Re: Let's solve this savage dbm problem
I soaked the mag bodies in coke over night, and seemed to do the trick. I was pretty happy at that point, so I took them all to the shop and started cutting... stinks and is a freakin pain.
I cut up and processed all 10 bodies, ground off the finish on the tabs, and started welding everything up. I found that there is alot of differences in the metal used in the surplus mags. I had everything set up the same way that I did my first prototype, and only 1 turned out as good as the first.
I am having to use quite a bit of clamping force to get the welder to arc. I am averaging about 4 seconds per weld. On my prototype, I built it basically the same way as my original aluminum design, and I didn't include the rear tab. After welding everything up, it was then time to grind all the welds smooth. Again, a big freakin pain. It wasn't so bad in doing just the 1 prototype, but trying to get these done to sell is a whole different story.
Now comes the crappy part. My prototype is the ONLY FREAKIN MAG THAT WILL FEED CORRECTLY!!!! I welded the rear tabs on all the other magazines, and they will not work. Pitted bodies and pitted springs add up to non-functioning mags... period!!
I have tried to change the spring geometry to avoid the spring guides... no luck. I lubed everything up... no luck. I tried some of my other mag springs... no luck. I am now looking at everything that I have invested in money and tools and time... and I am getting NOWHERE FAST!!
Then, to top it off, I welded the rear tab on my prototype... and now that one won't feed anything but 6 rounds. So now I have gone through 10 G3 steel bodies, 10 factory Savage bodies, and I have not a single steel magazine that works properly. NONE!!
So with all of that rant over... I am abandoning the steel magazine version all together. I was at least having fun building the aluminum bodied mags. I will be building nothing but the aluminum bodies with the cut tabs, both front and rear. There will be no need to worry about the epoxy separating, as it will be the mechanical lock that holds things together.
ACE... not a problem man, feel free to go with Deadeye's mag... looks like a good piece of kit!! I wish I hadn't sold MY aluminum magazine now... idiot. Live and learn... sometimes the hard way...
DK