soulbyte Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) A little while back I was able to get blued Canadian factory Para 38 super mags to feed 9mm reliably through my P18.9 by compressing the mag bodies and switching to ISMI 140mm springs. The original mags came with +2 para basepads to hold 20 total. Now I know 9mm is not going to be competitive shooting anything else but production in USPSA unless I load 9 major in Open, but I would consider myself a novice and only shoot club matches (limited minor) and steel. I made the decision to purchase Dawson Extended basepads to add 3 if not a couple more rounds. I was told that I wouldn't need basepad inserts so didn't get them at the time. Well to make a long story short, I shot a steel match last Thursday and during one of the runs one of mags topped off with 22 rounds stopped feeding. When loading to capacity one of the rounds toward the base of the mag would move itself between the follower and the mag body. If I loaded to 20 it would feed reliable, which kinda defeats the purpose of buying the dawson basepads because my stock mags already fed 20. Today I ordered Arendondo purple inserts for 38 super from Dawson to remedy the problem. The problem is when doing research for the Para mag/Dawson basepad nobody mentions needing the insert, just spring, follower, body and base. I should mention that most of the forums I searched the were shooting 16.40 or 14.45. Finally my questions. Do I need mag inserts like the arendondo to make 38super or 9mm run reliable in the factory blue para mags with dawson basepads? How my more rounds should the Dawson basepads add over factory when loading 9mm? Should I get Arendondo followers too? What spring, follower, basepad combos work best for you? I realize this is a long post, so thanks for taking the time to read it, and thanks for your advice in advance. Edited February 4, 2014 by soulbyte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) Sounds like your follower is getting stuck during the transition to the mag body from the basepad. You should just have to trim the followers as instructed by DP. They have a video on their website on how to do it. You should get 22-24 rounds of 9mm with a Para mag body,DP extended base pad,Ismi Para 140mm mag spring and a trimmed factory Para mag follower. I have ran a couple arrenndondo Para followers with good success ,even without trimming them. Edited February 4, 2014 by ParaGunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 ParaGunner, thank you for the reply. I radiused and beveled the factory follower as instructed when I installed the basepads for the first time. I did notice that happening, but the round jumping between the follower the ant mag body happened after while running 22 rounds. I guess my real question is do I really need the basepad inserts? And, how many rounds should I be getting? I am able to fit 21 rounds fine in all four and a tight fitting 22 in a couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Sounds like it needs a little more trimming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 What oal are you running for 9mm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) Ok I'll try trimming the follower down a little more, thanks. OAL is 1.15 and shoot both 115gr and 124gr. I'v tried as short as 1.12 and as long as 1.16 and run fine, but 1.15 seems to be the sweet spot. I should say that I am extremely new to reloading, like this year new, so I'm still learning Edited February 4, 2014 by soulbyte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I would try and run the ammo as long as you can or as long as the chamber will let you before the bullet hits the rifling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 How would I go about determining that? Any recommendation on an OAL I should try? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Take the barrel out of the gun and load some dummy rounds at different lengths. Drop the rounds in the barrel chamber and see if they fully chamber or hit the rifling. Maybe 1.17-1.18 oal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wide45 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 You will need the inserts to run extended basepads in 9mm or .38. They are not required in .40 or .45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 awsome thanks! just ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted February 7, 2014 Author Share Posted February 7, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the help guys! I now have 22 reloadable/reliable rounds per mag! I appreciate your help. Here's a picture of my baby Edited February 7, 2014 by soulbyte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spd522 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 My Circa 1999 P18 runs with 1.200 OAL 124 FMj just fine. Found this out by experimentation. But I don't load that long normally. You will need the Arrendondo inserts or the follower will twist in the bottom and hang up. Some of my mags hold 21. Never got 22 in any of them so you are lucky. Usually I just load 20 and not worry about it. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonSnow Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I can't speak to the P18, but for my P16 mags I run the inserts and still get occasional salt-shakers. Another Para shooter told me that he had the same issue and fixed it by soldering .055" diameter wire into the mags to extend the grooves all the way to the basepad and then trimmed the insert at the top of the basepad. Said he hasn't had any issues since. I've been meaning to try that on my mags but haven't had the time yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSGJohnV Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Odd. I get 21 reloadable in my P16-40 mags with Dawson pads. I do hear a salt shaker effect when loaded to capacity, but it has yet to affect feeding for me. I do load long (1.180), so there's that. Any luck finding true 9mm mags for your gun? I feel like you should be able to get more than 22 rounds in 9mm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 (edited) I'm getting 21 reloadable. I beveled the follower and where the mag and base pad come together to make a smooth transition. Only time I here the rattle is if I load the mag half full for a short stage or speed stage. No problems with function even if there is some noise 16-40 para Edited May 12, 2014 by jcc7x7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkerNash Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I ran into many of the same problems with my P16 factory mag with dawson base pads and I figured out STI magazines work in the para so now all my mags are STI mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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