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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 11, 2013 12:15:29 GMT -5
I love the CYMA M1 Carbine, but I HATE the M2 mags. Can anyone make the 15 round mags for me? I only need 4 . The mags must work too.
Depending on how much time and/or money you put into these, the price will be $15-$30 for all.
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 11, 2013 12:30:21 GMT -5
I'll give it a try, but I won't make any promises.
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 11, 2013 12:30:33 GMT -5
I'll give it a try, but I won't make any promises.
One small problem. I just ordered 4 of them from Airsoft Megastore. They're $9.95 each.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 11, 2013 14:02:44 GMT -5
Follow Browniens tutorial which is pretty straight forward. I have converted a half dozen of them and have been pleased with the result. They all work fine and hold between 22 and 25 rounds. Volks the time it takes to do them won't reward you for your efforts but you'll probably enjoy it. I discovered that using the internal weight as a support ridge for the reattachment works well. (cut it down and glue it into one side of the cut down clip). Once dry attach the other side and use ABS glue to cement the two halves and fill the seam. I also used ABS glue to fill in the M2 slots which otherwise look funny and then after sanding them down flush, cut in some vents as would be seen on an M1 carbine clip. It's impossible to get the seam to completely disappear but you can make them fairly descrete.
I'm still struggling to find an efficient way to load these guys but have been real happy with these guns and these clips. AirsoftGI has the clips back in stock as does Airsoftmegastore but at a higher price. Through AirsoftGI they arrive shipped at around $6.00 each which is a fabulous deal IMO
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 11, 2013 14:11:36 GMT -5
Follow Browniens tutorial which is pretty straight forward. I have converted a half dozen of them and have been pleased with the result. They all work fine and hold between 22 and 25 rounds. Volks the time it takes to do them won't reward you for your efforts but you'll probably enjoy it. I discovered that using the internal weight as a support ridge for the reattachment works well. (cut it down and glue it into one side of the cut down clip). Once dry attach the other side and use ABS glue to cement the two halves and fill the seam. I also used ABS glue to fill in the M2 slots which otherwise look funny and then after sanding them down flush, cut in some vents as would be seen on an M1 carbine clip. It's impossible to get the seam to completely disappear but you can make them fairly descrete. I'm still struggling to find an efficient way to load these guys but have been real happy with these guns and these clips. AirsoftGI has the clips back in stock as does Airsoftmegastore but at a higher price. Through AirsoftGI they arrive shipped at around $6.00 each which is a fabulous deal IMO Crap! I should have checked Airsoftgi before ordered from Airsoft Megastore. Oh, well. I'm doing it for the entertainment value.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 11, 2013 14:23:34 GMT -5
Even with a low price of $5.25($6.00 shipped) you're going to need to get $10.00 a piece in labor just to hit minimum wage and that is only if you make batch of them all at one time. Even once you have it down they are going to require at least an hour and a half each to do. They are however a real nice visual enhancement for this gun. I sewed on a carbine pouch on the butt stock and with a couple spare mags inserted you are pretty well set up. (Perhaps two more carbine pouches on a pistol belt if you feel all commando!). Truthfully 3 shortened clips would be enough to get by. Five is more then enough (per gun)
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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 11, 2013 15:21:17 GMT -5
Im gonna go with Bs tutorial, thanks anyways guys.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 11, 2013 16:56:50 GMT -5
If you follow the photo process you should be able to manage it just fine and in fact will probably have fun doing it. the finer your cutting tool (hobby tool ot thin dremel blade,) the better your results will be. One element that really aids this project is the spring is easily removed and installed by unscrewing the spring cap at the top rear of the magazine. Normally reinstalling a spring in a magazine is miserable. Before reassembling your modified magazine move the nipple (spring tip) up and down the inner channel to insure it isn't snagging at the redone seam. If so, smoothen the cut on the inside with a blade or sand paper or if need be some fine filler.
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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 11, 2013 18:01:33 GMT -5
If you follow the photo process you should be able to manage it just fine and in fact will probably have fun doing it. the finer your cutting tool (hobby tool ot thin dremel blade,) the better your results will be. One element that really aids this project is the spring is easily removed and installed by unscrewing the spring cap at the top rear of the magazine. Normally reinstalling a spring in a magazine is miserable. Before reassembling your modified magazine move the nipple (spring tip) up and down the inner channel to insure it isn't snagging at the redone seam. If so, smoothen the cut on the inside with a blade or sand paper or if need be some fine filler. 1. Open the mag and take out the spring and everything else. 2. Cut the two ends with a saw. 3. Put the spring and everything back in (?) 4. ABS glue. 5. sand Anything I missed? I bad with reading instructions.
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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 13, 2013 12:38:27 GMT -5
I'll give it a try, but I won't make any promises. One small problem. I just ordered 4 of them from Airsoft Megastore. They're $9.95 each. Hey, Do you still want to make these mags for me? I don't have enough time or money to fail at this. How much money do you want for the mags and can you make sure they fit into a Carbine mag pouch?
