Magazine compatibility between different manufactures

[BlueHeelerFl]

I know some handgun magazines are similar in design to other manufacturers models and will function with a little modification, but how many are directly compatible?

For example, I have heard Sig 226 mags will work in a Taurus PT111 G2.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That is an interesting question. I will be watching the replies but I would be concerned about feed problems and that's really bad in a SD handgun.

I'm guessing mags for a Browning Hi-Point will fit the clones like the FEG PJK-9HP.

I have never heard of a full size Sig magazine cutting in a compact Taurus pistol.

 

[Havok7416]

EAA Witness mags are interchangeable with IMI Baby Eagle mags - at least in .45.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

My Colt Mustang would work with SIG P238 magazines, but not vice versa. I haven't heard how well the Kimber Micro carry or Springfield 911 mags interchange, though all these guns are based on the Mustang.

I can tell you the S&W 6904 and 6906 run perfectly with Marlin Camp 9 mags.

The SA FEGs will use 13-round HiPower magazines, but the DA FEG take 14-round S&W 59 mags, go figure.

The Taurus PT92 mags will not even slide into my Beretta 92FS grip frame......

 

[mgmorden]

S&W 59 series magazines will fit the Kel-Tec P11 but they stick out (which also means that the P11 mags won't work the other way as they bottom out before the mag catch engages).

 

[jar]

That is an interesting question. I will be watching the replies but I would be concerned about feed problems and that's really bad in a SD handgun.

I'm guessing mags for a Browning Hi-Point will fit the clones like the FEG PJK-9HP.

I have never heard of a full size Sig magazine cutting in a compact Taurus pistol.

Yes, the Browning HP mags fit in the FM, FEG and Arcus but NOT in the Browning BDM.

 

[PWC]

Is there any such thing as a mag compatability chart like powder and bullet tables?

 

[highlander 5]

I've used 40 S&W in Beretta 9 mm mags when I had a 96fs.

 

[Shipwreck]

I have used Beretta 92 mag springs in Walther P99 mags. They are very similar.

 

[George P]

1911 mags pretty much work in any 1911 of similar frame size

 

[JR24]

Beretta 92 base plates fit and function perfectly on BHP mags. Which is nice for spare mags as Browning ones are made of razorblades and pain when worn on the belt.

 

[CapnMac]

This is actually a very complicated question.

There are plenty of pistol manufacturers who do not make their own magazines. Instead, they contract those out. Sometimes they pay to have their markings on those mags, sometimes not. To muddy those waters, there are companies turning out OEM magazines that also make "reverse engineered" ones, too.

To twist this a bit more, some pistols use the same or similar magazines. The West German P220 uses a heel mag release--those mags are not easy to find. But, Browning BDA (a copy of the 220) magazines work nicely (it not that much more available). And there are models which are copies of other arms Taurus & Berretta, for example.

It's something that occasionally wants research.

Which is doubly so when dealing with the "better than OEM" magazines. Is a Wilson better than a Shooting Star, or a Pachmyr, and so on. Best bet there is to ask a lot of people. Like people here, come to cases. Occasionally, we know stuff.

 

[Ironicaintit]

sometimes they dont work well, even if the prevailing wisdom says that they should.
My cetme is supposed to work with G3 mags. it doesnt.

my 238 does work with Colt mags, but they took a little bit of fiddling to do it to the point where I trust them.

You may have to do a little more research, then buy a mag and see if its feasible.

 

[someguy2800]

I know there are a few here and there that swap. I briefly had a Khar CW45 that worked with 1911 mags. Specifically 1911 officers mags were a perfect fit. That was my favorite thing about the gun, everything else about it was terrible lol.

 

[gc70]

Some magazines work across a range of clone or near-clone guns.

The Walther P99, S&W SW99, and Magnum Research MR9 all use the same magazine, but that is not surprising since the frames were all made by Walther.

Various CZ models, primarily CZ75 variants, have magazine compatibility with assorted Canik/Tristar, EAA Witness, IMI, Sarsilmaz, and Tanfoglio models. Here is a 12-page discussion of CZ magazine compatibility.

 

[JTQ]

To twist this a bit more, some pistols use the same or similar magazines. The West German P220 uses a heel mag release--those mags are not easy to find. But, Browning BDA (a copy of the 220) magazines work nicely (it not that much more available).

The Browning BDA wasn't a copy of the SIG P220, it was made by SIG.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

1911 mags pretty much work in any 1911 of similar frame size

The Marlin .45 carbines used 1911 mags too.

 

[lsudave]

There was once a thread somewhere, but it was hard to decipher.

