STI mags

You missed my point entirely. I wasn't saying that just because the gun is expensive the mags should be as well. I was trying to say exactly what Troy said (I just didn't have time to write out a long paragraph). You can't expect to have a high tolerance machine & feed it with a pressed out piece of crap.

With variances in the manufacturing process, the mags need to be hand fit or dressed to meet the exact tolerances needed to function correctly in such tight tolerance pistol. Just as the hammer, sear & the rest of the parts are fit to exact tolerances. Glocks are built pretty loose, comparatively. And as I said, you have to consider the upgraded parts as well. $60 mag+$30 base+$10 follower, So you're pretty much paying $20 for the tuning, engraving & polishing inside & out.
 
Dr Mitch said:
My question is "Does anyone use stock STI mags, and do they work every time?"
Click to expand...
Short answers:
Yes. For a while.
No.

Chambers said:
Spoken like a man who doesn't own a 2011...
Click to expand...
+1

To expand on this.
Mag science is bewildering at first. But it turns out that its not voodoo, its pretty simple.
2011 style mags are thin metal. They need the feed lips to be a particular size and shape, and be relatively smooth.
The mag body needs to be the correct size and shape to fit the gun. Mags get dropped and stepped on and the dimensions can require attention. The springs need to expand straight. The follower and the slide stop need to get along with each other. Theres not much more to it than that...
Except, competitors want maximum capacity. A little work will yield an extra round.
For L-10 or ESP or Pro-Am, where a 10 round capacity is all thats required, and it's desirable for the slide to lock back, its pretty simple. Get the feed lips right and keep them that way.

Not long ago, I would have never dreamed of spending $100+ on a mag. But I just bought a set of Brazos super tuned mags. They're like artwork. So polished inside and out that I'll cringe the first time they hit the ground. They hold 1 more round than my other mags (also tuned) because Brazos reforms the reinforcement grooves. They slide in and out of my gun a bit smoother. 20 rounds reloadable is nice. Essential? No. But nice.

Use stock STI mags and maybe you'll get lucky. But you'll probably start researching feed lip dimensions, do a little touch up here and there. Then you'll buy or borrow the Dawson tuning kit and build/tune/or maintain your mags and it wont seem like a big deal at all.
 
Rustyzx9 said:
No... you shouldn't.

I wondered how long it was going to take for a revolver guy to show up. lol...
Click to expand...

I fully understand. My Safariland Comp III's weren't tuned for optimal performance out of the package. I had to buy a belt sander and rivets for the center post and spend all sorts of time and effort on them. Why weren't they ready to run out of the box? :)
 
Has anyone had the STI stock mags fail? I shot a 2011 tonight using a regular mag, the abused rental at H&H, and it was great. Amazing even. I suppose I'll ask Cyrwus what he thinks this weekend. That mofo is sharper than he lets on.

This Dawson tuning kit sounds intriguing. I'll have to look into that, especially if I can easily reform feed lips with it; reforming feed lips is irritating, even though I haven't had any problems doing it.
 
yes, I have 2 stock STI mags that have yet to be tuned, but they will eventually. They've not failed me a single time yet. But, they are the last mag on my belt & the last ditch/everything has gone to crap on this stage pocket mag. But it's only a matter of time before I sit down & tune them or get them done.
 
just curious, between gun, mags and everything how much cash are people dropping on these (STI like guns)??
 
Right. $2K minimum for gun and mags(4), and that's if you get a really good deal on the pistol. I'd assume it's more if you have it built by Greyson or Cyrwus. I have no idea what a decent holster and mag holsters will run. I figure I'll be in at $2300-$2600, maybe more, once I do the deed. Dawson has great prices on new pistols that are actually available for purchase. Once I get my trigger finger tuned, I'm all in.
 
Dr Mitch said:
Has anyone had the STI stock mags fail? I shot a 2011 tonight using a regular mag, the abused rental at H&H, and it was great. Amazing even. I suppose I'll ask Cyrwus what he thinks this weekend. That mofo is sharper than he lets on.

This Dawson tuning kit sounds intriguing. I'll have to look into that, especially if I can easily reform feed lips with it; reforming feed lips is irritating, even though I haven't had any problems doing it.
Click to expand...

I have seen the crappy plastic basepad break when it hit the ground sending the spring/follower into the berm never to be found.

The stock mags will not give the capacity to let someone perform well in Limited.
 
Well I feel all lonely and sh*t. As Technitium pointed out seldom do "stock" STI mags hold the amount they say they will, but I have never had any trouble running a stock mag in both my 5" Edge or 6" Fat Free.STI mag bodies are good, why do you think it is worth tuning them? STI springs are good, their follower is good, the base pad is ok. They work just fine. Some are very hard to load...(This is where Rusty polishes the cr*p out of the insides), but they will work just fine.

Now we get to the point. Yes all the guns mentioned work on "cheapie mags", BUT try and get a few more bullets in them and the cost jumps A BUNCH!! Lets take the "combat tuper-wear" Glock, to get 4 more bullets into the mag takes about $50.00 a mag for a system that RELIABLY feeds and doesn't come apart when dropped. Hi-Power??? they make a higher capacity mag, which is hard to find, so so in reliability and for a good one about $95. A tuned STI/SVI mag will hold 20-21 rounds of .40 and reliably run that amount for years and years and as all racing parts cost a lot of money. To get close to that capacity for any other 40 the mags also start costing a lot. As we used to say in open class Motocross. Speed cost money how fast can you spend?
 
Dr Mitch said:
Right. $2K minimum for gun and mags(4), and that's if you get a really good deal on the pistol. I'd assume it's more if you have it built by Greyson or Cyrwus. I have no idea what a decent holster and mag holsters will run. I figure I'll be in at $2300-$2600, maybe more, once I do the deed. Dawson has great prices on new pistols that are actually available for purchase. Once I get my trigger finger tuned, I'm all in.
Click to expand...

Pretty much any way you slice it, this can be a spendy sport/activity. But...it helps if you look at the gun as a depreciable asset. If you spend $2600 on a gun and magazines, shoot it for 3 years then sell it for $1300. Your cost for the gun is $36/month. Compare that to how much you'll spend in entry fees, gas, turnpike tolls, bullets, brass, powder, etc... Obviously, the more you shoot the less the gun cost will be as a percentage of your total costs. The biggest expenditure will be during your start up. All of that being said...they still allow people be GMs with Glocks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Random media

51DF03CE-42CE-4831-AFE3-514C9D6BF53C.jpeg
milling barrel.jpg
IMG_3005.jpg
DanWesson 45's.jpg
CFE7C1E1-85C4-4077-90BB-3E9DF32339F4.jpeg
20171223_211045.jpg
20190120_141910.jpg
Back
Top