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 13, 2013 13:14:21 GMT -5
I'll give it a try, but I won't make any promises. One small problem. I just ordered 4 of them from Airsoft Megastore. They're $9.95 each. Hey, Do you still want to make these mags for me? I don't have enough time or money to fail at this. How much money do you want for the mags and can you make sure they fit into a Carbine mag pouch? Sure. I've got the mags coming. Just pay for the cost of the mags. Might take me a couple weeks. I'm doing a test run on the mag that came with my carbine.
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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 13, 2013 14:56:13 GMT -5
Hey, Do you still want to make these mags for me? I don't have enough time or money to fail at this. How much money do you want for the mags and can you make sure they fit into a Carbine mag pouch? Sure. I've got the mags coming. Just pay for the cost of the mags. Might take me a couple weeks. I'm doing a test run on the mag that came with my carbine. PM me for my shipping address, and $40 for the mags should be good, right? Also, will these will be able to shoot and everything?
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 13, 2013 17:46:36 GMT -5
Wow! What a deal. I'm guessing that having someone else do it for you is a deal. volks you're not giving yourself any margin for error although based on my experience so far the failure rate should be real low. Don't reinsert the spring until everything is done as far as the cuts and reattachments insuring the nipple moves freely inside with no snags. Then once reassembled with the springs in place do whatever cosmetic finish work you plan to do.
Have fun Volks. You obviously have time to burn. USMCbrony you are living a blessed life!
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Post by brownien on Nov 13, 2013 18:41:50 GMT -5
I have found you don't need to split the mag at all really. Just need todo lit it initially to gut everything, then put the two halves back together. Cut the mag in the proper locations, and simply de-burr the cut locations. I just scrape the openings with a sharp hobby knife to remove scrap plastic. After that's done, glue and reassemble! The advantage of cutting both shells together is that there is no chance of the two halves being uneven.
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 13, 2013 18:56:00 GMT -5
Hey, I'm an old retired fart. Got too much time on my hands. Brownien, that's what I figured out after disassembling my test mag. The next ones I'm going to leave assembled except for removing the spring etc.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 14, 2013 16:40:35 GMT -5
I completely agree that with the spring removed you want to do the cuts with the two halves (side to side) assembled so your cuts are even. The key of course are doing as close to right angle cuts as possible. I know Brownien removed and discarded the inner weights which is a good idea. I kept them, cut them down and used them for an interior rigid support. And of course the weight. Incidently I do recommend you take the two halves apart to remove the inner weight although I suppose it could be slid out once you make your cuts. I also like to test the spring guides travel once I've established a new seam. If the spring or spring guiide snags on it at either end your mag won't feed right.
I have 12 more magazines inroute so the " factory" will be up and running when they arrive.
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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 19, 2013 10:48:20 GMT -5
Hey, I'm an old retired fart. Got too much time on my hands. Brownien, that's what I figured out after disassembling my test mag. The next ones I'm going to leave assembled except for removing the spring etc. Do you know when they will be done and could you reserve them for after Christmas? I'm trying to work on a Sledgehammer loadout from The Pacific (Peleliu), and wanted to finish it up before Christams.
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 19, 2013 11:38:00 GMT -5
I sliced them up last night. I'll glue them back together today. Then it depends on how long the cosmetics take. Should be in the mail by the end of the week.
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Post by IwoJima3823 on Nov 19, 2013 12:04:42 GMT -5
I sliced them up last night. I'll glue them back together today. Then it depends on how long the cosmetics take. Should be in the mail by the end of the week. When should I send you the money?
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 23, 2013 13:57:49 GMT -5
OK, I left the mags assembled except for taking out the spring, guide and follower. Sliced them up, glued them back together. Now I've got a problem. How do you get the follower back inside? It has two little lugs on either side so it won't go in the hole the spring came out of. Do I have remove a screw so I can pry the end of the mag apart enough to get it in?
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 23, 2013 14:54:44 GMT -5
I set the nipple in place before I reattach the two side by side halves insuring that it moves freely along the entire interior channel without snagging on the scars of my cuts. (If so use some folded sandpaper and smooth out the channel at the cuts.). Screw the two side together and then insert the spring and spring guide into the magazine via the hole at thw top rear of the magazine and twist it so as to lock it into place. You might be able to pop the nipple into place by lossening a top screw and slightly seprating the magazines but I'd take care to insure the little feet are properly aligned with the interior channels.
