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Grip Tape on Glock magazine base SSP legal?


TimAustinTX

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Dawson Precision sells numbered grip tape for the bottom of Glock magazines and I was curious if they are allowed for SSP in IDPA.

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000F79-1303759811

Tim

Magazine base pads < 1 oz. greater than OEM stock are also legal in SSP.

I can't see where grip tape on the magazine base would be different.

As I understand, you can also stipple the basepad if you wish, ie. user modified base pads are legal as long as the part weighs no more more than 1 oz. from OEM stock and mechanical devices to aid in magazine ejection (springs) are not used.

Edited by PEC-Memphis
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I'm shooting a regional match soon and asked this same question of the match officials, who are experienced and have run state level matches. The answer came back that it is "a grey area", but that a conservative interpretation of the pertinent rules could view it as not allowed. So I will be using bare mags just to be sure. Not worth it to me to be viewed as using gamer equipment, especially as I am a crossover shooter from USPSA.

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Tim & Kevin,

Grip tape on mag baseplates is most likely legal in SSP. The arguments (that I can think of) against allowing grip tape on a SSP mag baseplate are pretty weak, especially in light of the recent clarifications on modifying baseplates/aftermarket products.

Take care,

Koski

Rule book page 20:

PERMITTED Modifications (Inclusive list):

3. A slip-on grip sock and/or skateboard tape may be used.

http://idpaforum.yuku.com/topic/6939/Aftermarket-magazine-base-pads--modifications--base-pads--SS

IDPA allows competitors to replace the base pads with aftermarket products. These products must still allow the gun to fit in the box and not make the magazine weigh more than 1 ounce over the same capacity factory magazine. Aftermarket products must be suitable for all day continuous wear and not a competition only product. Examples of non-legal products would be brass base pads or base pads incorporating springs to aid ejection.

IDPA allows competitors to make modifications to the base pads of SSP guns. These modifications must still allow the gun to fit in the box and not make the magazine weigh more than 1 ounce over the same capacity factory magazine. Modifications must be suitable for all day continuous wear. Examples of these modifications are reshaping of base pad or the addition of rubber/polymer bumper pads.

Robert Ray

IDPA HQ

Edited by Steve Koski
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  • 3 weeks later...

Well, that answers that question definitively. :)

For the moment. There is a contradiction from HQ at the moment regarding this. On one hand, external modifications to a mag are not allowed unless they replicate a factory part. But on the other hand, rubber bumpers are allowed.

I don't think that the "final answer" has been given yet.

Edited by Gryff
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Gryff,

The latest clarifications (quoted above) say you can add aftermarket base pads, or modify the stock basepads. So long as they still fit in the box and don't add more than an ounce.

I think there have been any clarification that says mag modifications have to replicate a factory part. Where did you hear this?

Koski

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The latest clarifications (quoted above) say you can add aftermarket base pads, or modify the stock basepads. So long as they still fit in the box and don't add more than an ounce.

I think there have been any clarification that says mag modifications have to replicate a factory part. Where did you hear this?

Steve,

Robert Ray posted this on the IDPA Forum:

Aftermarket magazines are legal in SSP as long as they duplicate the factory part. You can place a compact magazine base plate on a full sized magazine as long as it will fit without alteration.

http://idpaforum.yuku.com/reply/48105/-compact-magazine-base-pads---size-magazines-SSP-legal-#reply-48105

The issue is whether "factory part" refers to only the magazine, or the base plate also. Robert, in the same posting, says, "The other questions of replacing a plastic plate with a metal one, grinding down a lip, or placing a rubber pad on the bottom will be answered shortly."

Interesting how "no visible modifications" starts to have a number of caveats. Personally, I think it should be that tape on the base plate is OK, but no other modifications allowed if it changes the appearance from something that replicates a factory part. But I can't convince anyone to pay me to think, so my opinions don't carry a lot of weight.

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Gryff,

The "duplicate the factory part" language was posted by Robert Ray on 11/4/2010. It is superceded by the clarifications:

http://idpaforum.yuku.com/topic/6939/Aftermarket-magazine-base-pads--modifications--base-pads--SS

http://idpaforum.yuku.com/topic/6940/Aftermarket-magazines-for-SSP-guns

which are dated 1/14/2011.

Koski

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  • 1 month later...

Is it in question enough that I should bring spare magazines without tape to a major match?

Tim

A club member of ours got a rules clarification from Robert Ray about this very thing. He has clarified this question and his answer has been sent to Ted to be put into the Rules Repository on the IDPA forum. It has been 30 days and it is still not posted. So I would contact the MD to the event you are attending and find out if he will be sending anyone home for skate tape on basepads in SSP.

Roberts ruling was you can now add stippling, checkering, and grip tape to the list of legal base pad modifications in SSP division.

But like I said. If its not in the Rulebook, addendum, or rules repository it is not a legal ruling. (so I have been told)

link

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