Dave Gundry Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Tried doing this today, but quickly realized that these things are TOUGH. Even with half way decent brand new bits, I couldn't hardly make a dent What are these things made of??? Any tips on how to do this? Special bit in order? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 (edited) I do mine on my mill with good carbide end mills. They cut the holes like warm butter. If you don't have access to a mill, it would mark the holes to the local machine shop. I cut 8 Tangfolio mags in less than ten minutes, setup included, a couple days ago. A long time ago I tried to do it with a drill press and they turned out real crappy. You can get through them with carbide tipped masonary bits if you want to do it on the cheap. Edited October 13, 2007 by Loves2Shoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket35 Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 I don't seem to have any trouble on an STI mag. I just used my Black and Decker cordless drill and conventional bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam B Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 With STI/SVI mags and Tanfoglio mags there is a huge difference. I have drilled out my STI mags with a cordless drill with no issues and have had no luck at all drilling out my Tanfoglio mags, those things are hard as hell! I even bought every good bit the hardware store had and all I did was ruin several good bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gundry Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 I do mine on my mill with good carbide end mills. They cut the holes like warm butter. If you don't have access to a mill, it would mark the holes to the local machine shop. I cut 8 Tangfolio mags in less than ten minutes, setup included, a couple days ago. A long time ago I tried to do it with a drill press and they turned out real crappy. You can get through them with carbide tipped masonary bits if you want to do it on the cheap. Alright, I'll slap it on the Bridgeport at school. Yup, I'm working on some Tanfoglio mags Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Note that on STI / SV mags (and maybe others, I just don't know about them) there's a weld running right down the centerline. That's not fun to drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 ST/SV steel seems to come and go on mags. Some is good and hard some is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjanglin Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Guys and Gals: Some of our magazine makers should take some lessons from TZ, their mags are really a good product, Caspians new 40 mag is made of the same stuff and are one heck of product. Ive been making mags out of TZ mags for the Caspian forty guns for some time, about as good a magazine that Ive seen so far. Jim Sailors custom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Guys and Gals: Some of our magazine makers should take some lessons from TZ, their mags are really a good product, Caspians new 40 mag is made of the same stuff and are one heck of product. Ive been making mags out of TZ mags for the Caspian forty guns for some time, about as good a magazine that Ive seen so far. Jim Sailors custom The new Caspaian mags are great! I like the basepads design also, pretty very clever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 The heat in the welding at the center "Hardens" the steel. I drilled some of my mags = but keep the hole small or when you 'clean 'it up with a file it will get bigger. as is the lip of the round can drag on it . 1/4" is too big, I wish I had not gone so big and the rounds drag a bit sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 I have drilled a mag or two. It isn't that hard, but you can't use hardware store drill bits and I would never undertake it with a drill motor. Use the right tools or spend a couple bucks and send them to Scott or another gunsmith that can do them for you. If you do it yourself and it goes well you save a couple bucks, if it goes poorly you will spend the cost of the tube and then still end up paying someone to do it the second time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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