But, I own a bunch of different older metal-frame pistols, I've played around with mags (I even occasionally buy "unknown mags" on the gamble that it will fit something I own):

• I have an older CZ 75 pre B. Current CZ 75B mags do not fit, but 19 rd CZ SP01 mags do.
• Beretta 92FS and 92S. If the mags have the correct cutout (notch mid-body for FS, down by the heel on S), they will interchange. Taurus PT92 mags with the heel cutout present will fit in the 92S.
• Daewoo DP 51. S&W 59xx mags fit and function, hang out the bottom a hair. I have confirmed this by using the mags from my S&W 915. The Daewoo mags are too short to fit in the S&W.
• I have a Star 30MI, I've read that if you remove the magazine safety, you can use the S&W 59xx mags. I haven't removed that from mine, so can't say. I CAN say that the Star mags do NOT fit in Daewoo or S&W, because they have a protrusion on the righthand side near the feed lips.
• I've read that Sig P226 and Beretta 92FS mags interchange (if you cut the correct notches), but in my case ('91 Sig P226, 94 Beretta 92FS) the mags don't seem to fit into each other's magwells.
• Zastava CZ99- Beretta 92 mags will fit, but require a notch cut to the front of the mag. It's a centered D-shaped cut. The Zastava mags likewise fit in the Berettas, but without any corresponding notches, all will fall out.
• FEG 9HP (Hi-Power clone). It will take Browning mags, as I have a few. The mags are too short to fit into any of the others guns far enough to feed. They do seem to slide into the CZ 75; however the CZ mags get stuck in the FEG.
• I own both a Star B Super, and Star BM. Just to check, tried swapping... no-go. The BM is 9x19 sized, the B Super is longer (I think it's Largo dimensions). The BM mags are also too short for the B Super.
• Norinco T-54 in 9mm; the standard Tokarev mags fit and work. 9mm rds are shorter, but feed fine. I've read that the 213 has an internal spacer in the magwell and you can't do this. The T-54 mags that came with the gun have a spacer inside the mags
• Have a Baikal IJ-70AH (doublestack Makarov), as well as an East German Makarov. The single stack mags fit and feed into the doublestack gun, with some looseness at the base. This is because the doublestack mag is an odd shape, with a single-stack size for the top rd, which then widens after that.
• Sig, Beretta, S&W and CZ mags do NOT seem to interchange. Bummer.
• S&W metal frame... I've read that 3rd Gen mags fit into earlier models (1st and 2nd Gen), but are longer, so older mags do not fit into 3rd Gen guns. I have a 39-2 and can confirm that the 3906 (3rd Gen fullsize) mags do fit, and hang out just a hair, while the original mags sit flush with the base. Have not come across older (1st or 2nd gen) mags for my 915, which takes 59xx mags flush.
• PHP MV9 (ugly Croatian pistol, which was replaced by the XD)- I've read that Beretta 92 mags will fit, but require a notch cut. I think I did try to slide one in, and it would have worked but would not lock into place. The PHP mags are crappy and don't fit into the Beretta, got stuck if I remember.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I have never heard of a full size Sig magazine cutting in a compact Taurus pistol.

Yes, works like a champ. It obviously sticks out, but a grip filler for an M&P 9C (made to slide on a FS M&P Mag) will fill in the gap. Some trimming required.

 

[somethingbenign]

The Walther P99, S&W SW99, and Magnum Research MR9 all use the same magazine, but that is not surprising since the frames were all made by Walther.

I have heard the Canik TP9 fits in this family as well.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, works like a champ. It obviously sticks out, but a grip filler for an M&P 9C (made to slide on a FS M&P Mag) will fill in the gap. Some trimming required.

There ya go, learn something new every day. Thanks.

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

Walther P1/P38 magazines will work in a Sig P225 if you cut a notch in them, though they don't engage the slide lock and they stick out just a little. Taurus PT92 magazines will work in a Browning Hi-Power, with a new notch cut in them; they may or may not engage the slide lock.

 

[Winkman822]

Magazines for the Desert Eagle MR9 will work in a Walther P99, Walther PPQ M1, and SW 99. Same for the other way round. SW99 mags work in Walther PPQ M1, P99 and SW99.

 

[jmr40]

Not different manufacturers, but during the 1994-2004 AWB it wasn't uncommon for guys to purchase 10 round 40 S&W magazines and load 13-14 rounds of 9mm in them and use them in 9mm pistols. I know it worked with Sig,S&W, Ruger, Glock, and probably a few others.

 

[somethingbenign]

Not different manufacturers, but during the 1994-2004 AWB it wasn't uncommon for guys to purchase 10 round 40 S&W magazines and load 13-14 rounds of 9mm in them and use them in 9mm pistols. I know it worked with Sig,S&W, Ruger, Glock, and probably a few others.

That is probably the best thing I've learned all month.