kcobean Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 At Area 8 last weekend I got bumped to open division because the magazine I provided at Chrono was maybe .5mm too long. Funny thing is, it's the exact same mag I've used at Chrono at every major for the last 2+ years and it's always passed. I'm told that after repeated drops, the Dawson basepads can deform enough that the slot the mag lips sit in loosens up and the spring pushes the whole basepad down, causing the OAL to increase. So time to either order new basepads or new mags. I've heard mixed reviews on the MBX mags, and I think I've heard that STI has a new magazine out. Curious to hear what people recommend based on their experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewbeck Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Or buy a mag gauge and adjust a mag that doesn't gauge. One mag gauge costs about the same as a single basepad and spring.... now if you need need an excuse to buy new mags, that's definitely the "best" approach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share Posted August 30, 2017 I don't know how to "adjust" a mag that's suddenly too long short of sanding material off the bottom of the basepad. I'm hesitant to replace the tubes this close to Nationals (I have two majors in September, NC state and nationals) because they work with my gun 100% of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandbagger123 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 i have grams,tt and dawson pads in my 40 sti mags. the dawson do deform after quite a few drops as do the TT . the best are the grams and you might lose a round its pretty much 100% will fit the guage with room to spare. i have found the base pad has no real effect on function other than capacity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al503 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I'd get/borrow a gauge and take a little material off the back of the feed lips. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes with a flat file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36873687 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Had it happen to me at a level 2. Had grip tape on Dawson pad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghthwk1911 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I have a Dawson tuning kit, files, and gauge if you want adjust them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkvibe Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 (edited) A little birdie told me MBX mags were failing the gauge at area 8. Edit: I don't mean to sound like ALL MBX mags failed, but I understand a lot of people who failed had MBX mags. Edited August 30, 2017 by darkvibe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghthwk1911 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I don't think that is accurate at all, there were many types of mags that failed, and basepad combos. So I would say to single out a specific maker of mags is not fair or accurate at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racinready300ex Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 My MBX passed, and I gave him one received in a trade and never checked myself. Good time to find out it was in spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregJ Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 (edited) Kelly, I have a gauge you are welcome to borrow. Sucks about the bump. Edited August 30, 2017 by GregJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtecpaoche Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I agree that having a gauge will help whether you buy your own or borrow one. I was at A8 as well. I check all my mags before a major match as the RO at chrono just grabbed a full mag from my belt without waiting for me to provide my empty mag. It's cheap insurance from getting bumped to open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Mags are measured empty. Did he empty it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3gunDQ Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 On 8/30/2017 at 0:39 AM, drewbeck said: Or buy a mag gauge and adjust a mag that doesn't gauge. One mag gauge costs about the same as a single basepad and spring.... now if you need need an excuse to buy new mags, that's definitely the "best" approach! AND take your OFFICIAL USPSA mag gauge with you... if your mag doesn't fit in their gauge but fits in yours and they are both marked "OFFICIAL USPSA" there is a helluva good argument to throw out their mag gauge. I got bumped to not for score because i shoot open Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Bob Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 23 hours ago, 36873687 said: Had it happen to me at a level 2. Had grip tape on Dawson pad. +1 My tuned mags w/Dawson S.N.L.+1 will pass. But once I add grip tape, they no longer fit the gauge. But I did file down back of mag lips ever so slightly, for extra assurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghthwk1911 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 1 hour ago, 3gunDQ said: AND take your OFFICIAL USPSA mag gauge with you... if your mag doesn't fit in their gauge but fits in yours and they are both marked "OFFICIAL USPSA" there is a helluva good argument to throw out their mag gauge. I got bumped to not for score because i shoot open We had two gauges. We wanted to avoid any issues with "its that Gauge", No it was both of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3gunDQ Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 two gauges or not... three, four, five gauges, doesn't matter. If the mags fit in my gauge and not yours we have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 This brings up the "lay the mag on the gauge unassisted?", or "hold the mag against the gauge?" If the person checking does the latter, the "deformation" of the base pad won't