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 25, 2013 18:20:32 GMT -5
Moving with my usual glacial slowness. Here's what I've got at the moment. I veered a bit from 2d Bat's method. That may have been a mistake. I used masking tape to mark where the cuts would be. I did not disassemble the halves, because the little screws are a pain to get loose. I made a connector block with wood and scrap abs plastic and glued that in between the halves, after carefully scraping the rough edges from the channels where the BB's go. I ended up[ having to remove the top screws so I could spread the pieces enough to get the follower back in. I also found it was trickier than I expect to get everything squared up, so they're not perfectly aligned. The next problem is I can't find the #!#%$%#$ adapter piece for the speedloader. I've got five speedloaders and three adapters, but not the one that fits these mags. Which makes it hard to test them. I pulled the springs and fed bb's in to them by hand, then pushed them back out. They take 22-23 bb's, but that's without the spring in place and compressed. Everything seems to slide adequately, but I'm not sure I'd put a guarantee on it until the spring's lock in place and the mags are loaded with a speedloader.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 25, 2013 20:33:53 GMT -5
Even with the speedloader adapter I still struggle to load these bad boys and that is true of the unmodified ones as well as the ones I modified. there must be a technique with the speed loaders I just haven't figured out. i have been pretty much loading by hand one BB at a time which is making me crazy. It absolutely requires some care to get the two halves nicely aligned. Yours look great. ABS glue does a nice job of holding these and act as a decent filler to hide the inevitable small gaps.
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Post by volkssturm on Nov 25, 2013 23:56:53 GMT -5
I sliced them up last night. I'll glue them back together today. Then it depends on how long the cosmetics take. Should be in the mail by the end of the week. When should I send you the money? Let's see if they work first.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 26, 2013 2:18:21 GMT -5
Boy do I feel stupid. The rifle comes with a speedloader and as Volks mentioned it has an adapter on it. I have dozens and dozens of speedloaders and had several adapters laying around. I put one on one of my speedloaders and have been attempting to use it to load these mags. After Volks comment I decided to pull one of these speedloaders out of the box the Carbine came in to see if it was somehow different than the adapter I was using. Indeed it is and indeed it works fine. Since I have one for each of the carbines I got I have a bunch of them. Volks, if you don't find your adapter let me know and i'll pop one into the mail for you.
I have been loading these mags pretty much, one bb at a time since day one. What a difference this makes Yeah!!!!! I have tested all of the 24 mags I have converted and they all seem to work fine. Provided the cuts don't leave a significant interior gap the inner channel requires minimal effort to debur and work fine. I have found to minimize the interior seam gaps and create a better result. I use a fine bladed dremel and do a partial exterior cut all around each cut on the mag but finish my straight through cut with a thin hobby saw. with the dremel, the cuts end up being a tiny bit at an angle which create a somewhat bigger seam gap on the inside channel. The hardest part now is cutting the steel rod in half that serves as weight and provides some rigidity.
Incidently with the cut patterns I have finalized on and the length of spring I go with. ( I cut the spring shorter by the reduced length of the magazine) the mag capacity is 23 rounds. unlike an AEG however these Carbines feed every round. Now that reloading is facilitated by the speedloader with the right adapter a player could probably get by with 3 or 4 magazines just fine.
I see in photos where Marines armed with carbines often strung a bunch of the two round pouches on webbing and created a sort of bandoleer that they could wear across their chest with eight ready magazines. You could also stick magazines in the carbine cotton bandoleer which I think had seven pockets.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 27, 2013 15:19:44 GMT -5
The cosmetic work on the exterior of the mags once assembled takes as much time as the builds. Redoing and filling the banana mags slots and camoflaging the seam cut takes a lot of time and effort. Volks is a saint for doing this for you USMC. I wouldn't touch taking on this project for someone else regardless of the dollars. It sure would have easier if UKARMS simply produced a proper WW2 carbine in the first place.
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shiftysgarand
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Post by shiftysgarand on Nov 27, 2013 15:41:39 GMT -5
Be grateful it's a springer mag though, and not some insanely complicated Marushin gas mag.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 28, 2013 3:30:50 GMT -5
Indeed. Even springer mags have a lot of subtle things that have to work just so in order to function predictably. I had to dissassemble, modify, tweak and adapt and then reassemble only to have to take them apart again (in some cases several time) to get them to work right. Most were a one time deal but a couple of them made me a little crazy. A gas mag would be especially frustrating as in addition to the feed mechanism you need to get right you have to deal with seals and high pressure and instead of a $6.00 item you're risking a $55.00 item! These simple little springer mags are tough enough although I feel now like I've really got them down.
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Post by volkssturm on Dec 4, 2013 13:45:13 GMT -5
OK, they're as ready as they're going to be. Being lazy, I could have sanded down the seams better than I did. I used a Dremel to cut them and it does leave a rough, angled edge. Cutting the grooves was apain andthey're kind of rough. Final step was spraying with flat black epoxy paint, then rubbing a bit of white grease on the mags to give them a dull metallic shine. Interesting project, but I wouldn't want to do too many of these.
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Post by volkssturm on Dec 4, 2013 13:46:27 GMT -5
Oops. Double post.
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