soulbyte Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) Bought 6 RP9 mags to replace my tuned (for 9mm) para 38 super Canadian mags. The RP9 mags are slightly longer than the factory Para mags and so far work great with my P18.9. With the factory spring and follower I can fit 22 rounds of 9mm (21 reloadable), same as the 38super mags/dawson pad setup. For my RIA Tactical in 40 I ended up buying a set of 6 Mecgar mags from the gun show only to find out they were too short to use with Dawson pads. I then bought another 6 of the RIA mags with the metal triangular shaped base pads and came to find out when test fitting the Dawson pads, they are just Mecgar mags with RIA's base pads on them. Note: You can get the Mecgar mags to work by buying the factory +2 Para base pads off ebay and shaving down the pads to fit into the RIA magwell. By doing this I was able to get 18+1. Then I bought 6 of the Greg Cote 40 mags. Those were somewhat longer than the Mecgar mags and allowed me to use the Dawson pads with the factory Magwell. I then upgraded to the Taylor Freelance magwell, regardless of which mags I used none of them would sit. To fix that you need to open up the inside of the magwell until the basepad clears. Below is the RP9 mag inserted into the P18.9. Right below is the Para 38 super mag. Notice how much mor the RP9 mags stick out. Below is the Greg Cote mag with Dawson pad inserted into the Tayao freelance magwell. Right under is the mecgar mag with the +2 Para factory basepad. You can get them to fit by removing material off the sides and rear of the magwell and a little off the pistol. I will post a picture below to give a better idea. Here are the four mags lined up to give a better size representation. First, mag is the RP9 with Dawson pad. as you can see it is much longer than all three. Second is the Greg Cote mag with Dawson pad. The third is mecgar with para +2 pad. Fourth is the factory Canadian 38super which I tuned and compressed to run 9mm reliably. LAST: I bought six of the 40sw 140mm STI mags for the RIA as well. The STI mags run flawlessly with no tuning. When removing material, concentrate on the sides and corners closer to the frame. You will also have to remove a little from the frame. Edited November 10, 2017 by soulbyte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
only1asterisk Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, dogtired said: Cheaper than dirt has some for $34 Those are the 18 round mags with plastic base. The part number is different. 17795 vs. 17794 for the correct part. They are available as low as $25, but the basepads is more likely not to work in the magwell. If you don't have a magwell, you are better off with the $15 RP9 mag. Edited November 10, 2017 by only1asterisk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomjerry1 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 With all the magazines that you purchased, it would have been cheaper to go with MBX, and all would be well. I shoot a Pro Match 40 with a Taylor Freelance and MBX, everything fits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 With all the magazines that you purchased, it would have been cheaper to go with MBX, and all would be well. I shoot a Pro Match 40 with a Taylor Freelance and MBX, everything fits. Yes I agree it would have, I’ve had the majority of the mags for a while now with the exception of the RP9 mags that I just got recently. MBX at the time did not exist. I’ve had the Para for a long time now. Finding 9mm mags was tough, that’s the reason I modified he 38super mags to work. They still work fine but for $12 each for the RP9 mags it was a no brainer. With the 40 mags I bought the mecgars not knowing any better, the RIA mags on a gamble they would be longer. Then the STI mags. I could have stopped there but purchased the Greg cote mags because I had an extra set of Dawson pads just sitting there. It was a good/expensive learning experience and eventually traded away the first set of mecgars. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomjerry1 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 I feel your pain, sucks when the manufacture sells a gun with only 1 magazine, and until not to recently, the replacement were made of unobtainium. I actually used STI, which had to be beaten to work, until MBX showed up. They are expensive, but no DAWSON tuning kit or mag ext/springs needed. I have even bought MBX for my 38 super Caspian, work great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 I was actually getting ready to buy the MBX mags for the Para until luckily I decided to check on this thread and learned about the RP9 mags. I’m impressed with the fit and performance so far. Only gripe I have with them is the finish is rough in texture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
only1asterisk Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 7 hours ago, soulbyte said: Yes I agree it would have, I’ve had the majority of the mags for a while now with the exception of the RP9 mags that I just got recently. MBX at the time did not exist. I’ve had the Para for a long time now. Finding 9mm mags was tough, that’s the reason I modified he 38super mags to work. They still work fine but for $12 each for the RP9 mags it was a no brainer. With the 40 mags I bought the mecgars not knowing any better, the RIA mags on a gamble they would be longer. Then the STI mags. I could have stopped there but purchased the Greg cote mags because I had an extra set of Dawson pads just sitting there. It was a good/expensive learning experience and eventually traded away the first set of mecgars. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Where you getting RP9 mags for $12? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 They were on sale recently on Palmetto. I can’t say if they still are now. This was about a month and a half ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
