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Post by insterburger on Apr 26, 2015 18:51:49 GMT -5
Gorgeous!
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Apr 26, 2015 21:59:49 GMT -5
I am not sure if gorgeous is the appropriate description but I am pleased with the variety of approaches. My favorite with regard to considerations of COST, FUNCTIONLITY, LOOKS and EFFORT REQUIRED would be the M14 springer mags. IF I were still in production mode with my M14s they would be the solution I would promote.
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Post by insterburger on Apr 27, 2015 20:55:22 GMT -5
I'll stick to my verbiage. When I look at what those magazines started life as and compare that to what you made them into, I think the transformation is pretty astounding. So maybe not Gene Tierney-gorgeous, but gorgeous nonetheless.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 4, 2015 22:14:11 GMT -5
So in addition to these four approaches to clips for your M14 to M1 conversions a fifth possibility is shared using G&P mid caps for VSR magazines shortened and in essence installed inside the shortened housings of the 110 round M14 midcaps. This requires the acquisition and significant modification of two different magazines but does create a flush mounted magazine with a nice finished exterior look that feeds 25 to 28 rounds. It is stickied in the Garand Tech section and was submitted by Bellville74. There is also anothsr thread in this section whose posts go way way back to my early early M1 commercial conversion days.
I have not tried Bellvilles method as frankly it looks like too much precision work but the capacity, reported functionality and professional look when done is worth considering.
An update on the modified cheap M14 magazines (with the small protruding hump) these continue to hold up and function well. Nice having so many approaches to consider.
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Post by volkssturm on May 12, 2017 22:48:23 GMT -5
This is just a kind of lets see if it's possible experiment, converting an ICS M1 mag to work in the old M14 conversion. I took the ICS mag and trimmed down the sides to make it fit in the mag well, and added a filler on the back to mount the lug for the mag catch. It's still pretty rough work. I'll clean it up later. I had to cut a notch in the back to clear the mag release. I had to modify the stock a little around the mag, which sits higher than a real one or the A&K. I haven't worked the bugs out yet. The M14 mag rocks in. I tried to make the ICS load straight up and it's problematic. There's some nuances with the M14 mag I hadn't realized. I may have to make it rock in to get the front end of the mag to hold. If I can gt it to work the old M14 conversion will look better from a distance at least.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on May 13, 2017 0:21:32 GMT -5
The M14 mag must rock into place to align with the spring tab at the nozzle and clip into place at the M14 mag release. This means there needs to be at least a small opening to the front of the mag well. The concept however is very clever. 30 round capacity is perfect!
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Post by volkssturm on May 13, 2017 12:22:50 GMT -5
That little spring tab has been a problem, but I'm not sure I can get away without using it. Going to take some more experimentation.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on May 13, 2017 15:25:53 GMT -5
Any M14 conversion mag as near as I can tell will require a gap to facilitate the angle rocking action of the M14 but I would be okay with the gap if it results in a consistent 30 round feed that doesn't hang below. Since you no longer have your ICS you must have come across some left over clips?
Whether it's a VSR to WW2 bolt action or these M14 to M1 conversions I really don't worry too much about the underside view of the stocks as it is generally out of site during game play and in pictures. A lock in base plate during admin phases is a further step that one can take for the Garand conversions.
With my S&T on pre order, once it arrives I'll have six functioning AEG Garands. Hopefully I will like the S&T as the spare clips are quite affordable. Did you order spares for yours Volks? They apparently are currently in stock. With the apparent offset feed set up they don't look adaptable to an M14 conversion.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 3, 2022 18:46:54 GMT -5
Now having recently converted one of the UKARMS full sized M14s i have revisited this thread to remind myself how to shorten these plastic springer M14 mags. The process will be virtually identical but will no longer require the front or rear added tab. At the time several years ago Evike had a super sale on these spare mags at 1.67 each. I bought alot of them and modified about 100 of them but alas I sold off most of them. Volks donated 3 he had laying around. Those will be modified before the week is out! Evike has them in stock but at $8.00 each. I will buy some and get them modified as Id like to end up with 10 for each of these converted springers. I'm nearly done with my initial m14 to M1 conversion. Its taking longer than I thought it would (These things always do!) . If any one finds a cheaper price on these springer M14 mags anywhere let me know? With the supply issues out of China everything airsoft seems to be sold out or super expensive. While you're at it if you find these full sized M14 Springers in stock and priced well let me know as I think I want to build a couple more of them. Springers are absolutely ideal as loaner rental guns.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 22, 2022 19:34:35 GMT -5
Having now recently converted a dozen of these plastic M14 springer mags for use in my M14 to M1 springer conversions here are some new lessons learned and reminders of lessons I had to relearn. When taking magazines apart, these cheap springer mags both in the carbines and M14s are halves held together with small phillips screws. When you take them apart be mindful that springs are going to shoot small pieces in all directions. Take care to avoid this but also select a room where you're likely to find and recover the parts. Decide where and how large of a center section you want to remove. I have progressively gone bigger and bigger. My early ones barely protruded from the base of the Garand conversions but onky fed 16 to 18 rounds. The next batch protruded a bit further and fed 22-24. This final most recent group hangs about 2 inches below and feeds 26 to 28 rounds. From a skirmish perspective much better and means I dont have to make as many or issue as many.
Next reminder. Use masking tape to mark and guide your cuts. Start the initial cuts with a thin blade on your dremel but don't cut all the way through with the dremel. Finish your saw through with a hobby saw. Insure your cut all around are precisely 90 degrees and absolutely straight.
I had some from this latest batch that fed poorly. I disassembled them and one careful inspection found small burrs or minor snags where the upper and lower haves had been glued. I went back over the channels with increasingly finer sand paper till they were absolhtely seamless and smooth. Put them back together and "Bobs your uncle.". One more new discovery. On the springer M14 mags the nub at the top of the spring has a long section and a short section. I hadn't really noticed that so most of my pre made ones had the shorter nub sticking up. The long one actually sticks out of the feed hole slightly. This is what you want as it channels one more Bb into the gun reducing your Bb drop to 2 or 3 BBs vs 3-4! Yeah minor victory. Cosmetically. I did the fake brass strips in the mag sections that go in the gun and painted the protruding part an innoculius flat grey. The bright metallic brass paint wont show up when loaded in the gun but should make the clips much easier to find if they get dropped. These are too much work to lose. I did find them for $5.00 on Airsoft GI where I also found these UKARMs M14s are in stock and priced at $53.49 each. Much better than the $88.00 I paid on EBAY where I also saw them as high as $106.95 plus tax.
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