Tattoo Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Hey all, Title pretty much sums up my question. I stopped buying any mags back with the old i guess “gen1” STI mags. Seems the newer STI mags were not all that awesome. But i see a lot of the MBX mags now. Are they better or just better than the new STI gen mags?? thanks T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 MBX is the way to go. The STI Gen2 mags are worth a look. I have two Gen 2 140s that I use for classifiers with a mandatory mag change, or when I have to drop in mud or dust. Otherwise, it's MBX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tattoo Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 1 hour ago, zzt said: MBX is the way to go. The STI Gen2 mags are worth a look. I have two Gen 2 140s that I use for classifiers with a mandatory mag change, or when I have to drop in mud or dust. Otherwise, it's MBX. Ive never used a Gen2 STI. I have never had an issue with the Gen1 STI. I guess i would ask are the MBX somehow better than old STI? T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator11 Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 I'm not sure it's a matter of better or not. I think most that buy MBX mags want mags that are ready to run with a higher capacity and dont require tuning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tattoo Posted March 9, 2019 Author Share Posted March 9, 2019 6 hours ago, gator11 said: I'm not sure it's a matter of better or not. I think most that buy MBX mags want mags that are ready to run with a higher capacity and dont require tuning. Ok i get the no tuning. And i guess the old STI mags are no longer available T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Used to be able to get just tubes from Brownells, to "Repair" an existing mag.. Back during 10 round days. Wasnt using STI guts anyways. Id test the tubes, I think I had two that wouldnt drop free I sold to a tuner. Probably a bit out of square. My go to set up was Dawson SNL pads, Modded per Dawson instructions springs or Dawson springs, and Dawson followers,, Never needed any tuning to run,, Some times had to take a hair off the lips to get them to gauge... These would give a good reliable 20 rounds. so 21 to start, Then I reloaded with 19,,, I mean jeeze,, its a 32 round max game,, If you cant get it done with 21 and 19 ur stage is probably fubar anyways. Think I still have a few NIB Tubes laying around, If I stumble across them I will list them or trade em for some 45 caspian mags. I also had 2 mags that were 22 + 1 to start,,, and yep I would use them on a 20- 23 round stage and not plan a reload, nor would I slow down. These mags never hit dirt though. My philosophy, Shoot to win, you might. Shoot to loose you will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz427 Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 (edited) I never used any of the old sti mags, but I would venture to guess the mbx and new sti are better seeing as how multiple people build businesses strictly tuning those old mags, not so much anymore with these new options. The mbx don’t need any tuning in my experience, I have 2 170s in 9 and 2 140s in 40. Both have been great. I really like the mbx for 9mm. They just work. The new sti work great in 40, and about 99.9% in 9. Little tuning needed at the area where it goes double to single stack. 1 inch down from the top of the mag they come from the factory around .620, and they need to be brought down to .560-.570, and then they stack neatly in that transition and work great. Honestly though working on mags and tuning them to spec is pretty easy. I’m sure If I bought some old sti first gen mags I could get them working 100%. But if you have old ones and need some new ones I’d get either new sti or mbx. And id say mbx for 9, and sti for 40. No problems with mbx in 40, but they just aren’t necessary and the new sti will work perfectly for quite a bit cheaper. 50 for the tube, 30 for the basepad and 18 for guts gets you the complete mag for 100 bucks. Edited March 9, 2019 by Jfitz427 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 My experience with STI Gen 1 tubes has been in 40sw. They all held 19 reloadable, but that was with Bolen or Grams guts and pads. I stopped using them because the feed lips were weak and bent often when dropped. Yes, you can retune them, but it gets to be a pain. I tuned them , then sold most of them. I use the remaining for dry fire practice. My MBX 40sw mags have been dropped on every stage, three matches a month for two years. They still feed beautifully and I have not tuned them. They didn't need it. I also have three Infinity Gen 1 mags with wither Grams or TTI guts. They get dropped a lot and I haven't had to tune them. I don't have j's problem with the STI Gen 2 mags (yet). They feed just fine in 9mm. I may squeeze the tops a little because they stick in the Uplula loading tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moverfive Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Some of the comments here are a bit misleading. The reason you may not need to tune MBX mags is because they are semi-tuned when made. Whereas the original STI and even SV mags were just formed with generic specs and thus required tuning. Since most on here probably haven’t been playing the game too long......it used to be big business to tune mags. Today’s mags, well, you don’t hear about that service or need like you used to. And with the introduction of Bolen (now Taran) and Grams, that helped eliminate the need for perfectly tuned mags as well. Today, as long as your lips on the tube are close to proper spec (and that is so easy to achieve today) and you are using good springs......mags problems are almost a thing of the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 25 minutes ago, moverfive said: Some of the comments here are a bit misleading. The reason you may not need to tune MBX mags is because they are semi-tuned when made. Whereas the original STI and even SV mags were just formed with generic specs and thus required tuning. Since most on