I'm making my No.4 project(s) and I've come across a snag. How to get the magazine to lock into the rifle. I've using a VSR, so normally the magazine catch mechanism is part of the stock, that's not an option on my build. I bought the vintage airsoft magazine well designed just for this purpose, but having assembled the working parts of the rifle together I don't think it's going to be fit for purpose. For a start it's the wrong dimensions and doesn't engage the magazine. The whole thing is about 2-3mm too short. Aside from that it's a bit flimsy, but once it's fitted into the stock it might not matter, and the magazine catch its self is too weak and doesn't hold the magazine. I could put a stronger spring in it which I think would fix this, but I'm not sure the unit is strong enough to take a stronger spring.
So, aside from the vintage airsoft unit, what other options are there for magazine wells. I would like it to have a box well for the magazine to fit into and a catch as part of the unit, I would like the unit to be part of the working parts not the stock. Is there an obscure after mark part or part i could salvage from another rifle that would work?
I'm not ruling out making my own solution. But I don't have the knowledge or tools to weld anything. I don't have a 3D printer or the experience to design 3d printed parts.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
Also, without intending to upset the forum gods, and please remove this post if it's not allowed, but is there anywhre else i should be asking this question?
@danger_mouseuk I don’t think you’re upsetting anyone with this request.
I’ve made different catches to accommodate the original vsr mags, in a fair few conversions. Tomorrow I’ll put up some pics, it’s in a bit late to do it today, as I’ve got to take new pics.
As for a mag well liner I don’t usually bother, but it’s not a bad idea, you could use something like 2mm thick plasticard I use it in conjunction with steel to make top receiver builds. I prefer to make the catches mount to the hop mount block so it is part of the barrel system and stays on the block during assembly or disassembly.
@danger_mouseuk sorry for the delay, getting a little bit busy at the moment. Did some pics, the first one shows some ideas when there is no spring button available to use, plus a bit of my nuttiness!
The second pic is of one of my no.4’s mag catch, like I said before I prefer to have them now fixed to the hop block so they stay together even when tear down time is happening.
I make them from plasticard, 3&4mm thicknesses, I have some done, but can’t locate them at the moment, when I find them I’ll put up some more pics. Basically a top piece with two holes, one for button the other for mounting onto the hop block where one of the original stock screws would fit, but seeing as there’s now a band clamp with sling hanger it’s not needed to hold the stock.
copying the internal shape from the original stock with another piece of card stick the two together, fit in button and spring mount to block. Did some fine adjustments on the first few but when you get it right it will hold the original mag onto the hop unit even when it’s out of the stock.
I don’t really understand why you bought a different mag, seeing as the original work fine, but saying that I don’t understand why I do some things sometimes either!
That’s LE, that was really helpful. I wanted the mechanism to be part of the action, not the stock, like you. I was considering cutting the original bit from a plastic stock and attaching it to the mag block somehow, but I’m going to try to make a housing like yours to avoid butchering a stock just for that bit.
I like that you’ve added a veneer to the bottom of the magazine too, helps continue the look of the stock.
@danger_mouseuk still can’t find where I put my mag catches, so took one off of another build.
there’s three parts to it, as the pics show. You can make them from other materials but I find the plasticard works fine. It can be keyed up and painted if you wish, the laminate on the the mags is vinyl film, having a “Blue Peter” moment on them using “sticky back plastic”!
I can remove this piece while the gun is still complete, wasn’t designed that way, just happens to work out that way.
Andy
