Beretta Cougar magazines: high-cap conversion possible? legal?

[Ghriegüst]

My first post here - a duplicate post place on The Firing Line. I've been viewing as a non-member for years, but now I have a question. I recently purchased a Beretta Cougar in 9mm - it is a beautiful piece of work, and fits my hand better than any other pistol I have ever fired. It came with the 10 round magazines, and I will be purchasing some 15 rounders soon. In the mean time, can the 10 rounders be converted to high-capacity. And, more importantly, is this legal? (High-caps are legal in PA, I'm just questioning the legality of the conversion.) It seems to my untrained eye that it would be a simple manner of swapping out the spring and follower - but I'm interested in what you all have to say.

 

[rcmodel]

If it's not illegal in your state or locality, there is no federal law against it.

Yet!

rc

 

[MightyPir]

check them carefully against the 15 rounders. some manufacturers also add "folds" inside the magazine walls that prevent you from doing just that (swapping springs and followers)

 

[forquidder]

Mags

When you get the new 15 rounders you'll see what the differences are. I'm not sure how the stock 10 round Cougar mags are but many companies make their 10 rounders with concave stampings in the lower part of the mag bodies which limit the travel of the followers deeper into the mag. Another way companies limit mag capacity to 10 rounds is by shortening the mag body and adding a thicker plastic mag bottom to bring it back to the correct length.
For correct fuctioning mags, my suggestion is to just buy the 15 rounders and use the 10's for range mags.
Both CDNN and Berretta are selling the 15 round mags for about $20. That's about 1/2 price from what they were even 6 or 8 months ago and probably as cheap as they'll ever get. Stock up.

 

[IMtheNRA]

While it is not illegal to modify 10-rd magazines now that the AWB has expired, it is very unlikely that the magazine design will allow an easy conversion.

 

[lechiffre]

no can't be done.

 

[Ghriegünst]

Definately impossible. I saw a 15 rounder and immediately saw why. The 10 round magazine has stamped grooves the entire length of the mag, making it effectively a single stack design. Quite clever actually. No amount of modifying could change that. Thanks for all your replies

 

[Pack]

What about same in 45 ACP?

Certainly the single-stack method of limiting capacity used in the 9mm mags, described by Ghriegünst, can't be employed in an 8rd 45 ACP mag?

 

[Homerboy]

Get the mags at Beretta.Com. $19.95 a pop for 15 rounders.