Lhelliott Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 I'm looking to pick up a couple more mags for my STI Marauder and I'm trying to figure out if I want to drop the dough on MBX mags or stick with STI. The marauder is almost new I only have about 500-1000 rounds through it but its worked flawlessly and I haven't had 1 issue with the STI mags. What advantages do the MBX mags that make them worth double the cost of STI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 They're double the cost of STI? STI without tuning is about $105 for a 140mm (STI tube, Gram spring/follower, TTI base pad), about $30-40 more tuned. MBX is $130 for a 40mm, ready to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lhelliott Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 I have never seen STI mags for $100, the gun shop near me sells them for $60 or $70 a pop. I have 3 mags for it right now but I feel like I should pick up 1 or 2 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garmil Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 You're comparing apples to oranges. Read his post above. $105 with a new basepad and spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHitchcock Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Once you add in springs/followers/basepads and tuning it gets closer. Keep in mind if you ever decide to part with them the MBX have higher resale value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotMRD Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 By the time you take factory STI mags and replace the guts and basepads for max capacity and then tune them for optimal feeding and reliability you will be at around the same price as an MBX mag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lhelliott Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 Sorry Teros, Mis-understood what you were getting across. As of right now I have not had any feeding/reliability issues with the stock mags but like I said this thing is pretty new I've only shot 3 matches and had 1 practice day at the range are those common issues once the gun is broken in? As you can tell Im also pretty know to the 2011 platform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 The old Sti mags needed to be tuned,,I've bought some lately only needed grams guts and base pad.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Hello: Just buy the 140mm STI tubes, Dawson base pad and whatever spring and follower you like. The new 40 STI mags are a lot better than they used to be. The MBX I have seen around here are about 50% whether they work or not. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Sounds like STI is working for you. Why change? Use what works it isn't broke! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lhelliott Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 35 minutes ago, Aircooled6racer said: Hello: Just buy the 140mm STI tubes, Dawson base pad and whatever spring and follower you like. The new 40 STI mags are a lot better than they used to be. The MBX I have seen around here are about 50% whether they work or not. Thanks, Eric I think Im going to change the parts on my current mags and get one MBX and see how it runs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lhelliott Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 15 minutes ago, jcc7x7 said: Sounds like STI is working for you. Why change? Use what works it isn't broke! Thats true but then you will never know if somethings better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) Hello: I would just get the Dawson base pads, Dawson followers and ISMI springs. Fit the springs to the followers and be done. I like the Dawson base pads since they come straight off the bottom of the tube to make it easier to clean. They also don't mess up the spring like some of the slide on base pads do. The Grams base pads are nice as well. You can get all this from Shooters Connection. Hope this helps. Thanks, Eric Edited October 23, 2016 by Aircooled6racer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge40 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I'm a fan of the MBX mags. I have 6 and they have been flawless. In fact all the mbx mags I've seen in my area have been great. STI can be hit or miss, I have seen a bunch that needed to be tuned. If you need tuned ones they run about the same as the MBX. Kind of up to you if you want the insurance or your willing to take the risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blammo Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 (edited) My MBX was a total disappointment. The follower is ridiculous. The tube and basepad are nice, but those followers are not up to snuff. I really do wish I had never bought one. I'd take a STI tube, grams, and Taran Tactical basepad over it any day. Did I mention the follower is 3D printed and not well at that! Edited October 24, 2016 by Blammo meant to say follower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 18 minutes ago, Blammo said: My MBX was a total disappointment. The follower is ridiculous. The tube and basepad are nice, but those followers are not up to snuff. I really do wish I had never bought one. I'd take a STI tube, grams, and Taran Tactical basepad over it any day. Did I mention the based is 3D printed and not well at that! Yeah, he's right. Very helpful. Just ask the thousands of shooters that use them. My "based" don't look like they're 3-D printed, any of them. Do yours, guys? Ridiculous? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blammo Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 4 minutes ago, teros135 said: Yeah, he's right. Very helpful. Just ask the thousands of shooters that use them. My "based" don't look like they're 3-D printed, any of them. Do yours, guys? Ridiculous? Thousands huh. Sounds really popular, so its must be the best. And I am sorry as I did mean follower and not "based", that was my mistake. A 3D printed follower is ridiculous for the price. Geez, if your follower is "so" good, invest in some tooling as it will be cheaper in the long run anyway. 3D printing is for low volume concept type work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js1130146 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 28 minutes ago, Blammo said: My MBX was a total disappointment. The follower is ridiculous. The tube and basepad are nice, but those followers are not up to snuff. I really do wish I had never bought one. I'd take a STI tube, grams, and Taran Tactical basepad over it any day. Did I mention the follower is 3D printed and not well at that! What kind of mag is it? If it's a 140mm 9/38 I'll trade you my sti tube, dawson pad, grams gut mag for it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 We're very happy you're here. Welcome to BE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I have a 170 9/38 STI with Gram internals and TTI base pad I'd happily trade you, if it's a 9/38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js1130146 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Fwiw my 170mm MBX mag has been absolutely flawless. It works so well that I'm trying to make the switch to solely MBXs. Just need funds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blammo Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Just now, teros135 said: We're very happy you're here. Welcome to BE. I can have an opinion. I did say the tube and basepad were nice, but the overall fit and function left a lot to be desired. It did not hold the capacity they said and the slide would strip the follower into the gun on the last round. In fact the other option was to lock back on the last round, so it was inconsistent or poor performance at best. Once I put grams in it was ok. This magazine advertised the follower would not lock back the slide and it would hold a certain capacity, both of which was not true. I consider 3d printing at this price point an amateur move too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js1130146 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 1 minute ago, Blammo said: I can have an opinion. I did say the tube and basepad were nice, but the overall fit and function left a lot to be desired. It did not hold the capacity they said and the slide would strip the follower into the gun on the last round. In fact the other option was to lock back on the last round, so it was inconsistent or poor performance at best. Once I put grams in it was ok. This magazine advertised the follower would not lock back the slide and it would hold a certain capacity, both of which was not true. I consider 3d printing at this price point an amateur move too. Did you try stacking the rounds as recommended in their videos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blammo Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I did. With the Uplula or by giving the mag a few thumps while I was loading. It sounds weird, but it holds more with the grams. I can get 26 of 9mm in with the grams and 25 in as it came. I let it settle overnight, loaded it a bunch of times, and tried factory and reloaded ammo. Its just better with the Grams in every time. Also, I let another person try with the same conclusion. In fact, with the stock internals I was denting cases it was so tight. Just for reference it is a 155 mm for 9/38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js1130146 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 2 minutes ago, Blammo said: I did. With the Uplula or by giving the mag a few thumps while I was loading. It sounds weird, but it holds more with the grams. I can get 26 of 9mm in with the grams and 25 in as it came. I let it settle overnight, loaded it a bunch of times, and tried factory and reloaded ammo. Its just better with the Grams in every time. Also, I let another person try with the same conclusion. In fact, with the stock internals I was denting cases it was so tight. Just for reference it is a 155 mm for 9/38. I'm not doubting, just verifying. Personally if I paid $145 for a 155mm if be calling MBX for a replacement or a fix before sinking more money into it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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