What's going on with 3rd Gen magazines?

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

There have been a couple threads running lately about the growing scarcity and crazy high cost of 10mm magazines (for Model 1006 et al) as well as Model 4013/4053 magazines. Recently, I made the stupid statement that new Model 3013/3953 magazines were "still widely available." Now, I'm suddenly noticing that that's not accurate at all unless you are talking about the ProMag brand.

This morning, I see on MidwayUSA that Model 3913/3953 curved floorplate magazines are noted as "discontinued." Flat floor plate magazines are still available but apparently going fast. I suspect they'll be "discontinued" by the end of this month.

Member BMCM has posted about the clearance sale going on at MidwayUSA on Model 4506 (et al) magazines... which another member pointed out that this probably means they are being discontinued too.

I notice that Model 4516/457 magazines are already noted as "discontinued."

Frankly, I'm getting a little nervous. 3rd Gen magazines at yesterday's show were few and far between (and none very cheap). I know that some magazines (5900-series, for example) are available from good alternative suppliers like Mec-Gar... but clearly, that seems to be the exception to the rule.

Is it just me? Or is it time to make sure we've got all the 3rd Gen magazines we'll ever need?

And what about those ProMag 3913/3953 magazines?

Are they any good?

I've mentioned before that I am on a "play catch-up" mission (slowly, as finances allow) in regard to 3rd Gen parts and magazines. I fell too far behind my gun purchases and now it's time to pay the piper.

Only problem is... I may be a little too late for some of those things.

Big Shrek · Mar 13, 2016

Well, like any other heavily needed magazine,
they'll probably get picked up by Meg-Gar or one of
many many magazine makers...
where there is a way to make a buck, someone will do it.

Mostly because some smart fella will go,
"Hrm, we're only getting 1%-2% of the total 1911 market,
but we could have 100% of the 3rd Gen S&W market!!"

BAM-BAM · Mar 13, 2016

Reminds me I really need to inventory my "stash of stuff".

Magazines are sorted and stored in "Tupperware" ( which IMHO is the only proper user of Tupperware) by Manufacturer ...... but some are mixed together .....LOL pretty sure there's a gallon or so of .......... 39xx mags with 45xx mags and 39mags....... and the 69xx and 59xx are together.

I know this is going to turn into one of those ....."How many magazines do I need" threads!!!!

TTSH can you "import" magazines into the "PRO Mass."??????

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

BAM-BAM said:
Reminds me I really need to inventory my "stash of stuff".

Magazines are sorted and stored in "Tupperware" ( which IMHO is the only proper user of Tupperware) by Manufacturer ...... but some are mixed together .....LOL pretty sure there's a gallon or so of .......... 39xx mags with 45xx mags and 39mags....... and the 69xx and 59xx are together.

I know this is going to turn into one of those ....."How many magazines do I need" threads!!!!

TTSH can you "import" magazines into the "PRO Mass."??????

Magazines are like ammo with me.

I feel I've got more than enough... right up until the point where I can't buy them anymore.

We prisoners living behind enemy lines can still buy magazines up to 10-rounds without too much trouble. Above 10-rounds and they must be "pre-bans."

Some places won't ship any magazines to us at all... and I can't blame them. This state and the people running it are NUTZ!!!

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

Big Shrek said:
Well, like any other heavily needed magazine, they'll probably get picked up by Meg-Gar or one of many many magazine makers... where there is a way to make a buck, someone will do it.

Let's hope you are right.

But if a second-rate magazine manufacturing company moves in first... will a first-rate company follow?

I'm guessing not.

N4KVE · Mar 13, 2016

TTSH said:
I know that some magazines (5900-series, for example) are available from good alternative suppliers like Mec-Gar... but clearly, that seems to be the exception to the rule.

Since Mec-Gar is the OEM mag mfr for most of the gun companies, how do we know they haven't been making OEM S&W mags for decades? GARY

Muss Muggins · Mar 13, 2016

BAM-BAM said:
I know this is going to turn into one of those ....."How many magazines do I need" threads!!!!

The answer for me is always "Just one more . . . "

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

N4KVE said:
Since Mec-Gar is the OEM mag mfr for most of the gun companies, how do we know they haven't been making OEM S&W mags for decades? GARY

I think most folks do believe that Mec-Gar produces (or at least did once produce) magazines for S&W. But we also know that S&W made some themselves and no doubt contracted out to others as well.

But that doesn't let me sleep any better.

