9mm Drum Mag for Glocks & more P40 Big Dot Testing

[wyntrout]

Well, I thought that I would take some pictures and maybe review some of my latest purchases for resale at the gun shows.

I get notifications from CDNN all of the time and buy quite a bit of stuff from them during sales and free stuff/shipping events. It's all added profit when I get low or free shipping and items for resale.

I bought a couple of the 50-round 9mm drum mags and some of the .40 S&W and 9mm hicap mags.

The 50-rounders are interesting. Empty about 23.45 ounces and with 50 124-gr Blazer Aluminum-cased rounds loaded, 40.85 ounces. My unloaded Gen 4 G19 weighs 21.35 ounces... for comparison.

I found that I could load 55 rounds in the drum and then removed the extra 5 and have left the mag loaded with 50 rounds. Loading takes some time and I found it easiest to use the finger levers for the start and then add my UPLULA to hold the follower down and add a bullet after using the levers to compress the spring. This combination is easiest for me.

First pictures are of the box, contents, front & back of mags, finger levers for loading, and some detail of the internal notches for the indexing levers to ratchet the drum.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Next some more pictures. I'm trying to show the detail of the multi-part follower. The magazine column is all polymer with a tiny protective piece of steel embedded in the front of the top of the mag where the bullets might scrape as they are chambered.

As the magazine is filled, it gets harder to compress the column of bullets with just the finger levers, so the UPLULA really helps.

Insertion of the loaded magazine into the grip of the pistol is harder, too, as there is a lot of pressure from the top bullet, so both hands and maybe an over the slide grip is needed for secure latching of the magazine. The other mag inserts and latches easily while empty.

I'll take the loaded one to the range for testing, but racking the top dozen rounds through the pistol was easy and there were no problems, but firing may be different.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I also got a few of the 31-round .40 S&W mags and some more 33-round 9mm mags. The only HiCap Korean mags that I have tried are the 27-round .45 ones and those really need some TLC.

I think that the drums will be fine, but I have no idea how these extended mags will work.

I did think about trying the 9mm drum with .40 S&W, but the feed lips are thick polymer and would require removing material and ruin them for 9mm use, so I'll wait for the "real" .40 models... if they come out.

Now for the extended capacity pictures. First all of the mags with side and rear views. They follow the Glock design with a steel tube inside a polymer outer with witness holes on the rear and +2 bases on the 9mm and +3 on the .40 S&W mags, giving the 9mm version 33-rounds and the .40 S&W 31 rounds. All I've done with these is photograph them, so far.

I'll do some range testing and post results when I get a chance.

Prices when I bought them: 31 & 33 mags were $19.99 each and the 50-round drums were $49.99 each plus $9.99 shipping for the whole order. They had a special at the time to get the 33-rd 9mm mags for $9.99 each with the purchase of a 50-round drum, making the pair $59.98, so I got a couple of pairs for resale.

Wynn:)

[rjt123]

Wynn,

Did you get those .40 S&W mags from CDNN or somewhere else?

[wyntrout]

CDNN. They were $19.99 each plus $9.99 shipping for an order up to but not including $750, I believe.

http://www.cdnnsports.com/magazines.html?manufacturer=472

Drum mags(AK, SKS, & Glock 9mm

Wynn:)

[rjt123]

I've been thinking about picking up some "happy sticks" for the G23. Ordered 2 from CDNN. Thanks for the info, Wynn! :)

[wyntrout]

I hope those work for you. The Korean ones may need disassembly, cleaning, smoothing, light lubing of the spring and TLC until broken in.

I've heard nothing but good about the factory Glock high cap mags, but they are only 22 rounds. I have a bunch of those but I've only tried up to the 15-rounders in my G23C. That's what I have for spares with my ready G23C... TV chair defense!

Wynn:D

[rjt123]

I hope those work for you. The Korean ones may need disassembly, cleaning, smoothing, light lubing of the spring and TLC until broken in.


Thanks, Wynn! I'll let you know how they turn out.

[wyntrout]

Well, I went to the range today and tried out the 50-round magazine. It worked flawlessly... no problems at all. I used Wifey's Gen 4 G19 to fire it and had no problems at all... other than my first three shots going high and right.

I fired a 15-round mag and then fired the 50-rounder with no glitches. I don't know why the first 3 rounds went about 4" right and 4" high... 1:30 to 2:00 or so, but it was probably me. I fired all 50 rounds quickly... not what I would call rapid fire, but I didn't take several seconds a shot. 50 rounds is a lot! It does take a while... and the mag can hold 55 rounds.

I'll have to go through the videos and get some stills. I also tried the Mag-na-ported P40 with Big Dots FS and Trijicon 2-dot rear NS.

First some pictures of the target from the 50-round mag:

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

A few more pictures of the G19 firing Speer 124-gr +P Gold Dot Short Barrel. There is lower flash with the GDSB in the G19's 4.01" barrel.

I fired about 100 rounds through the Mag-na-ported P40 with the Big Dot Front Sight and the Trijicon 2-Dot Rear Night Sights... still trying to figure out how to aim with that... really pointing with the outer part of the Big Dot Cresting the rear sights. That "seems" to work... otherwise, I'm shooting 3-4 inches low... or more... besides the jerking and yanking the shots here and there. :rolleyes:

I shot a box or two(?) of Blazer Aluminum-Cased 165-gr FMJ. The Blazers are pretty stout!

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Some stills of the Mag-na-ported P40 firing Blazer 165-gr FMJ.

I'm still trying to get used to the Big Dot front sight and the 2-dot Trijicon rear sights. I shot low at first then raised the front sight with respect to the rear, nestling the front on the upper inner edges of the rear sights... kind of tangential touching.

Not great, but not bad at 7 yards, but my "old eyes" suck at 15 yards or more with iron sights. Well, that and my poor trigger control. Most shots were on the sheet of paper at 15 yards. I tried resting my lower palms on the front of the "table" and then I got further out so that the sleeves of my shirt protected my wrists and did a tiny bit better.:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[rjt123]

Took the G23 and my two new 31-round "Asian Military" mags to the range today. Filled up and emptied both mags twice. Ran like a top...no issues. Not bad for $19.95 each.

[wyntrout]

Great. Thanks for the info. I have plenty of the factory mags that I paid $40 apiece for most, as well as the Asian mags. I've never tried any of those except for the 27-round .45 mags in my G21 SF. They really need a lot of help... TLC. One would fall out after every shot. I used a razor knife to define the retention ledge enough to stay locked in place.

I mainly bought mine for resale at the local gun shows. I wanted to see if the drums were any problem. I just tried the one and it was flawless in operation.

I wouldn't mind having the same thing for .40 and .45, though.

Wynn:)

[johnh]

Hmm....50 round mag + my G35 with 9mm conversion barrel might equal potent home defense for the Mrs.. I may need one of those mags....

[knkali]

that's some bad *** sheet there Wyn....enjoy? Why the mix and match front rear sights on the P40?

[wyntrout]

I hate the low vee rear NS with the XS Big Dots. I'm trying to approximate my Trijicon HD NS, but the rear Trijicon two-dot sights aren't a match for the BIG Dot FS.

Close quarters there's no problem, but aiming at something... when you have the time... most of the shots will be low... except the ones I jerk high.

Wynn:D

[Bill K]

If the 33 round Glock mag is affectionately called a "Happy Stick" what might you call the 50 round drum magazine? A "Happy Roll"? :)