frenchphil Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 For the moment, I've tuned 2 STI 126 mm mags tube like that : Dawson or SPS basepads SVI "super slim" follower SVI spring with 1 or 2 coils cut off That makes 18 rounds mags for .40 that fit in the IPSC box, but not reloadable... still working on other configurations to get reloadable 18 rnds mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 So, the SVI followers and springs can be used in an STI mag tube? Did you have to make any changes to the followers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchphil Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Except cutting some coils, no change. I directly dropped follower+spring in the tube (same for STI and SPS tubes, I do not have any SVI tube yet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRush Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Addressing the OPs question: I followed the Freedom Gunworks "Competition Mag Tuning Tutorial" on a current production STI 140 tube. Grams follower/spring, Dawson SNL pad, viced tube squeezed down to 1.360. Stock mag I got 18. Stock tube, basepad, grams follower/spring I got 19 reloadable. Stock tube, spring/follower, Dawson SNL got me 19 reloadable. Tuned tube ( I do not consider dropping in drop in parts "tuning") with SNL pad and stock follower got me 20. Tuned tube, SNL pad, stock spring and follower= tight 20. Final combo is tuned tube, Grams follower/spring, SNL pad, 21. I can reload it but I use it as a start mag to start with 22 in the gun. If I am reloading I am currently using stock tubes, stock basepads, and the grams kit. Easy 19 that runs is plenty for me if I am going to be reloading anyway. I am planning on using 18 round IPSC mags when I prep for an international match. Capacity is great, more is better, etc but I am happy to start with 22 and reload to 18 or 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwayne Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Grams Engineering! Send them to Blevin. Send some $. Great guy. Great Service. My mags never fail. Ranger6 I agree...I sent 3 STI 45acp mags and some of the loads 185gr LSWC (for ESP) and had him tune them 7 years ago...he actually sent me back a extra set of springs but I have never had to change them!!! Clean them a couple times a year and never had a mag or FTF problem......aprox 50,000 rounds through a STI 2011......was expensvie, but worth it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 I finally gave in and got the grams follower kit and put it in my STI 126mm mag tube and it is still a 17 round reloadable....similar to when they had bolen guts. I was hoping to get 18 rounds reloadable. Anyone share a secret here? My configuration so far Grams guts STI 126mm mags IPSC wedge basepad - JR Speed brand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 What difference does it make if the mags hold 19 or 20 rounds. How many stages have you seen that did not require a reload shooting Limited? I would rather have mags that hold 18 rounds and are 100% reliable than 19 or 20 that are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRush Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I finally gave in and got the grams follower kit and put it in my STI 126mm mag tube and it is still a 17 round reloadable....similar to when they had bolen guts. I was hoping to get 18 rounds reloadable. Anyone share a secret here? My configuration so far Grams guts STI 126mm mags IPSC wedge basepad - JR Speed brand Some tube reworking may get you 18, but I use the Grams follower/spring with stock 126 tubes and the Double Alpha basepads for 18 reloadable. What difference does it make if the mags hold 19 or 20 rounds. How many stages have you seen that did not require a reload shooting Limited? I would rather have mags that hold 18 rounds and are 100% reliable than 19 or 20 that are not. I have a mag I tuned at home that is legal and holds a tight 21. I find that while I often do not need to use 22 rounds before reloading it is a nice thing to have. I shot a 21 round stage, had to make up one shot where I missed a piece of steel, and at unload show clear had nothing in the chamber. Scary, but there was no convenient place to reload and I ran the stage really fast. FWIW I use that mag to start and load the rest of mine to 18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinerRider Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Bolen basepads, followers.....to clean and polish the mag tube put them in the tumbler for 8 hours or so.....nicely polished inside and out. good idea on the tumbler! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anilson Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I run two types of mags: Sri tubes, grams spring and follower Bolen base pad for 20 reloadable and very reliable. Rescomp tubes, Bolen followers shaved down, grams springs with a coil clipped off, and Bolen 3mm base pads for 22 non-reloadable but can start with 23 in the gun. These are less reliable but can be made to work well, you must test them often as you are running on the edge. I can save a reload at major matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anilson Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 40 cal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 I'm hoping to learn something here. I've got 6 stock STI mags, 40 cal Eagle. I can understand that some folks would be willing to spend time and $'s to get an extra round or two, beyond that it is a mystery to me why anyone would mess with them beyond occasional cleaning or eventual replacement of worn components. The stock mags just seem to do everything that a good mag is supposed to (although for what they cost a few witness holes don't seem out of the question) and if I got one that did not work I think I could send it back for free repair. Don't want to hijack the thread, but if there is something going on that I'm clueless about then a quick explanation would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 It is for the most part stage setup. A boring stage is 8 shots, 8 shots, 8 shots, 8 shots. It becomes a conga line because there is only one way to shoot it. Production and SS reload every array, Limited every other, and Open either the second or third array. Now do a stage with 1 target, 2 targets, 2 targets, 3 targets....... You can reload every 6 rounds, 8 rounds, 10 rounds...... It is not uncommon for there to be a natural break 12 to 18 rounds into a stage. I have shot many where I am reloading after 12 rounds because shots 14 to 20 are one array, and shots 21 to 32 are somewhat spread out. 12 plus 20 equals 32, so the reload at 12 still gives me enough to finish the stage. If I run into a problem I can reload again before I get to the end. I shoot very few stages that require 18 to 20 shots before a natural reload point, but many that allow 16 to 20 after that natural reload point. Knowing I need 16 and have 20 gives me a lot more comfort than need 16 and have 17 or 18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Thank you Poppa Bear, that makes sense. And now, back to the regularly scheduled program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 That is the whole point of trying to get that extra round, which in some instances (not all) may become an advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XDman Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 OK, so I have stock STI .40 mag tubes and use the Dawson +1 base pads. So which Grams spring, the 11 coil or the 13 coil? It looks to me like I should use the 13 coil but want to make sure as I am rebuilding my mags this fall. As a side, I get 18 with stock STI tubes guts and Dawson +1 base pads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Rob, I'd go with the 11 coil, should give you at least 1 more round. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 +1 on 11 coil as I think the 13 coil is meant for open guns where round count go over 20+ rounds in a mag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XDman Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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