That's the issue...there is no existing magazine that has the necessary angle at the top.

The magazine well for the Luger P08 can only be widened and lengthened a bit. The actual grip angle can't be changed much and is better than 20 degrees different. The actual frame is easy because I have the original plans and I just have to get the dimensions right. If you look at a picture of the P08 and, say a Sig or Glock next to it, you'll see what I mean.

The grip angle can't change much because then it would effectively remove the trigger almost entirely, due to where the chamber is.

I either modify an existing by shaving and shaping the top of, say, a Sig Mag or I have to custom build a magazine from scratch...something I'm discovering is a bit more work than I thought.

[Supersapper]

BTT

[MosinVirus]

Since I imagine you will need to form the mag top to be similar if not the same with single stack, chop the top of the single stack mag, shop the top and bottom of the double stack, form the top of the double stack to transition into single stack, weld, design a follower, etc.

Basically use the tube of the double stack, feed lips of the single stack...

[Supersapper]

Since I imagine you will need to form the mag top to be similar if not the same with single stack, chop the top of the single stack mag, shop the top and bottom of the double stack, form the top of the double stack to transition into single stack, weld, design a follower, etc.

Basically use the tube of the double stack, feed lips of the single stack...

Something to think about...it is a consideration. I would just need to find someone with the ability to weld small seems without a lot of heat transfer.

[kcstott]

Something to think about...it is a consideration. I would just need to find someone with the ability to weld small seems without a lot of heat transfer.

There are plenty of shops that can do micro welding. Mine included. Problem is the cost. Micro welding runs $150 an hour an up with a minimum two hour charge.
How bad do you want a stager feed mag?

[Supersapper]

There are plenty of shops that can do micro welding. Mine included. Problem is the cost. Micro welding runs $150 an hour an up with a minimum two hour charge.
How bad do you want a stager feed mag?

I'm considering sawing 2 single stacks in such a way that when I put the two wider halves together, they have the width necessary. Then cutting small notches near the top and narrowing the feed lips to the proper width. I'm a math guy; the geometry is simple. The metal welding is the issue.

An easier alternate, if you have a press, is to make dies to stamp the sheet metal like the original. It was a two piece box mag and all I have to do make the template and dies. I can do both of those, and they are in fact in the works. Again, its the welding.

How long would it take to weld one magazine in such a fashion? Or would it be easier to stop by your shop and talk about the actual design?

If you were able to do 5 - 8 mags in that time, then yes...it's worth it.

[Pardini]

There are plenty of shops that can do micro welding. Mine included. Problem is the cost. Micro welding runs $150 an hour an up with a minimum two hour charge.
How bad do you want a stager feed mag?

kcstott micro welded a SS slide for me. His work is outstanding.

[ar15barrels]

An easier alternate, if you have a press, is to make dies to stamp the sheet metal like the original. It was a two piece box mag and all I have to do make the template and dies. I can do both of those, and they are in fact in the works. Again, its the welding.

How long would it take to weld one magazine in such a fashion?

The fitting and fixturing is what take all the time.
Once all the fitting and fixturing is done, it might only be 3-5 minutes per magazine to do the actual welding.

As an example:

[yari]

WHY? I mean I read this thread because I was interested, but?? really you're messing with a luger for magazine capacity? its not a mosin stop being a bubba. go buy a (insert name here) with 10 rounds and enjoy the real luger.

[yari]

seriously all the work/$ to gain 2 rounds..... get out of here.

[Ron-Solo]

Buy more magazines and learn how to reload quicker?

Don't bubba a Luger, that's a sin.

[Supersapper]

OK guys...for the record: I'm NOT destroying an original frame.

I have 5 mags and reloading for speed isn't an issue...I'm pretty quick given that it is a little different for a Luger. It isn't why I'm doing it.

And of course its only 2 extra rounds. To manufacture a magazine for extra capacity beyond that would be illegal in Commiefornia.

[kcstott]

How long would it take to weld one magazine in such a fashion? Or would it be easier to stop by your shop and talk about the actual design?

If you were able to do 5 - 8 mags in that time, then yes...it's worth it.

I gave you a quote, $150 an hour. Yeah it's steep but my level of micro tig welding quality and experince is going to be hard to match at that price. I did injection mold repair for many years micro welding