matter. Some of my mags need to be held against the gauge, to take the spring pressure and slack out of the base pad. They've been checked that way at multiple majors, and never had an issue. I've also been running the same TTI base pads for over 3 years, and they have not deformed at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 1 hour ago, Ssanders224 said: This brings up the "lay the mag on the gauge unassisted?", or "hold the mag against the gauge?" If the person checking does the latter, the "deformation" of the base pad won't matter. Some of my mags need to be held against the gauge, to take the spring pressure and slack out of the base pad. They've been checked that way at multiple majors, and never had an issue. I've also been running the same TTI base pads for over 3 years, and they have not deformed at all. But how is that allowed when the rules prohibit it? "The magazine shall be placed into the gauge without any force or depression. It must lie so that the back of the magazine is flush against the gauge. The follower may be depressed to ensure proper fit." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 2 hours ago, Sarge said: But how is that allowed when the rules prohibit it? "The magazine shall be placed into the gauge without any force or depression. It must lie so that the back of the magazine is flush against the gauge. The follower may be depressed to ensure proper fit." Your guess is a good as mine. But I've been checked at a bunch of majors. Never had and issue. I've watched a LOT of mags be gauged this way. Even at World Shoot they will pass mags that way. I'm not saying build your mags with the intent that they have to be pressed into the gauge, but I don't sweat it if they need finger pressure just because of slack in the base pad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooldylocks Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Your guess is a good as mine. But I've been checked at a bunch of majors. Never had and issue. I've watched a LOT of mags be gauged this way. Even at World Shoot they will pass mags that way. I'm not saying build your mags with the intent that they have to be pressed into the gauge, but I don't sweat it if they need finger pressure just because of slack in the base pad. That is pretty bad advice in my opinion. The rules are very clear in how mags should be gauged. Telling people "if they fit the gauge if you push them don't worry about it, they will pass you" is directly in opposition to how the rules are written. Getting anecdotally lucky by having people not do that at majors for you doesn't mean it's good practice. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Just now, Gooldylocks said: That is pretty bad advice in my opinion. The rules are very clear in how mags should be gauged. Telling people "if they fit the gauge if you push them don't worry about it, they will pass you" is directly in opposition to how the rules are written. Getting anecdotally lucky by having people not do that at majors for you doesn't mean it's good practice. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Where did I tell anyone that? Actually, I specifically said "I'm not saying build your mags with the intent that they have to be pressed into the gauge". Its hardly anecdotal. I've been using the same mags for years. Been checked a lot, have had Troy there when I've been checked, have discussed it with him. I've passed/ know others that have passed at Nats this way, IPSC nats, WS, etc.... Again, I'm not advocating building mags that have to be stuffed into the gauge. But like I previously stated, "I" don't sweat my mags that have some slack in the base pad. They are tried and tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 On 8/30/2017 at 0:22 AM, kcobean said: At Area 8 last weekend I got bumped to open division because the magazine I provided at Chrono was maybe .5mm too long. Funny thing is, it's the exact same mag I've used at Chrono at every major for the last 2+ years and it's always passed. I'm told that after repeated drops, the Dawson basepads can deform enough that the slot the mag lips sit in loosens up and the spring pushes the whole basepad down, causing the OAL to increase. So time to either order new basepads or new mags. I've heard mixed reviews on the MBX mags, and I think I've heard that STI has a new magazine out. Curious to hear what people recommend based on their experience. 8 hours ago, 3gunDQ said: AND take your OFFICIAL USPSA mag gauge with you... if your mag doesn't fit in their gauge but fits in yours and they are both marked "OFFICIAL USPSA" there is a helluva good argument to throw out their mag gauge. I got bumped to not for score because i shoot open 5 hours ago, Sarge said: The follower may be depressed to ensure proper fit." Area 8 seems to have scxxxxed the pooch! How pray tell do you depress the follower without pushing on the mag. Large contingent of guys I know will not be going back. Seems like there should have been some more thought involved when "so many" mags with standard set ups "where oversize!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghthwk1911 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 12 minutes ago, jcc7x7 said: Area 8 seems to have scxxxxed the pooch! How pray tell do you depress the follower without pushing on the mag. Large contingent of guys I know will not be going back. Seems like there should have been some more thought involved when "so many" mags with standard set ups "where oversize!" Really? Let's see here we had two Gauges because one was not enough and wanted to ensure we did not have a Faulty gauge, but I guess that is not good enough and you felt the need to slander the match, thanks Neil. Sorry we won't see you next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 How'd the chrono work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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