Old Sig Sauer P220 and current production magazines

[Ignacio49]

I can’t find 45 acp magazines for my old (1978) Sig Sauer P220 / Browning BDA 45.

It has the “european” locking mag system, that locks the bottom of the mag and therefore, AFAIK, current production mags do not fit these old P220’s; they have a plastic bottom that won’t go into the mag well.

I am thinking of modifying a current mag – take away the plastic bottom and replace it (solder) with a metal sheet of right size and form so that it can be properly inserted in the mag well.

I assume that current mags will fit fine, except for the bottom, as explained above. In other words, old and current mags are the same except for their bottoms. Can somebody confirm this?

Has anybody already tried this modification?
Any other solution that you may know?

Thanks for your help.

 

[WhoMe?]

If I were doing it myself, I'd be worried about modifying a mag. I'm picturing the base popping off at the worst possible time and my ammo dumping onto the ground.

ebay seems to have these mags somewhat regularly if you search for "P220 7 round" or "P220 7rd" or "P220 7-round" and other variations.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Have you tried calling SIG customer service and see if they can get you some mag bases plates?

Your other option is the next time you go to a gun show, carry one of your SIG .45 mags with you, and look around for something CHEAP that has a similar mag design; you might find that you can swap bases from another type of gun mag (trimming away some material with a Dremel tool, if the base is too long, etc.

A surprising number of magazines have similar dimensions -- with some release notches in different places. But since you only need a base plate, other mag bases may work.

Keep in mind, too, that the original Browning BDA (made by SIG for Browning/FN) used the same magazine as the older SIG P220. You might stumble across one of those mags at a gun show, too.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I can’t find 45 acp magazines for my old (1978) Sig Sauer P220 / Browning BDA 45.

It has the “european” locking mag system, that locks the bottom of the mag and therefore, AFAIK, current production mags do not fit these old P220’s; they have a plastic bottom that won’t go into the mag well.

I am thinking of modifying a current mag – take away the plastic bottom and replace it (solder) with a metal sheet of right size and form so that it can be properly inserted in the mag well.

I assume that current mags will fit fine, except for the bottom, as explained above. In other words, old and current mags are the same except for their bottoms. Can somebody confirm this?

Has anybody already tried this modification?
Any other solution that you may know?

Thanks for your help.


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My local pawnshop has one of those old German P220 bottom-latch .45 magazines in their "Misc. Magazines" box. I think they were asking $35 for it but they may take less. PM me if you want I will run over and grab it for you.

 

[Airman Basic]

Wasted a little time and study to discover the old heelclips and the newer ones are not interchangeable.

 

[Jimfern]

I have a BDA as well and found some spare magazines on ebay. Just look carefully at the pictures to make sure the magazines aren't cracked at the rear top due to metal fatigue.

 

[Ignacio49]

Problem solved! A friend has a couple of these mags and will give them to me for free. My lucky day today
Thanks for your help.