CW45 7Rd Flush Fit MAG that locks 100%

[ecwcfl]

I started with 2 Kim Pro 7rd mags. I followed the thread about modifying the magazine to fit the CW45, but I just wasn't statisfied with the fact that sometimes it locks, and sometimes it doesn't....so I set out to find a solution.

The process is a little more complex than the original thread started on how to do it, so this thread is simply the continuation of the modifying.



**LEFT : This is the Kahr 6rd mag, you can see how it sits even to the frame, even a bit over on one side. You will also notice how the follower sits low and even, unlike the 1911 mag which sits high and uneven.
**RIGHT : The Kim Pro 7rd mag, sits high and rubs the slide if left as is. 3 things need to be done to make this function correctly.
1. Shave down the Mag top
2. Bend and squeeze the Mag follower
3. Slightly adjust the spring for a "little" more tension.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2962/photo1sc.jpghttp://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8450/photo2juz.jpg


So here I wrapped tape as a basic guide to what has to come off. For details for this part of the mod refer to the older post on shaving down the top.
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3317&highlight=cw45+7rd+mag

*Note: I did shave a little more, to make look like the Kahr Mag, and I shaved the feed lips just a little to allow the follower to come up slightly.
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/69/photo3zj.jpg


This is about 65% done, just showing progress. My goal was to mimic the look of the Kahr Mag
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6959/photo4rke.jpghttp://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3720/photo5xj.jpg


You can see how far I shaved it down. I bent the end of the follower lip because it sometimes would catch the slide, by bending it down it rides smooth. I also bent the entire follower (squeezed it) so it wouldn't stick up and rub. Basically take it from a position of sticking up to a more level look.
By doing this your allowing the follower to come up which activates the slide lock when empty.
OK OK, so at this point your not done yet. At this stage the magazine may lock 75% of the time...why? because the spring needs to be strong enough to REALLY push the slide lock. So just pull the spring out and stretch it maybe 10%-15% and you'll be surprised how the spring really pushes that follower.

IF your mag still isn't locking then try this:
***shave a little of the front feed lips
***Squeeze and bend the follower (I used pliers)
***Bend the follower top more
***Throw the mag against the wall

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/7379/photo6bq.jpghttp://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6089/photo7dq.jpg

After doing this mod, I'm 100% confident in these mags. I haven't had one issue and they work great.

I also tired a Colt 8rd mag just to test the modifying process to see if it would work, and it did. It sticks out from the gun about as far as the Kahr 6Rd mag does, so I'll probably be using that one for carry... 8+1!!!!

I'll post a vid of it working soon.

Hope this helps, any questions just ask.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/96/photo1sc.jpg/

[wyntrout]

Thanks for the post and the pictures! The bending of the follower sure makes sense. I can see where the upper part in contact with the bottom of the slide will prevent the lower part of the follower from actuating the slide lock! Eureka! I'll have to try modifying some of my experiments.

Wynn:)

[RogerP9fan]

Excellent posting and good work! I too am very interested in this subject as my new CW45 is now flawless with 220 rounds through. I really enjoy shooting this gun. It's gonna be an even better CCW obviously with the flush baseplates. I know many others in the forum feel the same way.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR VIDEO!

[Ljutic]

Good stuff. Thanks for posting that. I'll be watching for your 8 round Colt mag pictures. I can make a flush fit 7 rounder, but would really like to see how an extended (just by a little) 8 round magazine looks.

[RogerP9fan]

You caught the attention of gb6491, Gregg (the author of the original thread topic on the modified flush fitting magazines for the CW45)

He seems interested and impressed with your work, so once again...nice going...as he is a highly regarded member here.

Keep us posted on any new developments.

[gb6491]

Good stuff. Thanks for posting that. I'll be watching for your 8 round Colt mag pictures. I can make a flush fit 7 rounder, but would really like to see how an extended (just by a little) 8 round magazine looks.
+1
Welcome to the forums ecwcfl! Thanks for sharing such excellent information with us. I find your modification very promising; so much so, that I have a Kimpro magazine inbound to me.:)

Just a couple of things:
It's been my experience that stretched coil springs soon return to their natural set. That's just my experience and YMMV, but you might want to keep an eye out for it.
Also, you wrote: "...I followed the thread about modifying the magazine to fit the CW45, but I just wasn't statisfied with the fact that sometimes it locks, and sometimes it doesn't...." - My apologies for not making it clear in that thread, but the modified magazine with a Kahr follower and spring reliably (without exception in my magazines) locks the slide back. I must have mangled that with mention of a how the modified seven round magazine (and original parts) worked, in which case you would be absolutely correct. Hope this clears that up some.
Regards,
Greg

[Ljutic]

You guys have probably figured out that I'm not afraid to spend a few bucks if there is a chance something good might come out of it. After reading this initial post, I pulled out my Father's Day Midway gift certificates and ordered up.

