StressPuppy
Member
Well, I got some Sigma 9mm Hi-cap (17 round) mags to try to see if they would work in my Steyr M9 with a little modification. I thought I would be the "guinea pig" for the forum.
First, some measurements:
Steyr M9:
side to side: .857 inches
front to back: 1.265 inches
Sigma 9mm:
side to side: .800 inches
front to back: 1.265 inches
I put the mag in the gun and function tested it with rounds by holding the mag in from the bottom. I then pulled the slide back and let it go. (Don't try this at home, kids!!!) It stripped the first round off just fine and chambered it. I then racked the slide and it extracted the loaded round and chambered a new round just fine. Did it again. Still worked fine. After the last round was extracted and ejected, the slide stayed locked back.
Ok, so far so good. But what to do about the mag catch? As you can plainly see, the Sigma mag is slightly narrower. At first, I didn't think much of this. How could 5 one-hundreds of an inch make a difference? So I began playing with empty mags in the gun.
First I put in the Steyr mag. Upon insertion and once the mag is about 75% in the gun, you can visibly see the mag release button move as the mag pushes it out of the way to get by. You can also feel the tension of inserting the mag get a little tougher.
Next was the Sigma mag. Since I have not cut a mag hole yet, I don't expect that it will stay in, but it should tension the mag release button the same. I put the mag in and got to the 75 % point. There was no increase in tension in putting the mag in the gun and the mag release button did not visibly move. So I held the mag in place and played with the release button. At no point is there any tension on the catch, and the magazine has a slightly loose fit feel in the gun.
Soooooooo, what I have determined is that 5 one-hundreds of an inch might as well be a MILE when it comes to guns and mags fitting. With the tests, I felt it not worth the try to put a new mag release hole in the mag because even if it did work, it seemed that it could possibly be wiggled and drop free when you least expect it.
I have heard others mention putting something very thin and tough on the opposite side of the mag to make it fit properly, but IMO, this is modifying the mag and it may not fit in the original gun.
So this brings this part of my being the "guinea pig" to an end. I have not given up on coming up with hi-caps for the Steyr, but unless someone has ACTUALLY drilled the hole in the Sigma 9mm mag and can say that it functions 100%, I am not willing to wreck an expensive mag.
(On a happy note, I have heard that the Sigma 40 cal hi-cap mags ARE the actual dimension of the Steyr M9 mags and will work, but will require a mag catch hole AND slight crimping of the feed lips, but only enough to hold the 9mm and still allow the 40 to feed. This will be my next experiment.)
Anybody want to buy (or trade for) a couple of un-touched Sigma 9mm Hi-cap mags?!?!?!?!?
Anybody got any Sigma 40 cal hi-cap mags they want to trade stuff for???? PM me if so.
Thanks to all who have answered previous questions. Let me know if I left anything out or you have any further information.
First, some measurements:
Steyr M9:
side to side: .857 inches
front to back: 1.265 inches
Sigma 9mm:
side to side: .800 inches
front to back: 1.265 inches
I put the mag in the gun and function tested it with rounds by holding the mag in from the bottom. I then pulled the slide back and let it go. (Don't try this at home, kids!!!) It stripped the first round off just fine and chambered it. I then racked the slide and it extracted the loaded round and chambered a new round just fine. Did it again. Still worked fine. After the last round was extracted and ejected, the slide stayed locked back.
Ok, so far so good. But what to do about the mag catch? As you can plainly see, the Sigma mag is slightly narrower. At first, I didn't think much of this. How could 5 one-hundreds of an inch make a difference? So I began playing with empty mags in the gun.
First I put in the Steyr mag. Upon insertion and once the mag is about 75% in the gun, you can visibly see the mag release button move as the mag pushes it out of the way to get by. You can also feel the tension of inserting the mag get a little tougher.
Next was the Sigma mag. Since I have not cut a mag hole yet, I don't expect that it will stay in, but it should tension the mag release button the same. I put the mag in and got to the 75 % point. There was no increase in tension in putting the mag in the gun and the mag release button did not visibly move. So I held the mag in place and played with the release button. At no point is there any tension on the catch, and the magazine has a slightly loose fit feel in the gun.
Soooooooo, what I have determined is that 5 one-hundreds of an inch might as well be a MILE when it comes to guns and mags fitting. With the tests, I felt it not worth the try to put a new mag release hole in the mag because even if it did work, it seemed that it could possibly be wiggled and drop free when you least expect it.
I have heard others mention putting something very thin and tough on the opposite side of the mag to make it fit properly, but IMO, this is modifying the mag and it may not fit in the original gun.
So this brings this part of my being the "guinea pig" to an end. I have not given up on coming up with hi-caps for the Steyr, but unless someone has ACTUALLY drilled the hole in the Sigma 9mm mag and can say that it functions 100%, I am not willing to wreck an expensive mag.
(On a happy note, I have heard that the Sigma 40 cal hi-cap mags ARE the actual dimension of the Steyr M9 mags and will work, but will require a mag catch hole AND slight crimping of the feed lips, but only enough to hold the 9mm and still allow the 40 to feed. This will be my next experiment.)
Anybody want to buy (or trade for) a couple of un-touched Sigma 9mm Hi-cap mags?!?!?!?!?
Anybody got any Sigma 40 cal hi-cap mags they want to trade stuff for???? PM me if so.
Thanks to all who have answered previous questions. Let me know if I left anything out or you have any further information.