[Kestrel]

I've seen Walther P99 9mm mags listed in 15 rd. and 16rd. capacity. Why the difference? One place I spoke to and one place I saw them had witness holes for 15 rounds. Does it actually hold 16 rounds?

Thanks,
Steve

[Cableman]

I have some of the 15 round p99 mags - they were made for the people in Turkey where 15 rounds are max.

They do hold 16 rounds though, and have witness holes for only 15 rounds.

Paid $70 for each from a guy on the internet named robert johnson.

[Extremist]

Walther now officially acknowledges the existance of "Turkish" mags after previously denying them. See:


Walther Germany P99 Accessories Page (http://www.carl-walther.de/englisch/defense/defense-40.html)

Regards,
James

[WonderNine]

I believe the Turkish mags have had their follower replaced with the standard factory one giving them a 16 round capacity as the mags were originally designed for.

[Soap]

I just want to know how a gun that came out in the late 90's has pre-ban mags...

[slh02]

From what I understand, the P99 and accessories in 9mm began production just before the 94 ban. That is why we see so many prebans (although I am sure some of these were made after the ban, but who can prove it?).

Since the .40 didnt go into production until after the ban, there are no legal hi-caps for it. From what I understand there are some illegal 12 rounders floating around out there...

If I am wrong, someone please correct me. I'm going off of info on the top of my head here!:D

[slh02]

Sorry, double-tap!

[WonderNine]

From what I understand there are some illegal 12 rounders floating around out there...

I believe they are modified Beretta mags and they are not illegal because they still work in the original gun??

Or something??

[JimC]

I believe the Turkish mags have had their follower replaced with the standard factory one giving them a 16 round capacity as the mags were originally designed for.

This is the most common misconception in regard to the P99 9mmx19 magazines that exists on the Internet. :rolleyes:

The spring in the magazine is what is different between the 15 round Turkish mag and the standard 16 round mag. The spring is 3 coils longer which takes up the space limiting the capacity to 15 rounds.

How do I know this? I did it with my magazines.

I worked thru Walther in Germany to obtain the springs [15 rd. limit] for my P99 9mmx19 16 round magazines due to NJ having a 15 round magazine limit.

I originally thought that the follower was the part that was different but was advised by Walther GmbH that it was in deed the spring. Walther GmbH once told me, "we know how it works".

Walther had to special order the springs that I needed from Mec-Gar in Italy, who makes their mags, and then sold them directly to me.

Did they work as advised? Yes they did. ;)

When I had my Walther prominent web site up and running, with the gracious help of Ken Lunde, I covered this point and other P99 magazine points in depth.

Some were not to happy to read the truth about pre and post ban Walther magazines, especially the points about 12 round P99 .40 S&W magazines but, the truth was told. One does not see many of those for sale any longer here in the US! :evil:

From what I understand there are some illegal 12 rounders floating around out there...

This is also incorrect.

From my investigation and research at the time, I was advised by the ATF on or about 8/19/02 that..."since the 12 round Walther P99 .40 S&W mags were made after September 13, 1994, they are prohibited:.

Walther will not publically admit that and 12 round P99 .40 S&W magazines EVER came into the US but...it seems that they managed to get here some how. ;)

There is a lot more in regard to the Walther P99 magazine but I no longer have the time or the interest to beat this dead horse any longer.

[JimC]

BTW...

Why the difference?

Because Turkey has a 15 round magazine limit just like NJ! :D

[Soap]

Thanks for the info!

[PCRCCW]

Guns are made for the market they can sell in...mainly , the world. The USA has the Hi Cap ban....not the rest of the world. Thus they exist for most double stack guns and are not hard to find. Except maybe a smaller single stack......
Shoot well