Clark
Member
Right now surplus Beretta 92S pistols are coming into the country and are available at a deep discount.
They will not take standard 92FS mags, and the mag release is on the bottom rear of the frame, not under the trigger guard.
While most Beretta 92 pistols have the mag release on trigger guard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_92
But one can find 18 round Mec-Gar mags at a reasonable price
http://www.wholesalehunter.com/product.asp?productid=46024
So I took a Beretta 92S mag and and used it to set up a fixture to modify four of the Me-Gar 18 round mags.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=209-9006
The clamp on the mill vise cost $6 and positions the Mec-Gar to be cut where the Beretta 92S mag was when I put the 1/4" bit in the slot.
I found that the magazine bodies were hardened, and I had to make the cut with a carbide end mill.
The Beretta 92S mag slot was ~.260", and a 1/4" end mill does a decent job of making the slot in one pass.
The original mags have a steel bottom plate, while the Mec-Gar have a plastic bottom. When the Mec-Gars have the bottom installed, I have to punch the bottom of the mag to get it to catch in a 92S handgun. I think the plastic is springy and interfering, but may keep the gun from rattling.
Once set up, I can disassemble a mag, cut it, and reassemble in 5 minutes.
1) pic is the 92S mag in the mill vise, butted up to the clamp, and the bed adjusted until the bit is just kissing the radius of the factory slot.
2) pic is the Mec-Gar aftermarket 18 round mag then put in the vise, butted up to the clamp, and milled out the same depth as the factory mag. A carbide bit seems to attract the chips like a magnet.
3) pic is the factory and the modified mag side by side.
4) pic is the factory and the modified mag side by side
They will not take standard 92FS mags, and the mag release is on the bottom rear of the frame, not under the trigger guard.
While most Beretta 92 pistols have the mag release on trigger guard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_92
But one can find 18 round Mec-Gar mags at a reasonable price
http://www.wholesalehunter.com/product.asp?productid=46024
So I took a Beretta 92S mag and and used it to set up a fixture to modify four of the Me-Gar 18 round mags.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=209-9006
The clamp on the mill vise cost $6 and positions the Mec-Gar to be cut where the Beretta 92S mag was when I put the 1/4" bit in the slot.
I found that the magazine bodies were hardened, and I had to make the cut with a carbide end mill.
The Beretta 92S mag slot was ~.260", and a 1/4" end mill does a decent job of making the slot in one pass.
The original mags have a steel bottom plate, while the Mec-Gar have a plastic bottom. When the Mec-Gars have the bottom installed, I have to punch the bottom of the mag to get it to catch in a 92S handgun. I think the plastic is springy and interfering, but may keep the gun from rattling.
Once set up, I can disassemble a mag, cut it, and reassemble in 5 minutes.
1) pic is the 92S mag in the mill vise, butted up to the clamp, and the bed adjusted until the bit is just kissing the radius of the factory slot.
2) pic is the Mec-Gar aftermarket 18 round mag then put in the vise, butted up to the clamp, and milled out the same depth as the factory mag. A carbide bit seems to attract the chips like a magnet.
3) pic is the factory and the modified mag side by side.
4) pic is the factory and the modified mag side by side
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