Dummy Magazines

[JoelR]

I am making my first jump into a production run. Okay, it's only 10 items, but that's a lot for me. The items are double-magazine pouches so I need a number of dummy magazines to mold with. I have 2 that I cut out of some cut-off maple flooring that are slightly oversized. The issue with doing a bunch more out of wood is I really don't have the proper tools (read: a plane) to get stock wood the proper thickness. Anyone have any thoghts as to the cheapest and fastest way to get a bunch more? For comparison, I created 2 3D designs - one hollow and one solid - that would cost $14.28 (plastic) and $11.72 (glazed ceramic) respectively to have 3D printed by Shapeways that could be at my door in 10 days.

Edited February 26, 2012 by JoelR

[Tree Reaper]

Are these all different sizes?

If so, how many?

Do you have the specific sizes you need?

[JoelR]

At this point, 9mm only. Next batch will be 45. Both single stack. I'd be happy with 6 at the moment so I can mold at least 3 at a time.

[Tree Reaper]

If you have the radius and the other dimensions I might take a crack at making them out of cedar.

Kevin

[Lobo]

Every gun shop and pawn shop I've ever been to has a box, perhaps a drawer or two, filled with magazines for pistols that may or not be identifiable. I've bought dozens for less than the price of a cheap lunch each. There is certainly some variation, but there is some commonality with magazines in general.

Single-stack metal magazines are very similar in overall dimensions (other than length) from one brand to the next. A single-stack .380 will serve many needs, a single-stack 9mm will serve many needs, a single-stack .45 will serve many needs.

Double-stack metal magazines are also quite similar (again, other than length). The double-stack 9mm mags are all quite similar in overall dimensions. The .40 S&W round was developed specifically to function in pistols originally developed for the 9mm Luger cartridge, so magazines are similar in overall dimensions. The .357 Sig is essentially a .40 S&W necked down to 9mm, so dimensions are very similar.

Double-stack .45 magazines vary somewhat, so an actual representative piece is usually required for forming.

Glock magazines are in a class all by themselves, however there are some very close similarities between the different models (length being different, of course).

1911 pistol magazines will all share the same basic dimensions, differing only in the metal folding to accomodate specific calibers and overall length to fit the various grip-frame configurations.

Recently went out of my way to purchase a Springfield Armory double-stack .45 magazine to complete an order, and found that the dimensions were nearly identical to the Glock plastic double-stack magazines in 9mm, .40, and .357 Sig (length varying, of course, and taper to the feed lips being a bit different).

Bottom line, about a dozen magazines can be bought for a few dollars each and used to fill the majority of orders for magazine pouches.

YMMV.

[Dwight]

Going along with Lobo, . . . gun shows in general will usually have at least one table with a bunch of used magazines, . . . they are usually up for grabs.

Personally, . . . I have a disc sander, . . . and a chop saw out in my shed. I can make any magazine out there out of scrap wood pieces, . . . in all of about 20 minutes.

I did it just last week for a Glock, . . . customer wanted two Glock mags under his arm, . . . back to back, . . . so I made a yellow pine Glock mag, . . . worked like a champ.

May God bless,

Dwight

[JoelR]

Thanks for the suggestions. Ended up with two 2' sections of 1/2"x1" Poplar turning into 12 .45 magazines and 12 9mm magazines. Used the table saw to shave the width for the 9's and a 1/4" radius router to shape the tops and fronts. Not the most beautiful items I've ever made, but fully serviceable and they formed the first set of holsters perfectly.

[Dwight]

Thanks for the suggestions. Ended up with two 2' sections of 1/2"x1" Poplar turning into 12 .45 magazines and 12 9mm magazines. Used the table saw to shave the width for the 9's and a 1/4" radius router to shape the tops and fronts. Not the most beautiful items I've ever made, but fully serviceable and they formed the first set of holsters perfectly.

When you get going well with that stuff, . . . remember that I also saved $45 on my "blue gun" Ruger LCP, . . . and another $45 on my little "blue gun" Keltec. They're both plywood, . . . and make perfect holsters.

I'm making a Judge next.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited February 28, 2012 by Dwight

[JoelR]

I've thought of doing that. Problem is I have more money than time some days. Unfortunately, it rarely results in more profit.

Edited February 28, 2012 by JoelR

[particle]

Not to criticize your wooden mag dummies, but I'm curious about the wooden substitutes.

Have you double-checked the final formed mag carriers with actual magazines to see how they fit?

Where are you getting the dimensions and radius for the magazines?

How are you forming your mag carriers - one at a time, but in batches? If so, that's not really any different than what I do, and I get by perfectly fine with two magazines for any given gun model. I form the mag carrier, remove the magazines, then place the leather in the oven to warm/dry and move on to the next piece. It's not really necessary to leave the dummy in the mag pouch while it dries - in fact, I'd suggest removing it so the leather is allowed to shrink slightly, resulting in a tighter fit of the magazine. Since there is nothing to grab on to, the tighter the mag pouch, the better (within reason, of course).

For what it's worth, I was buying Rings mag dummies at first, then bought a Duncan's mag dummy. I was annoyed that Rings formed theirs without a round in the magazine, which I guess makes sense for training, but I prefer to have a round poking out of the magazine when I form it for holsters. Duncan's had a round in it, but the quality/accuracy of their dummies is quite low in my opinion.

Any time I need a magazine, I prefer to simply buy a pair of real magazines from the cheapest place I can find.

[JoelR]

I appreciate the concern Particle.

The carriers were created as a batch and were awaiting their final wet-forming.

Yes, the finished carriers have been tested with a number of target 9mm magazines. The wooden forms are slightly undersized (try getting .1" precision cutting from a consumer level table saw) and leave the opening with the exact amount of tension I wanted. These are pocket carriers so even if loose it poses no problems and the one I have been carrying around for the last two months in trial mode has openings a bit oversized and causes absolutley zero issues in all tests.

With the slightly undersized dummys left in the pockets while drying I found I could completely control the final retention. The first set I did when I started designing this carrier were done as you described with the actual magazines I would be carrying in them and the result was a very tight fit. I ended up reforming it leaving the magazines in place and got a much better fit, but the top round was being compressed and liked to jump out a bit when drawn quickly resulting in a hard-to-place magazine and sometimes a dumped round - possibly only an issue with Kahr magazines with their short lips. The dummy mags give enough room to keep the first round from compressing but not so much that the round can work its way forward and the retention is just right for the intended carry style.

I'll see if I can post a pic of the dummys when I get home tonight.