here probably haven’t been playing the game too long......it used to be big business to tune mags. Today’s mags, well, you don’t hear about that service or need like you used to. And with the introduction of Bolen (now Taran) and Grams, that helped eliminate the need for perfectly tuned mags as well. Today, as long as your lips on the tube are close to proper spec (and that is so easy to achieve today) and you are using good springs......mags problems are almost a thing of the past. There is also a difference between true tuning and, oh let’s call it basic tuning. Most of the big money true tuning was to squeeze a few extra rounds in there. Ribs were ground down etc. Basic tuning is bringing mags into specs and adding aftermarket parts to up the capacity by a round or so. If STI mags are left bone stock they have pretty low capacity but as long as the feed lips are in spec they run fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyScuba Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Up here in 10 round land the Cali 10 round MBX were the greatest thing until the gen2 mags came out 2 months later. Problem is going to be parts for the MBX mags as only a few batches were imported and everyone went to the gen2 mags as they are cheaper. without removing the pop riveted plate the spring and follower are next to impossible to get out and clean on gen1. The plate keeps the mag to 10 rounds by law and removing it is a serious offence. I like my MBX mags just need to figure out how to get replacement springs/followers at some point. It’s a narrower spring supposedly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Mike, you probably will never wear the followers out. Springs- yes. Several have posted on using Grams and TTI springs and followers in MBX tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane460 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 I run gen 1 mags for limited in 40 and they ran great right out of the bag. Have since changed out springs bases and followers with TTI parts. My gen 1 9 mags run well but had some issues with my 170 and some of my 10rd mags need some tuning. Just ordered an mbx to see how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyScuba Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 On 3/9/2019 at 1:11 PM, zzt said: Mike, you probably will never wear the followers out. Springs- yes. Several have posted on using Grams and TTI springs and followers in MBX tubes. From what I’ve read on the MBX site the springs are narrower on the Cali mags. They are indented to limit to 10 rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 22 hours ago, MikeyScuba said: From what I’ve read on the MBX site the springs are narrower on the Cali mags. They are indented to limit to 10 rounds. Mike Take a look at them I don't know this, I've not looked at the 10 rnd mags BUT It might be a 1911 spring if it's a single column mag. That's what STI used in their 10 rnd mags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highhope Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Yes, new MBX mags are good to go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bwillis Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 I had issues of the sti gen 1 mags randomly falling out of my gun (dvc 3gun) while shooting. So I bought 5 mbx mags, I’ve had no issues at all with mbx. I will pass along not use the sti mag tuning kit on mbx mags. Adrian told me his mags are mbx mags not sti mags and the tuning kit doesn’t work for mbx mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traingq Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 I love the MBX mags, never any issues. I honestly haven't had any issues with my STI Gen 2 mags either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balakay Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 I have been an MBX fan for a while but I am liking the STI gen2 as well. With Grams springs/followers and a TTI basepad, they are significantly cheaper than the MBX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 B, exactly what springs, followers and basepad are you using, and what is the reloadable capacity? I called TTI two days ago and asked which of their stuff worked with Gen 2 mags. I was told they hadn't played with them yet, so they didn't know what would work. I definitely want to change basepads, because I don't think the plastic would survive many drops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balakay Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 46 minutes ago, zzt said: B, exactly what springs, followers and basepad are you using, and what is the reloadable capacity? I called TTI two days ago and asked which of their stuff worked with Gen 2 mags. I was told they hadn't played with them yet, so they didn't know what would work. I definitely want to change basepads, because I don't think the plastic would survive many drops. 140mm STI Gen2 tube 11 coil Grams spring and Grams follower TTI 7mm basepad I think I can stuff in 24 of 38SC but easily 23 reloadable With a 170mm tube, 13coil and a 3mm basepad. 29 reloadable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon49erfan Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Will that fit a gauge with 7mm base pads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balakay Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 1 minute ago, jon49erfan said: Will that fit a gauge with 7mm base pads? No, but I shoot Open so the only gauge issue is for the 170mm mag. Use a 4G2 TTi pad with a 140mm mag in Limited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon49erfan Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Gotcha. I know the MBX tubes are shorter so their base pads are 7mm. Just making sure STI didnt change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posvar Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 I really like my MBX mags and they have all worked 100% of the time. The STI mags I had (gen and gen2) ran ok too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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