can you rebuild ar mags
- Thread starter b1c2r3r4
- Start date
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
Absolutely. Make sure to take care of the mags, not to dent them or damage the lips. Then remove the baseplate (carefully, don't bend it or damage it or the mag, also watch for the spring to fly out with the baseplate). Work it out carefully, install is reverse, basically.
Lots of places sell parts, but some may be getting harder to find.
Absolutely. Make sure to take care of the mags, not to dent them or damage the lips. Then remove the baseplate (carefully, don't bend it or damage it or the mag, also watch for the spring to fly out with the baseplate). Work it out carefully, install is reverse, basically.
Lots of places sell parts, but some may be getting harder to find.
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
+1 on all of the above. Also, check with MidwayUSA, 44mag.com, Numrich Gun Parts, etc. Also, for more "specialty" replacement mag components, you can also check out Magpul's offerings (anti-tilt followers, floorplates/ranger plates, etc.), as well as Wolff which makes XP mag springs, etc.
+1 on all of the above. Also, check with MidwayUSA, 44mag.com, Numrich Gun Parts, etc. Also, for more "specialty" replacement mag components, you can also check out Magpul's offerings (anti-tilt followers, floorplates/ranger plates, etc.), as well as Wolff which makes XP mag springs, etc.
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
Yes. Eventually, however, feed lips will wear out and once they are too worn, they can't be rebuilt. But by then, we'll have 3D printers and make them ourselves!!!
You can straighten dented mags with a tight fitting mandrel inserted inside, then tap the outside to remove the dent. You can make the mandrel out of hardwood.
I had to make a bunch of AR-180 mags a year or so ago and made tooling to hold and fix mags. None of it is hard. I am sure there are some YouTube videos showing how it's done.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Yes. Eventually, however, feed lips will wear out and once they are too worn, they can't be rebuilt. But by then, we'll have 3D printers and make them ourselves!!!
You can straighten dented mags with a tight fitting mandrel inserted inside, then tap the outside to remove the dent. You can make the mandrel out of hardwood.
I had to make a bunch of AR-180 mags a year or so ago and made tooling to hold and fix mags. None of it is hard. I am sure there are some YouTube videos showing how it's done.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes. Eventually, however, feed lips will wear out and once they are too worn, they can't be rebuilt.
</div></div>
Why not? If they are aluminum or steel you can always weld the area that is wore down and the file/reshape it again.
Now the polymer/plastic mags might be a but trickier though, but could be done.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes. Eventually, however, feed lips will wear out and once they are too worn, they can't be rebuilt.
</div></div>
Why not? If they are aluminum or steel you can always weld the area that is wore down and the file/reshape it again.
Now the polymer/plastic mags might be a but trickier though, but could be done.
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWSGunsmithing</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes. Eventually, however, feed lips will wear out and once they are too worn, they can't be rebuilt.
</div></div>
Why not? If they are aluminum or steel you can always weld the area that is wore down and the file/reshape it again.
Now the polymer/plastic mags might be a but trickier though, but could be done. </div></div>
Have you done this? On aluminum?
What sort of life did you get after?
I ask because aluminum has a tendency to be rather brittle after welding, tig slightly better than mig, the problem is exacerbated by low mass (a given on mag bodies) or missing areas of base metal.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWSGunsmithing</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes. Eventually, however, feed lips will wear out and once they are too worn, they can't be rebuilt.
</div></div>
Why not? If they are aluminum or steel you can always weld the area that is wore down and the file/reshape it again.
Now the polymer/plastic mags might be a but trickier though, but could be done. </div></div>
Have you done this? On aluminum?
What sort of life did you get after?
I ask because aluminum has a tendency to be rather brittle after welding, tig slightly better than mig, the problem is exacerbated by low mass (a given on mag bodies) or missing areas of base metal.
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
Aluminum that thin is pretty much impossible to weld. I say 'pretty much' because anything is possible with time and $$. I am sure there is a process. Can I do it w. my TiG... not in a million years. Would just create puddles of slag.
Ultimately, by the time all the AR mags in the world wear out, we'll be printing new ones! ;-)
Cheers,
Sirhr
Aluminum that thin is pretty much impossible to weld. I say 'pretty much' because anything is possible with time and $$. I am sure there is a process. Can I do it w. my TiG... not in a million years. Would just create puddles of slag.
Ultimately, by the time all the AR mags in the world wear out, we'll be printing new ones! ;-)
Cheers,
Sirhr
G
Guest
Guest
Re: can you rebuild ar mags
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Aluminum that thin is pretty much impossible to weld. </div></div>
Anything thin, even if there is a hole in it, can be welded with a backer. Backers can be made from Brass or Bronze.
I tend to freeze them before use, but you don't have to depending it's thickness. If need be you can grind the backer to the contour your trying to weld. A mill or die grinder will bring it back to useable life.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Aluminum that thin is pretty much impossible to weld. </div></div>
Anything thin, even if there is a hole in it, can be welded with a backer. Backers can be made from Brass or Bronze.
I tend to freeze them before use, but you don't have to depending it's thickness. If need be you can grind the backer to the contour your trying to weld. A mill or die grinder will bring it back to useable life.
Similar threads