only1asterisk Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 11 minutes ago, soulbyte said: They were on sale recently on Palmetto. I can’t say if they still are now. This was about a month and a half ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Must have missed it. $15 at Palmetto and $16 at Buds currently. I agree with user that said the finish is a bit rough, but for a you can't beat the deal for something that works. Too bad Dawson quit on the basepads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulbyte Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I wonder if the STI Dawson pads work on the Para style mags. I guess I can check if the Para basepad work on my STI mags. My double alpha STI pads work on the Para mags just fine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon75 Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclaypool Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 From Taylor Freelance newsletter.....Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thormx538 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 (edited) On 10/17/2017 at 12:38 PM, jrswanson1 said: I need to try 40 in the RP9 mags I have, since I'm also running a P16-40. Hey -- did you happen to get a chance to try this yet? Edited November 15, 2017 by thormx538 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrswanson1 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 29 minutes ago, thormx538 said: Hey -- did you happen to get a chance to try this yet? Not yet. I've been futzing with my PCC trying to get it through a full magazine without puking the past couple of weeks. I'm trying to get to the range this week, I'll try it out then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc90 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 On another note. Has the SPS mags been tried by anyone? The are a lot cheaper than the MBX mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc1094 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 I have 2 sps mags with TF pads. I get 22 in them but the 1st round wont feed. 21 always works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1981Shooter Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 I replaced yet another factory part that didn't work right and finally have a gun that runs. I replaced the the mag release with this one, Mag Release Para HiCap Serrated Steel by Gun Craft, and that fixed the issue I was having with the RP9 mags dropping out on every shot. The factory MG mag also goes in easier as well. I also trimmed the followers in the RP9 mags and they no longer lock the slide with 1-2 rounds remaining. Planning to shoot it in a local 3 Gun match this weekend and see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChadVanBrunt Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 On 11/11/2017 at 1:18 PM, jclaypool said: From Taylor Freelance newsletter..... Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Does anyone know when these will be available? They are up for pre order but want to know then the shipping estimate is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooter212 Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Anyone else have trouble with the rp9 mags. Mine don't feed when loaded to 18 rounds. I loaded them and let them sit for a couple days, hoping to try them again tomorrow and see if that helped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1981Shooter Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 21 minutes ago, Shooter212 said: Anyone else have trouble with the rp9 mags. Mine don't feed when loaded to 18 rounds. I loaded them and let them sit for a couple days, hoping to try them again tomorrow and see if that helped. When you say they didn't feed, what exactly was happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooter212 Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 The rounds are nose diving. When I get over 15 or 16 rounds they don't hold the nose up in the mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon75 Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Might need to open up the front of the feed lips to aid the nose rising as it is sliding out of the mag. Don't know if you have seen this video or not but might be helpful with some measurements to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1981Shooter Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 Shot my Rock Island in a match for the first time today. It ran great, with the exception of two quickly cleared malfunctions where the second round of a fully loaded magazine jammed. Downloading that magazine from 21 to 20 completely fixed the problem. Overall I was pretty happy with the gun and felt that it was on par with the G34 I've been shooting for the last year. I'm going to keep running this pistol over the winter and see what I think of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc90 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 12 hours ago, 1981Shooter said: Shot my Rock Island in a match for the first time today. It ran great, with the exception of two quickly cleared malfunctions where the second round of a fully loaded magazine jammed. Downloading that magazine from 21 to 20 completely fixed the problem. Overall I was pretty happy with the gun and felt that it was on par with the G34 I've been shooting for the last year. I'm going to keep running this pistol over the winter and see what I think of it. If I may ask , what’s your set up ? Mags , mag release, magwell, trigger work etc ? I’m guessing it’s not an out-of-the-box pistol ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc90 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 12 hours ago, 1981Shooter said: Shot my Rock Island in a match for the first time today. It ran great, with the exception of two quickly cleared malfunctions where the second round of a fully loaded magazine jammed. Downloading that magazine from 21 to 20 completely fixed the problem. Overall I was pretty happy with the gun and felt that it was on par with the G34 I've been shooting for the last year. I'm going to keep running this pistol over the winter and see what I think of it. If I may ask , what’s your set up ? Mags , mag release, magwell, trigger work etc ? I’m guessing it’s not an out-of-the-box pistol ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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