Ruger extra capacity mags?
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Years ago there were a few made. They didn't function very well and wore out after being used only 4-5 times. I want to say Butler Creek made them, but can't remember for sure. It would be very difficult to make anything that would work unless they extended well below the grip. I just don't see much of a market for them
In order for a higher-capacity magazine for .22LR to function reliably, it has to be curved (due to the rimmed .22LR cartridge), such as the 25-round BX-25 magazines for the 10/22, or the Black Dog or CMMG magazines for .22LR AR-15s.
Since the Ruger Mark III pistol has a straight magwell within the grip, it's impossible to produce a higher-capacity magazine for this pistol that will function reliably.
Since the Ruger Mark III pistol has a straight magwell within the grip, it's impossible to produce a higher-capacity magazine for this pistol that will function reliably.
Dudemeister
Member
I don't have a Mark III, but I do have a Buckmark, and the magazine design is very similar.
I think that a 12 round magazine would be easily achievable, without increasing the overall length. The follower on the Buckmark mag is really long. A shorter follower, and a longer follower button slot would allow for at least 2 more rounds.
Alternately, a longer magazine should work just fine, and it woudn't need to be curved. The magazine channel for the bullet head keeps the bullets parallel to each other. It looks like the mag would need to be lengthened by 1.25" for each 5 additional rounds (not including the modification I mentioned earlier).
I think that a 12 round magazine would be easily achievable, without increasing the overall length. The follower on the Buckmark mag is really long. A shorter follower, and a longer follower button slot would allow for at least 2 more rounds.
Alternately, a longer magazine should work just fine, and it woudn't need to be curved. The magazine channel for the bullet head keeps the bullets parallel to each other. It looks like the mag would need to be lengthened by 1.25" for each 5 additional rounds (not including the modification I mentioned earlier).
wally
Member
One was marketed a while back, forget the name, you loose the slide hold open on the last shot.
Years ago Ramline made a metal 12 round magazine (MAK-1250) for the MK II that worked well. I've ten of them and they've held up well, but I don't use them as much as the normal mags because they won't load with the McFadden "ultimate clip loader".
There also were some plastic ones made, these were crap.
I don't think they've re-introduced the design or updated it for the MK III or 22/45, IMHO the quality of current Ramline stuff is suspect.
Well, after taking a look at the magazine, it doesn't look good.
The follower isn't really that long on a MkIII magazine, at all. Taking .250" off the top of it would leave very little left up front. And if you lengthened the slot for the thumb knob, the knob would still lock the slide too early. You could lathe it down to a smaller circumference, but not enough to account for that a whole round (about .25" for the diameter of the bullet plus 1 end of the protruding rim). That's if it still feeds, properly.
On the other end, you could shorten the spring holder pin in the follower... by about .18" or so. (By measuring the diameter of the wire x the number of coils and still having enough length leftover). Not nearly enough to fit another round, unless you started cutting coils. You could ever so slightly deepen the hole in the floorplate, so the pin sits lower to begin with. Between the three approaches, I still don't see getting 2 extra rounds in the mag without compromising functionality. I imagine 1 extra at best, still retaining the thumb pin and the last round lock open. Not worth the effort.
The follower isn't really that long on a MkIII magazine, at all. Taking .250" off the top of it would leave very little left up front. And if you lengthened the slot for the thumb knob, the knob would still lock the slide too early. You could lathe it down to a smaller circumference, but not enough to account for that a whole round (about .25" for the diameter of the bullet plus 1 end of the protruding rim). That's if it still feeds, properly.
On the other end, you could shorten the spring holder pin in the follower... by about .18" or so. (By measuring the diameter of the wire x the number of coils and still having enough length leftover). Not nearly enough to fit another round, unless you started cutting coils. You could ever so slightly deepen the hole in the floorplate, so the pin sits lower to begin with. Between the three approaches, I still don't see getting 2 extra rounds in the mag without compromising functionality. I imagine 1 extra at best, still retaining the thumb pin and the last round lock open. Not worth the effort.
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Dudemeister
Member
Yeah, you're right.
I took the grip off the Buck, and the follower button is what holds the slide open, so lengthening the hole won't make any difference as the button will hit the hold open lever before reaching the end of the extended slot.
I then thought about removing the button altogether, but it's also what holds the follower in the magazine, without it, the spring would push the follower all the way out.
On the buck magazine, I can just shave off about 1/8" and I could fit another round, but then again, I'm not sure how reliable the slide hold open would be, so why bother.
I took the grip off the Buck, and the follower button is what holds the slide open, so lengthening the hole won't make any difference as the button will hit the hold open lever before reaching the end of the extended slot.
I then thought about removing the button altogether, but it's also what holds the follower in the magazine, without it, the spring would push the follower all the way out.
On the buck magazine, I can just shave off about 1/8" and I could fit another round, but then again, I'm not sure how reliable the slide hold open would be, so why bother.
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