I picked up an 8 Round Kimpro mag, this new Xgrip magazine adapter that allows a fairly good fit of a Govt 1911 mag in an Officer's frame. After seeing this one, I'm very tempted to get another for my 1911 Officer's model. I also picked up a Wilson Spring and Follower replacement kit for Colt mags. Metal mag followers still scare me in plastic framed guns. Here's what it looked like initially.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/da43cfb8.jpg

The fins on the back of the base had to go and while I was at that, I also got rid of the mag stop that engages with the cut out on the 1911 front strap. As reported by the OP, the mag seats with a satisfying click in the P45. The catch window would have to be opened up a bit to get this mag to work with my CW45. Odd as it is, the two pistols were different in mag catch height.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/40828600.jpg

Here's another picture after coming back in from the grinder work. These XGrip bases are really pretty soft plastic so grinding was very easy. It was literally too hot to be out the garage, so I scrounged around for just a few minutes and found an O-ring to put between the Xgrip base and mag chute to cover up the little bit of visible magazine. I have to locate the right size O-ring as this one was too large in diameter, but the thickness seemed about right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/16e350ed.jpg




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/a2e8a0ed.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/b6e1980a.jpg


I still need to shave a tad off the magazine lips, but not much at all as there is just the smallest amount of drag when working the slide. The follower spring force seems weak so I'm also not sure if the mag will activate the slide stop as this spring and follower combo does in my CW45 with the Metalform 7 round Officer's magazine. If it doesn't, then I'll put the original spring and follower back in the mag. If that doesn't work, I'll still use this mag for carry as I never carry a spare mag.

9 rounds of .45 in a pistol that weighs less than 30 oz fully loaded and in a Remora IWB holster. Awesome! Thanks for the inspiration ecwcfl.

[gb6491]

Ljutic,
That is a nicely customized P45 you have there:)
All the work looks to have been done extremely well. Did you do it your self?

I received my Kimpro magazine yesterday. It is a nicely made magazine and I like how the base plate is done. Unfortunately, the follower will not lock the slide back in my particular CW45. The problem is that stop does not engage stop at all unless I purposely manipulate the magazine for it to do so. Then the engagement is very slight and not what would be considered repeatable without manually manipulating the magazine again. Hopefully, this is just an anomaly with my gun and the follower will work with other folks' pistols (as it obviously already has).
http://i53.tinypic.com/2hmiwpy.jpg
The Kimpro magazine tube does work well with Kahr parts installed in it so I'm happy with that. I did bend the Kimpro follower as ecwcfl shows (very neat trick, thanks!) to install it and spring in a vacant Kahr six round magazine tube. It feeds well from there and gives me 7 round capacity in that magazine albeit minus lock back.
Regards,
Greg

[Ljutic]

I wish I had the talent to do it myself. It's a copy of this one. http://www.kahr.com/Reviews2010/american-handgun.asp

I blame my wife for buying me the hard copy of that magazine and giving it to me for my birthday. It was love at first sight. Robar does top notch work. They didn't engrave P45 on the top of the slide, but the rest is the same. By far, this is the best way I ever spent my credit card reward points. =)

[Ljutic]

Short video available through the link below that demonstrates ecwcfl's great idea. 100% slide lock after finishing up the trimming and switching back to the Kimpro follower and spring. Bending that follower was a bit of a challenge.


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=2959edbe.mp4

[gb6491]

Short video available through the link below that demonstrates ecwcfl's great idea. 100% slide lock after finishing up the trimming and switching back to the Kimpro follower and spring. Bending that follower was a bit of a challenge.


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=2959edbe.mp4
Nice video:)
Have you had a chance to get to the range with it?

I wonder if I may hay have done somthing to the follower when I bent it that precludes faultless operation in my gun? I believe that's a distinct possibility. I also believe tolerances in my gun (machined shelf, replacement mag latch from Kahr) and my particular magazine (follower does have a bit of lateral play) are contributing factors. View My Video (http://tinypic.com/r/14bn97o/7)

Regards,
Greg

[Ljutic]

Pistols are unique critters. The same mag I'm working with won't even lock into my CW45. Yours locks in like a champ.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how you shot that video. Do you have 3 hands? If so, I've got a Ruger revolver I need you to put back together for me. =)

[Ljutic]

It finally rained here so the garage temps dropped 25 degrees and I was able to get out and finish up my mag project. My apologies to the original poster on this thread because I feel like I've taken over his great idea and that's not my intention. I just wanted to upgrade my P45 to 9 shots from 7 in as little extra length as possible. This did the trick and I'm still amazed that I get +2 in a clean looking mag that adds very little in total length.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/963fa255.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/c819e7a0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/63336fa2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/BDSBruce/Blog%20Photos/77da8cb8.jpg

Still need to get to the range this weekend and run my break in 200 through the pistol, so this magazine will be getting quite a workout along with the factory magazines. It locks the slide back at my desk, but it needs to be proven at the range. I have no doubt it will work.

One other improvement over the Kahr mag is that it is fully locked in and does not have the wiggle of the Kahr mag.

[Ljutic]

Epic fail at the range today for this mag. It's almost impossible to insert the mag with 8 in the tube. You can do it, but it's not fun. This mag doesn't feed at all. My guess is too much pressure on the underside of the slide is slowing things down way too much. It was a nice fantasy, but reality caught up with me. The old Metalform converted 7 round mag that worked great in the CW45, didn't want to feed in the P45 either. Oh well, at least the factory mag work well.

[Foggy]

I wish I had the talent to do it myself. It's a copy of this one. http://www.kahr.com/Reviews2010/american-handgun.asp

I blame my wife for buying me the hard copy of that magazine and giving it to me for my birthday. It was love at first sight. Robar does top notch work. They didn't engrave P45 on the top of the slide, but the rest is the same. By far, this is the best way I ever spent my credit card reward points. =)

Ljutic, I absolutely have to agree with you. Robar does top notch work. After reading over that magazine article at least 25 times I picked up the phone and had a conversation with Robbie about doing something similar with my old K9, an original carbon steel blued version. We agreed on what to do and WOW. I couldn't be happier. So much improvement I wouldn't know where to start. I definately have a keeper now ...