.38 super mags

[Brian Payne]

I am shooting the Witness Elite Limited in .38 super. I use .38 super comp ammo. I am lucky enough to be 100% reliable thus far but I am looking for some higher capacity mags for the upcoming 3-gun season.

The mags I use now:

3 factory mags with the factory basepad (for the mag well), with factory springs and follower trimmed allows for 19 rounds reloadable. Very reliable.

2 chrome factory mags with small Henning base pads and using factory springs and trimmed followers allows for 20 rounds reloadable. Very reliable.

I have two sets of Grams springs and followers but they cause nose dives in mags with either the factory base pads or the Henning pads.

I am interested in a way to get 23 - 24 rounds in the magazine as long as they are reliable. The only option that I have seen is the longer Henning base pad. Has anyone tried this with the Grams internals? Are they reliable? Any other options to look at?

Thanks

[Nealio]

So the problem with the Tanfoglio factory mags is the taper of the transition from double to single stack. If its not aggressive enough you have to run a wedge type follower (like the factory ones).

I would think the new Tanfoglio factory mags (made by MecGar) would be what you need:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=932856

See all the posts about thew new MecGar 9mm mags for more info.

[Joe4d]

can you use 170mm tubes ?

[kurtb]

Are the 38 Super mags now listed in the Midway catalog the new improved model?

[Nealio]

Are the 38 Super mags now listed in the Midway catalog the new improved model?

On the website (the link I shared above) they look like the new design and the pic is showing the right number ("38") on the mag.

Edited April 6, 2011 by Nealio

[Brian Payne]

Joe4d

We have to stay at the 140mm length.

The five mag bodies that I have on hand work perfectly now. I was just wondering how adding the 140mm length Henning mag pad would affect reliability since I would need to use the Grams springs and followers.

Those same springs and followers are giving me troubles in the shorter length set ups but from reading on this forum, it appears they may be too much spring pressure for the shorter mags?

I know Henning is the man when it comes to this, but I just thought someone out there might have a 140mm length set up that works for them already.

[Joe4d]

adding more length to the bottom wont make a nose diving follower and spring setup stop nose diving, you will still have the same spring tension it will just be delayed a round or two. The only way I could see that helping is if the nose dive only happens on the last two rounds, which I doubt. Since yoour setup with factory followers is working why change ? You just need a bit more room, order the 141's and new wolff springs that are made for factory followers and the 141 pad.

[Brian Payne]

I will give that a shot. I was hoping someone had tried something like this and would be able to report how it worked. It does seem like the factory followers work a little better but might cost one round of capacity.

[Joe4d]

What kinda bullets are you using ? Maybe you can get the grams running by extending the overall length and using a pointed FMJ bullet.

[Walküre]

My 140s have been absolutely flawless so far - only about 400 rounds through my Open gun right now, though. The previous owner didn't have any reliability complaints, and said that the mags were purchased from Henning. (They have Henning 140 pads and the followers look like typical Grams fare - look and sound just like the 140s Henning offers, so I have no reason to doubt the fellow I purchased the setup from.)

I can get 23+1 easy. There's just room for a 24th round, but it doesn't really want to seat in a 24+1 configuration, so I haven't bothered to try running it that way. Thus, I don't know if it can be made to work or not with a full 24 rounds. (No need to push my gear, as if I need the extra round, I'll just run one of my 28+1 big sticks!)

[Brian Payne]

I received the two Henning 140mm mag extensions and added the Gramms spring and follower, still getting nose dives but have 23 round capacity. I changed over to the cut down stock followers and get a reliable easy to load 22 rds.

It almost seems like the Gramms follower is a little short (length wise) in the magazine, compared to the factory follower.

Overall I am very happy now. I will gladly loose one round capacity in trade for 100% reliability.

[kurtb]

I received the two Henning 140mm mag extensions and added the Gramms spring and follower, still getting nose dives but have 23 round capacity. I changed over to the cut down stock followers and get a reliable easy to load 22 rds.

It almost seems like the Gramms follower is a little short (length wise) in the magazine, compared to the factory follower.

Overall I am very happy now. I will gladly loose one round capacity in trade for 100% reliability.

Brian,

Did you completely remove the legs off the follower, or just shortened them?

[Brian Payne]

I have them trimmed fairly short, but room for more trimming. I am just barely shy of getting the 23rd round in the mag and I have three more followers just waiting to replace any that I screw up, so I might work them a little more once I am sure these mags are good to go as they sit now.

[kurtb]

I have them trimmed fairly short, but room for more trimming. I am just barely shy of getting the 23rd round in the mag and I have three more followers just waiting to replace any that I screw up, so I might work them a little more once I am sure these mags are good to go as they sit now.

Are you using 38s or 38sc?

[Brian Payne]

.38 supercomp

[Glk21C]

if you search through I think it's Henning's shop area here on be.com, you'll find a nice thread started by "olp73" I believe it was, about heavily modding factory followers. It's more than just trimming the legs. I've done a few this way, it works.

[Brian Payne]

I just picked up two new .38 super mags from EAA. They are different in that they taper more with their indentations, the color of the mag is matt rather than blued, and the follower is black rather than red. The final note is the spring, which is longer and has smaller coils toward the top.

I added a Henning 140 base pad and a Gramms follower to the factory supplied spring and get a 100% reliable, easily loadable 23 rounds.

Very impressed. I had contacted Meg-Car about their new mags and they said the .38 super mags wouldn't be available until June of 2011.

[kurtb]

Brian,

Keep us updated on their reliability.

[david s]

Should be marked "K38" on the tube if they are the new tan/M-G mags. On Midways second page is the propitary Marked M-G flavor, don't know how the tube is marked but will have M-G base pad. My new Tangfolio 10mm & .40 mags are marked "k10" and "K40".

Edited May 23, 2011 by david s

[jjanglin]

If your springs are catching (even slightly) on the the base of the mag(crack between the mag body and the mag pad)

you will get nose dives!!!

Take your mags apart and put the base pad on and look down through your mag and clean the mag pad so you have

a smooth transition from the mag pad up into the mag body.

When using the gramms spring kits you need to make sure the seam on the inside back of the mag is smooth and

polished, take 220,320,400 and 600 grit emery paper wrapped and taped on something like a target lath

about 1/4 inch narrower than the mag ~ a foot long; and polish on an in and out motion. DONT USe A DREMEL!!

THE SPIN OF THE DREMEL IS THE WRONG WAY , YOU NEED TO POLISH THE DIRECTION OF THE ROUNDS ROLLING UP IN THE MAG

the little ruts a dremel can cause on the inside of a mag are the death of that mag body.

Takes some time to polish the inside of the mags butit is needed for reliable units.

My new style caspian/eaa 38 super mags get 24 in them but I only load 23, loading that extra round will just

spread out the "V: notch at the top of the mags and eventually ruin the mag, I use the Caspian Quick release

mag pads on the Caspian,EAA and TZ mags. They come off the mag easy and are cheaper than EAAstuff.

Jim/Pa

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