Swap a 30/10 round fixed mag to a 10 round fixed mag

[DKSDAD]

A friend of mine has fixed 30/10 Pmag and was thinking about swapipng to a fixed 10 round Pmag. He has had a few double feeds and sometimes his mag will push up 2 rounds at a time "side by side" on the follower causing him to have to break open the upper and lower to remove the rounds. He can not remove the base plate on his mag as it is also pinned together. Has anyone had any success with removing the mag with the release but non functional? I have a spare 10 that we would install. The other option is to take it to our LGS and pay them to remove and install but it does not look like it should be that difficult to do at home. I included photos so you can see the mag release is in operable (epoxied over), the pin in the base plate and the replacement mag for him?

 

[spat]

That would depend entirely on how the release was disabled.

I have seen suggestions that would range anywhere from "5 mins and a wrench" to "cheaper and easier to just get a new lower".

How much epoxy did they use for instance ?

 

[DKSDAD]

It looks like they replaced the release button and epoxiede over where the screw went in. I am not sure what brand they used. On my AR I have the anodized red Mean Arms one.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

It's just plastic. Sounds like the mag is no good anyway so just take a hacksaw to it and pull out what's left in the mag well. Either that or drill out the magazine release. I'd also find another way to fix the magazine.

 

[togmaster]

There is a set screw in the mag release button that prevents it from being pushed and releasing the mag. It needs to be drilled out which could be a PIA depending on how much epoxy was used. Best case would be you can use a drill to just remove the epoxy, then back out the set screw with an allen wrench. Worst case would be to completely drill out the screw to the receiver.

 

[DKSDAD]

Thanks for the suggestions. While searching I see there is info on removing the mag body if you have the Mean Arms lock and a removable base plate. I may try to take some of that info and see what I can do but will have to wait until my son gets home from work as it looks like I will need 3 hands (one to hold the follower down and find a plastic wedge. I will update later.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Thanks for the suggestions. While searching I see there is info on removing the mag body if you have the Mean Arms lock and a removable base plate. I may try to take some of that info and see what I can do but will have to wait until my son gets home from work as it looks like I will need 3 hands (one to hold the follower down and find a plastic wedge. I will update later.

Are you trying to salvage the magazine?

 

[DKSDAD]

I will have to check with my friend. I was going to suggest to him that I could drill out the pin in the base plate and disassemble it to give me a little more flexibility in TBE mag.

 

[Saltwater60]

If you were closer I’d help out. Take a small drill and drill out the epoxy then go larger until you hit the sides of the set screw. Then take a pick and remove the rest of the epoxy. Then remove the set screw and replace the mag. Before putting epoxy back into the set screw put some plumbers putty in the hole then epoxy over that. As long as the set screw head didn’t snap off as part of the process it should be easy.

 

[dwa12479]

Agreed with many above, just drill out the mag release.

A removable floorplate is essential on a fixed mag for clearing malfunctions.

 

[DKSDAD]

That is correct but in the 30/10 mag he has the bade plate is pinned so you can't modify it for 30 rounds.

 

[Outdoorsman99]

Try prying the mag guts out through the top of the mag. Use plastic shim to deform the mag body slightly over the mag release while pulling it out. Should come out. New mag will pop right in. I've used vice grips before too. Mean arms loaders used to come with a shim to do it.

 

[Cooolone]

Good example of why epoxy is bullshit... Permanent does NOT mean rendering your firearm unserviceable!

It pains me to see this...

Good luck!

 

[Dunedain Ranger]

I agree, this is truly a shame that legal firearm owners need to navigate these ridiculous "rules" that do nothing to curtail crime, and literally make the rifle more dangerous. There is more chance of accidental discharge, damage to the firearm, and dangerous failures, by having to do this to a rifle.

Even the option of not being able to adjust the stock on a semi auto rifle, is absurd, and quite dangerous too. I can maybe see not allowing a foldeable stock, ok i maybe get it, but adjustable for length, really??? Not all shooters are the same size, gender, build, and sometimes adjustments are necessary.

