TDean Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 I'm looking for ideas on how to get the proper placement of a witness hole to indicate 10 (and no more) rds in my STI tubes. I suppose I could take the base pad off and while holding the tube upside down, load 10 rds and then guestimate where to drill a hole just above the 10th rd? Through the hole, I'd like to see the follower AND the bottom portion of the 10th rd. Hmmmm..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 That's how I did it Just used a ruler to measure the distance and then drilled it. The metal is really tough, I went through several bits doing all my mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 You could have Beven do it (it's part of his tuning service, along with 15- and 20-round holes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 If you ask real nicely Bevin might tell you where to drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rishii Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 if your like me and cann't count to 10, you could also drop in an arrandondo L10 plug into the mag, just to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 Use a HSS or carbide bit, run your drill press really slow or you'll burn up the bit and use lots of cutting fluid. Mag tubes are really hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 FWIW, the center of the back of STI/SV tubes is where the weld is. That'll be even harder to drill through.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 I don't get it. Since when do magazines used in Limited 10 hold more than 10 rounds? Oh no, you guys don't game it and use a fat gun in L10 do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froglegs Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 Hey TDEAN how about using a slotted hole with your idea to see both parts would be easy with a dremel As for rons comment isn't the restriction 10 rounds specific to how many you can load not how many you can hold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Don't even bother with a Dremel. You can use it to deburr, but not cut the hole. Even the carbide bits won't go through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froglegs Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I guess I left this out ...elongate the hole with the dremel not drill it. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Would the Arredondo Limit 10 Mag insert be desirable option? I'd rather cough up for those than bugger up my mags trying to drill witness holes (something I wouldn't want to do w/o a mill and carbide bits). S_I mags won't be going down in price anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I was just being a wise ass. Let's keep the thread on topic. Sorry guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDean Posted August 29, 2004 Author Share Posted August 29, 2004 Thanks for responses guys. Ron, I don't even own a singlestack man ! Eric and rishi have the most sensible idea. Ralph's limiter apparatus is the cleanest fix, but I don't like the idea of having something stuck down in the tube like that. I have visions of spring binding and follower misalignment. I'm sure they are good devices, but I'd rather have a hole. Froglegs gives me an idea. What about using a carbide cutting wheel (Dremel) to cut a thin verticle groove in the approximate location. The o.a.l. of the slot would probably be about 0.5". That would be a good amount of vision into the tube. Because of the cartridges being staggered in the doublestack tube, I wonder if the "hole" location should be off-center a little bit. Left or right? Does the follower stay centered on it way up and down the tube, or does it move left and right as it moves? Where is my follower exactly with 10rds loaded? hmmmm..... Ralph's plastic blocker seems more and more appropriate the more I think about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 You probably could cut a slot, just make sure you deburr the inside of the tube. You might need the flex shaft attachment since the body of the tool is longer and slimmer to get inside the mag tube. I don't remember what size hole I drilled in my Para mags, but if you have the hole over the primer, one round short will have brass visible. The follower will move to one side of the mag, on most guns it will be to the right. Just look at the lip running length wise on the follower. If it's on the right, it'll go right. That will be the side you drill on. It's not as hard as everyone is making it seem like. Just clamp the mag tube in a vice. Use a new HSS or carbide drill bit and run the drill press as slow as possible and use lots of cutting oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Just measured where my holes are: Viewed from the back with the mag in the upright position the holes are on the left-hand side. 3/16" hole with the center at 2-3/4" from the bottom and 1/4" from the left side. HTH. Will show the bottom of the 9th round and the primer of the 10th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Might be better to measure from the top. Tube length can vary considerably, depending how old they are and who made them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 STI and relatively new... they're the latest 140mm ones that measure ~137mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistral404 Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Beven did three of my SV mags. The holes are right on the money. The primer of the 10th round fills the hole as does the 15th. I agree with the suggestion of having Beven do it. He will also polish the inside and true the mags to get that elusive last round to go in easily. I have his new followers, springs and base pads on my new mags. The are GREAT!. Beven's work is worth more than he charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDean Posted August 30, 2004 Author Share Posted August 30, 2004 Thanks for the measurements! Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny hill Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Dean, just take your shoes off & count rds. on your fingers, when you get to the first toe, you have one to many in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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