Rare Spare Magazines

[armenius]

I have a Browning Challenger 22 cal. pistol in 90+% condition,but I have only one magazine.I have concerns that if the magazine fails I will have a nonfunctioning paper weight.I have been trying to locate a spare and found one by Triple K.Having experienced poor quality aftermarket magazines in the past I am asking if anyone has any experience with Triple K.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Ματθιας]

I recently picked up a Beretta 1951 on GB. It came with one mag with the option to buy a triple K mag. Turns out both mags are Triple K. One seems to be OK and the other is out of spec and won't drop free w/out prying it out. I'm thinking they, triple K, are about the same as promag junk.

 

[REM 3200]

I have a Browning Challenger 22 cal. pistol in 90+% condition,but I have only one magazine.I have concerns that if the magazine fails I will have a nonfunctioning paper weight.I have been trying to locate a spare and found one by Triple K.Having experienced poor quality aftermarket magazines in the past I am asking if anyone has any experience with Triple K.

Thanks for any input.

I too have a Challenger that came with one mag. I took a chance on Triple K. It worked just like the original.
What I'm worried about now is finding a new recoil spring. Any ideas there?

 

[Nesmith]

Magazines for Belgian Brownings

I have a Browning International Medalist and use a couple of Triple K magazines along with a few original magazines and one other after-market mag. The Medalist, Challenger, and Nomad all use the same magazine. The Medalist functions fine with any of these magazines, thought it may be more related to the high reliability of the Browning design than the after-market mags. Older Triple K mags had too small of a follower button and didn't always actuate the slide hold-open; newer Triple K's have a bit larger follower button and seem to work just fine.

Some Belgian Browning parts, including springs, are available from a limited number of suppliers. There is a plethora of very good information over at RimfireCentral in the Browning section on parts and maintenance. There is also information on using new Neos and Colt Cadet magazines in these early Brownings with easy, minimal modifications.

 

[Alpo]

I've got a Colt Jr. Bought a Triple K mag for a spare.



The nickel one is Colt. The blue one is Triple K. Notice the latch holes are not the same size. And because the one on the replacement is too big, when it latches in it sticks out too far, and won't feed.



Triple K guarantees their stuff. If it does not work, they will send you another one. But if it is manufactured incorrectly, what good is getting another one that won't fit. And the worthless scum bastages would not refund my money.

 

[rburg]

YOu know, there are some universal truths about aftermarket mags. Most if not all are junk with some guns. The 1911 might be the only exception, where nearly everything works OK.

I have a love for some great but odd ball guns. My experience with SIG P210s has been nothing but the originals are satisfactory. I've had people try to sell me things they guarantee is great. I wasn't born yesterday. Burn me once, OK, but you don't get another shot. Except I was dumb and even tried a second brand, with the same sorry results.

And an even worse situation is now the original mags are aging and might be worn or damaged to the extent they won't function as they should. Even the ones that appear near new might be up for sale because they didn't work at first. So someone decided to sell them rather than absorb the loss. There are no guarantee's in life I guess.

And then there are mags that just can't be found anywhere. Every try to locate and purchase a Browning Tbolt mag? I have either 2 or 3 originals. I think its 3. Back in the 1960s they all worked well. So I made a decision to just put the others in a bag, label them, and put them up. Its something everyone should consider if they've got a gun with rare mags. Only work with one and don't expose the others to possible damage.

And remember we're not all going to live forever. Label the extra mags and which gun they go with. If you get killed tomorrow, you widow probably won't have a clue as to which goes to which gun. My P210 .22 is worth a bunch more with 2 mags than with just one. Original mags, if you can find them, sell for between $350 and $500. They're like hen's teeth.

 

[growr]

Which Challenger? My best friends Challenger was able to use my Buckmark magazines. Some Challengers have the mag release in the bottom or heel and some release on the side. Buckmark magazines are readily available.

Randy

 

[REM 3200]

Which Challenger? My best friends Challenger was able to use my Buckmark magazines. Some Challengers have the mag release in the bottom or heel and some release on the side. Buckmark magazines are readily available.

Randy

We are speaking of the original Belgium made guns from the 60-70s.
Thanks for your input though.

 

[wundudnee]

I collect older Winchester .22s. Many have a little more special magazines. Some have specificly marked caliber markings. A lot of them will interchange, but getting the exact one you need can get very pricey.

One in particular is the follower marked mag for a model 56 in .22 short. I have no idea what one would bring. Another is a model 43 .218 bee.

If you ask mag dealers at gun shows about some unobtainable mag they just look at you like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights.

 

[rburg]

If you ask mag dealers at gun shows about some unobtainable mag they just look at you like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights.

