Making ones own magazines?

I was over on the Knife forum and of course there are some very skilled metal workers over there.

So I am wondering: Does anybody make their own box magazines? Obviously you wouldn't probably bother for an AR or an AK or a 1911 or whatever. On the other hand, if you had one of those German Police Trade in Sigs that come with 1 mag, maybe you would want to make a magazine. I heard that after the AWB ended, but before you could get a 20 or 30-round Mini-14 magazines, some people would take the five rounder, take of the base, take out the follower, get a spring from Wolff, and take an el-cheapo and weld on the factory five rounder.

Obviously this would take some real metal working skill and the right tools but since you could buy some of the compenents like the spring, why not?

Just wondering in an acedemic way.

I've made magazines to try out concepts like non-metallic springs and step-motor feed systems. I haven't tried to replicate existing magazines.

The nearest I've come has been to convert a 3-round pump shotgun magazine to hold 5 rounds.

I know guys that have done it, mainly for mags for oddball guns that they couldn't get mags for any other way. It is trickier then it looks and does take some skill in metal work. Making a mag that works is one thing: Making a mag that works WELL is something else altogether.

I think that the hardest items you will need to replicate will be the follower and any special base plate. While you can form metal, being able to do it so that the feed lips will fit & work perfectly for reliable feeding will be difficult as well unless you have a large shop and can afford to make your own magazine forming blocks.

To do it right, you will need to have an existing magazine to disassemble and make a schematic/pattern from.

Unless this is a SHTF/Red Dawn scenario, I think that store-bought magazines will still be cheaper and much more reliable.

Actually people do bother for the AK, specifically the Saiga .308.

FBMG made them, one of the guys at the S12 forum is making them...

All perfectly legal to make them, you just need to adhere to local laws regarding capacity if any.

sorry to break in here on an unrelated subject but im new and cannot figure how to post a new thread... any help????

A friend of mine's grandfather has a firearms manufacturing license so naturally he makes his own mags and my friend (his grandson) helps him with the firearms and mags, completely supervised of course. Right now he's working on a 30rd SKS mag that will be 100% reliable.sorry to break in here on an unrelated subject but im new and cannot figure how to post a new thread... any help???? Go to the catagory of your choice on the right side of the page then there will be a "new thread" button near the top left hand side of the page.

i knew a fellow TN fella could help, Im from maryville and a grad student at ETSU. nice to meeet ya!