PM45 magazine mods

[CJB]

I wish they would have made a totally flush magazine for the PM45. I see I'll have to make my own from Officer's magazines.

In the meantime, I got happy with some files, a bit of sandpaper, and a buffing wheel. The result was a melt of the OEM magazine base. Basically got rid of the front flare to a great degree, and knocked the edge off the sides, then buffed it out smooth.

Feels a lot better for my pinkie finger.

Got a plan worked out for a set of (cheep) dies to fold lips on the bottom of the Officer's mags after I shorten them. Dunno how its gonna work, but... I think its worth a try.

[dirksterg30]

Interesting idea; hope it works out!

[wyntrout]

I think that I've tried at least half a dozen different Officer's mags with various followers and springs without any success, as far as reliability and locking the slide open on empty. They just aren't designed to have enough lift in the front to actuate the Kahr slide lock... at least in my experience. They would work fine in "dry" testing with snap caps, etc., but not work in actual firing my PM45..

Other have had varying success and found a solution that fit them, and some had no luck, either.

Wynn:)

[CJB]

Yah... I was thinking the spring is much stronger on a Kahr magazine. The rise time in the mag is such that you'll need a strong spring to get good function. I may play with it a bit more though, trying some "special" magazine springs I've got around here someplace.

[Bawanna]

I have yet to come up with an explanation for it but my full size Wilson 47D mags run flawlessly in my PM45. Feed, slide lock all good.
My officers model size Wilsons 47OX are sporadic. Once in awhile they will lock the slide, they usually feed and function but not as reliably as the full size.
Followers appear to be the exact same thing, the shape of the mag tube appears to be the same. Almost has to be a spring pressure issue but I don't have it nailed down yet.

I'm fine the way things are, if the Cbob quits (not likely) and the PM45 comes into play the spare Cbob mags will keep us in the game for a little bit.

[CJB]

Here's a shot of the "melted" base things.

Actually... now that they feel a lot better in my hand, maybe I can overlook that 1/4 inch or so that they hang down past the grip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/IMG_53091.jpg

[Rotorflyr]

Just curious, but has anyone tried modifying the flat base from a PM9 or PM40 to fit the PM45 mag?

[dirksterg30]

Just curious, but has anyone tried modifying the flat base from a PM9 or PM40 to fit the PM45 mag?

Not sure that would work, as the .45 mags are wider than the 9mm/.40 mags.

[Rotorflyr]

True, but depending on how wide the "lip" is and how much metal there is on the base, it may work.

Another option might be to use the metal base off a double stack 9mm/.40/.380 (with some mod's of course), since for some reason Kahr seems to not want to make a flat (metal) base for their .45's.

[Catshooter]

You'll have to heat the steel in order to bend it with that tight a radius. Esp stainless steel. Esp the steel in Kahr's mags. Ask me how I know. :)

If you search this forum for threads started by me you'll find how I delt with the same problem. Good luck.


Cat

[CJB]

Was thinkin on modding the Metalform mags. Not sure... maybe covering old ground, but I've rigged up a forming die for the base holding lips. Just waiting on one piece that I'm having custom ground (no more surface grinder to use... poot!). The die has to be multi piece because once you get it in there, and fold the lip, you gotta get it back out! So its a die and a spacer arrangement, and a backer for the radius "outside" to prevent swelling when the bend is formed.

Before that happens, I'm going to explore some springs and followers. No use shortening and refolding if the darn thing wont work anyway.

[wyntrout]

Dang, CJB, if you get something going there and you can crank those things out, you'll have a market! I don't know why Kahr hasn't made those for the .45. I asked them about things like that whenever I had an ear... or was emailing the head of Kahr CS... and Wolff Springs as well.

Good luck on your endeavor.

Wynn:D

[Rotorflyr]

This might be an option for someone who wants a smaller, but not necessarily flat base for their Kahr .45s (the base on the right)
This base is metal, not plastic by the way.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e273/Rotorflyr/Firearms/2basepadsw.jpg