Its still fun to do. Consider there are way too many deer these days. I once read there are more than when Columbus discovered America. So if the deer in the headlights look is that easy to obtain, do it.

 

[gwpercle]

Try Ammoclip.com. They show magazines for the Browning Challenger I, Nomad, Medalist and Challenger II and Challenger III, and the Buckmark.
They have descriptions of each , photo's and identifying marks so you can order the correct one.
Do not know about quality but they would be better than nothing. A little tinkering to one may eliminate the paperweight thing.
Gary

 

[REM 3200]

Try Ammoclip.com. They show magazines for the Browning Challenger I, Nomad, Medalist and Challenger II and Challenger III, and the Buckmark.
They have descriptions of each , photo's and identifying marks so you can order the correct one.
Do not know about quality but they would be better than nothing. A little tinkering to one may eliminate the paperweight thing.
Gary

Thanks for posting the above. I didn't know of this site.

 

[M1Garandy]

What I'm worried about now is finding a new recoil spring. Any ideas there?

Yup, check here: Commemorative Arms Company - obsolete Browning Handgun Parts for 22 Caliber. - Page 1

They are listed for $35 and should be brand new factory parts.

 

[2152hq]

"...I've got a Colt Jr. Bought a Triple K mag for a spare..."


The Colt Junior was actually the (imported and Colt marked) Astra Cub,, the square notch lock on the side of the mag is pure Astra,

Sometimes you can find Astra Cub magazines for the pistol cheaper than Colt marked products. Anything 'Colt' is gold of course.
The gun auction sites are a good source.

Astra may only have a tiny 'Made in Spain' marking on them besides the caliber designation.
They also fit the Astra 'Camper',,the same pistol but with a 4" bbl.

I've had good luck w/ Ammoclip.com producks,,but study the pics closely.
MegGar is another aftermarket mag mfg'r that seems to have good products, but there's always that one,,the one you need, that isn't quite right it seems.

Hope you find what you need. I'll check my 'clip' drawer and see if I have any in either cal.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Same boat. Original SIG Sauer P225 & P6 mags are made of unobtanium. The only alternative are Promags, and they are loathed by many for good reason. Fortunately I have three originals, but it's always good to have spares.

 

[cmort666]

I have a Browning Challenger 22 cal. pistol in 90+% condition,but I have only one magazine.I have concerns that if the magazine fails I will have a nonfunctioning paper weight.I have been trying to locate a spare and found one by Triple K.Having experienced poor quality aftermarket magazines in the past I am asking if anyone has any experience with Triple K.

Thanks for any input.

I have several Triple K magazines for my High Standard Tournament. They're junk. The guy who used to work on my guns was able to bend the lips so that they worked briefly, but they're so soft, they won't hold the proper configuration for long.

 

[REM 3200]

I have a Browning Challenger 22 cal. pistol in 90+% condition,but I have only one magazine.I have concerns that if the magazine fails I will have a nonfunctioning paper weight.I have been trying to locate a spare and found one by Triple K.Having experienced poor quality aftermarket magazines in the past I am asking if anyone has any experience with Triple K.

Thanks for any input.

I also have a Challenger and faced the same problem. The Triple-K mag I bought functions as it should.
However, it's a guessing game. One I bought for a Colt .32ACP Pocket Pistol did not work.
Ya' pays ya' money an takes ya' chances.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

I have several Triple K magazines for my High Standard Tournament. They're junk. The guy who used to work on my guns was able to bend the lips so that they worked briefly, but they're so soft, they won't hold the proper configuration for long.

I wonder if, after proper reforming and testing, the mags could be stripped, then heated with a propane torch, then plunged into oil. Motor oil would work. Because of the thinness of the metal, water or salt brine might cool it too fast and cause cracking. The problem is temp regulation and the quality of steel used. Likely it is a soft steel that does not take hardening well. Even so, I'd take the risk with one of them, heat the feed lips to a dark red, then plunge into motor oil.

colors of heated metals

 

[robertrwalsh]

In my experience Triple-K magazines are about 50% junk and about 50% marginally functional.

 

[2152hq]

If the Triple K mags are that soft, they;re probably just Cold Rolled Steel or the like and won't take any hardness from a heat and quench anyway due to the lack of carbon in the steel.

You may have some luck doing a very quick and light case hardening of the upper portion of the mag like Colt used to do. Casenite works great for this but that's off the market now too. The whole world';s gone goofy.

For what you have to pay for these aftermarket things,,you should not have to reheat treat them to get them to perform. They should just plain WORK.


and ALPO,,,I checked and I don't have any Colt JR or Astra Cub magazines in the drawer,,sorry.