WidowsSon683 Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 So how important is it to have tuned mags? Could I get by without them. Or is it worth having them worked over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenden Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I'm going to assume you mean for a 2011. I use 5 untuned mags, 3 with dawson basepads, and graham's guts the other 2 are stock. I have not had a single mag related malfunction in about 3k rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCringleberry Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Tuned mags do give a slight confidence boost with your equipment but it also gives more capacity usually and a better fit sometimes. Do you need tuned mags? No. Does it help sometimes? Yes. Test your mags out and see how they function, they may work fine. However, I only use tuned mags. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TH3180 Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Tuned mags do give a slight confidence boost with your equipment but it also gives more capacity usually and a better fit sometimes. Do you need tuned mags? No. Does it help sometimes? Yes. Test your mags out and see how they function, they may work fine. However, I only use tuned mags. Good luck. I couldn't think how to type my opinion on this subject. What I quoted states it perfectly. Edited February 8, 2014 by TH3180 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 tjs375 on these forums tunes my Open mags for me. He verifies feed lip dimensions, polishes inside and out and will drill witness holes and makes sure they fir the gauge. Absolutely necessary? nope. But polishing the insides of these mags is not an easy feat. And at least one witness hole that lines up to show when your mags are full makes things so much easier when reloading them. BUT, if your mags seem to be working well enough, you can usually gain a round or two in capacity just buy throwing away the STI guts and base pad and replacing with Gramm's guts and base pad of choice. So for me, worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Take them apart and run the metal parts in your tumbler for a few hours, that will usually polish them up pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I have a set of tuned mags that I only use at major and state level matches. other than that I use stock STI mags in my Limited and Open guns. Capacity is not a big a concern as reliability. When shooting major matches I try and minimize potential equipment issues as a major match is stressful enough without having to worry if your mags are going to puke on you at the worst possible time. so yes tuned mags are worth it. have a regular set for practice/local matches, tuned set for the big matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TH3180 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I have a set of tuned mags that I only use at major and state level matches. other than that I use stock STI mags in my Limited and Open guns. Capacity is not a big a concern as reliability. When shooting major matches I try and minimize potential equipment issues as a major match is stressful enough without having to worry if your mags are going to puke on you at the worst possible time. so yes tuned mags are worth it. have a regular set for practice/local matches, tuned set for the big matches. Why not tune all your mags? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 If it weren't for the cost I'd tune all my mags. I cringe at the thought of dropping $100 magazines on the gravel we have at our range. Plus here in Hawaii we have a 10 rnd magazine law, and my stock mags run well enough with only 10 rounds in them. If I have a jam once in a while at a local match or practice session using stock mags I really don't care, I'll just mark the mag and move on. but at a major that jam will be more critical costing points, stage placement, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowsSon683 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 So next question. Who either tunes mags or sells them already tuned? I know Brazos does and they are pricey so im going to assume its the same for any others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TH3180 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 So next question. Who either tunes mags or sells them already tuned? I know Brazos does and they are pricey so im going to assume its the same for any others.From what I've seen. Brazos is inline with everyone else. I bought the Dawson tuning kit. Once you've done a mag or two. It's really not that tough of a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I actually have a set of Brazos .40 tuned mags for my Limited STI. Reliable and reloadable 20 rounds. Picked them up for $400 for the set of 4 at a Nationals vendor tent. Great people to deal with. If you can find them at a major match the Brazos tuned mags usually are on sale. Have a Brazos tuned 170mm big stick for my .38SC Open gun too. Holds a reloadable 28 rounds. I dont trust myself to tune mags. At $400 for a tuned and polished set of 4 mags or $100 individually thats about what you'll pay for the magazine components themselves so thats a great deal. The big stick was a bit more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowsSon683 Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 The brazos mags are $600 for a 4 pack unless you purchase them with a Brazos gun then its $400. But I will probably fork over the $600 for a 4 pack of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiefire Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Please excuse my very basic question, but what exactly is involved with magazine tuning? Is this only for the doublestack 2011 guns? New guy trying to get up to speed. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Typically tubes are bought separately then fitted with various aftermarket pads springs and followers. Adjusted for max capacity, polished inside and out AD maybe witness holes drilled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 it also generally involves adjusting the feed lips to a very precise shape/spec. it's basically gunsmithing for mags. ensuring they will hold max capacity ensuring they feed reliably ensuring they drop free easily ensuring they work match after match etc etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Bought a set of 4 tuned Brazos mags. Also bought a mag tuning kit and have tuned another half dozen mags with grams guts and dawson basepads. Really easy to do if you are comfortable with a vise, hammer, etc. Both sets are equal in terms of reliability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Run untuned mags here and get 20 in my limited mags 23 in my 9mm open 140 and 28 in my 170. All run just fine without issue. The tuning will occasionally get you that extra round but for me not worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan R. Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 If you're not timid with a hammer, Buy the Dawson kit. It's worth every penny. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jargon51 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I bought my own tubes and base pads and grams springs with followers from Shooters Connection. Got the tubes put them in my brass tumbler for 6 hours. After that I polished the insides with some Mothers mag wheel polish that I applied to a shotgun mop that I chucked in my drill. After that I put them back in the tumbler for an hour. Pulled em out, put em together and shot em. They function flawlessly. Try this first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jargon51 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 oh and out of 6 mags I get 20 in 4 of them and 21 in the other 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TH3180 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I bought my own tubes and base pads and grams springs with followers from Shooters Connection. Got the tubes put them in my brass tumbler for 6 hours. After that I polished the insides with some Mothers mag wheel polish that I applied to a shotgun mop that I chucked in my drill. After that I put them back in the tumbler for an hour. Pulled em out, put em together and shot em. They function flawlessly. Try this first.How many rounds can you fit in them, do they pass a mag gauge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jargon51 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I bought my own tubes and base pads and grams springs with followers from Shooters Connection. Got the tubes put them in my brass tumbler for 6 hours. After that I polished the insides with some Mothers mag wheel polish that I applied to a shotgun mop that I chucked in my drill. After that I put them back in the tumbler for an hour. Pulled em out, put em together and shot em. They function flawlessly. Try this first.How many rounds can you fit in them, do they pass a mag gauge? I was typing at the same time you were. Yes they fit the gauge and I get 20-21 in all of the mags. Minus the bullshit NY mag I have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcqueen Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 Good idea on the tumbler, I added a little fine auto liquid rubbing compond to the media, now they shine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 I have two open guns a Limcat and Akai. I have two sets of mags one un-tuned old style SV and a tuned set of STI. I shoot 9 mm so the STI mags have spacers in them. The Akai gun has feed problems with the STI tuned mags and runs 100% with the un- tuned SVs. The Limcat will run either set. Mag capacity is also the same for both sets with the exception of the big sticks. The STI holds 29 and the SV holds 30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.53c483221c1b60d84bce93d42c5def5a.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.