My wife, is a bit more petite than myself, lol. She is an avid target shooter, and AR 15 owner. Thank God she has the option of using an "other", and her pistol brace can be made to accommodate her smaller stature and reach. It makes this powerful machine more comfortable for her to hold, aim, and operate SAFELY. Literally by being forced to buy a pinned stock, and 99% that are pre made and pinned, hence "legal" to buy, are NOT sized for a woman, it actually makes shooting more dangerous for my wife, and woman in general.

A few weeks ago, my wife and i were target shooting for hours on end at our property. Her Troy "other" was 99% what she used, as its sized perfect for her, and safer. She tried a few shots from my M&P AR15, which is NOT adjustable, and my Kel tec C RDB, also NOT adjustable, and she literally had a nasty black n blue bruise on her shoulder. The usual non adjustables are just too long for her, and in turn a bit awkward for her to hold safely.

How is this SAFE? I took a picture of that bruise on her shoulder, thinking how one day i could show it to the "power that be", and somehow persuade them to reconsider the stupid "Safe Act" laws, and how they are actually making things more dangerous. Wishful thinking though. Sorry for the rant.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

I can maybe see not allowing a foldeable stock, ok i maybe get it, but adjustable for length, really???

Just curious as to why "maybe" on the folding stock?

 

[dwa12479]

I agree, this is truly a shame that legal firearm owners need to navigate these ridiculous "rules" that do nothing to curtail crime, and literally make the rifle more dangerous. There is more chance of accidental discharge, damage to the firearm, and dangerous failures, by having to do this to a rifle.

Even the option of not being able to adjust the stock on a semi auto rifle, is absurd, and quite dangerous too. I can maybe see not allowing a foldeable stock, ok i maybe get it, but adjustable for length, really??? Not all shooters are the same size, gender, build, and sometimes adjustments are necessary.

My wife, is a bit more petite than myself, lol. She is an avid target shooter, and AR 15 owner. Thank God she has the option of using an "other", and her pistol brace can be made to accommodate her smaller stature and reach. It makes this powerful machine more comfortable for her to hold, aim, and operate SAFELY. Literally by being forced to buy a pinned stock, and 99% that are pre made and pinned, hence "legal" to buy, are NOT sized for a woman, it actually makes shooting more dangerous for my wife, and woman in general.

A few weeks ago, my wife and i were target shooting for hours on end at our property. Her Troy "other" was 99% what she used, as its sized perfect for her, and safer. She tried a few shots from my M&P AR15, which is NOT adjustable, and my Kel tec C RDB, also NOT adjustable, and she literally had a nasty black n blue bruise on her shoulder. The usual non adjustables are just too long for her, and in turn a bit awkward for her to hold safely.

How is this SAFE? I took a picture of that bruise on her shoulder, thinking how one day i could show it to the "power that be", and somehow persuade them to reconsider the stupid "Safe Act" laws, and how they are actually making things more dangerous. Wishful thinking though. Sorry for the rant.

None of it has to do with safety. Its all about the optics of banning "weapons of war" so the libs can say they "did somethjng" to combat gun violence. They can't specifically ban the AR15 by name, so they just banned the features.

 

[dwa12479]

That is correct but in the 30/10 mag he has the bade plate is pinned so you can't modify it for 30 rounds.

Yep, but thats very dangerous. A double feed could cause serious injury to the shooter trying to clear it when you can't drop the mag and can't split the upper/lower.

 

[DKSDAD]

Try prying the mag guts out through the top of the mag. Use plastic shim to deform the mag body slightly over the mag release while pulling it out. Should come out. New mag will pop right in. I've used vice grips before too. Mean arms loaders used to come with a shim to do it.

I saw on YouTube that they used the tool from the Mean Arms loader. However, none of my loaders came with that tool thing. I will have to hit a tool place to see about getting a plastic auto door trim tool.

 

[DKSDAD]

So here is the mag swap update. I ended up drilling out the pin in the mag base plate and pull the guts out. I then used a home made plastic shim and slid it down between the mag and mag well on the left side of the mag. I then squeezed the 2 sides together and gave it a little whack and out it came. I installed the 10 round mag,reassembled the 10/30 mag with the block off plate and re pinned the base plate. The stylus is pointing to the new pin in the picture.