It would be great if Mec-Gar could legally and profitably jump back into full production of all 3rd Gen magazines, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

BAM-BAM · Mar 13, 2016

Muss Muggins said:
The answer for me is always "Just one more . . . "

True...... I'm guessing but from about 1989/90 when I got my first 3G till the mid-2000s I'd pick up extra magazines whenever I had the chance.....they were cheap.....used guns sold with one magazine; w/ one or two or maybe three going into the "used mags" bins for $10-15..........

There were a couple of "Magazine guys" at local gun shows..... with "tubs" of magazines.........always willing to sell single stack Smith mags cheap... while Glock Hi-caps for $100 was not uncommon in the 90s.

and I had adopted a fairly large family of 3G's that all have to be fed......still got some in the shrink wrap hangers....old and dusty when I bought them......

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

Muss Muggins said:
The answer for me is always "Just one more . . . "

Well, my problem is simple. I've bought too many 3rd Gens with only one or two magazines.

That's just how they came... take it or leave it.

As it turns out today, I'm in pretty good shape on some, great shape on others... but still lousy shape on a few.

Of course, it doesn't stop there. I have bought... and hope to continue to buy... magazines for 3rd Gens I don't even own yet.

The CS45 is one example. The 1006 is another example. And then we can start talking "pre-rail" TSW guns too.

BAM-BAM · Mar 13, 2016

TTSH said:
It would be great if Mec-Gar could legally and profitably jump back into full production of all 3rd Gen magazines, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

They are in the hi-cap Smith market.....59xx.....10-20 rounders....

yeti · Mar 13, 2016

TTSH said:
Is it just me? Or is it time to make sure we've got all the 3rd Gen magazines we'll ever need? And what about those ProMag 3913/3953 magazines? Are they any good?

I've mentioned before that I am on a "play catch-up" mission (slowly, as finances allow) in regard to 3rd Gen parts and magazines. I fell too far behind my gun purchases and now it's time to pay the piper. Only problem is... I may be a little too late for some of those things.

3913/53 mags are still going to be around, but what is found will be much more expensive. Do not bother with Pro Mags if you ever want to CCW. Not reliable enough. Range/fun use? Sure.

N4KVE · Mar 13, 2016

TTSH said:
It would be great if Mec-Gar could legally and profitably jump back into full production of all 3rd Gen magazines, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

Remember, they are a business, & have a board of directors, & shareholders to answer to. While we would want them to make mags for guns that haven't been made in 20+ years, in the corporate world they would want to make mags for currently made popular guns that are flying off the shelves. GARY

BAM-BAM · Mar 13, 2016

N4KVE said:
Remember, they are a business, & have a board of directors, & shareholders to answer to. While we would want them to make mags for guns that haven't been made in 20+ years, in the corporate world they would want to make mags for currently made popular guns that are flying off the shelves. GARY

See my post #11.............the 17round mags are sweeeeeeeeet.

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

yeti said:
3913/53 mags are still going to be around, but what is found will be much more expensive. Do not bother with Pro Mags if you ever want to CCW. Not reliable enough. Range/fun use? Sure.

Well, the last thing I want is magazines that aren't totally reliable whether for carry/protection or not.

The ProMags sure are cheap and plentiful (dozens of them in 3913/3953/908 at the last show) but I'll pass if they are not up to the highest standards of reliability possible.

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

N4KVE said:
Remember, they are a business, & have a board of directors, & shareholders to answer to. While we would want them to make mags for guns that haven't been made in 20+ years, in the corporate world they would want to make mags for currently made popular guns that are flying off the shelves. GARY

But isn't there a legal issue to deal with?

Didn't I hear or read that somewhere or did I imagine it?

I thought I heard that many of Mec-Gar's contracts for OEM production have a clause in them that prevents Mec-Gar from selling the magazines directly to consumers... true or false?

TTSH · Mar 13, 2016

BAM-BAM said:
True...... I'm guessing but from about 1989/90 when I got my first 3G till the mid-2000s I'd pick up extra magazines whenever I had the chance.....they were cheap.....used guns sold with one magazine; w/ one or two or maybe three going into the "used mags" bins for $10-15..........

There were a couple of "Magazine guys" at local gun shows..... with "tubs" of magazines.........always willing to sell single stack Smith mags cheap... while Glock Hi-caps for $100 was not uncommon in the 90s.

and I had adopted a fairly large family of 3G's that all have to be fed......still got some in the shrink wrap hangers....old and dusty when I bought them......

I think that 3rd Gen magazines fished out of dealer bargain bins are going the way of the dodo bird.

The problem around here is that newer shops don't have any 3rd Gen magazines in their bargain bins and old shop turnovers (to new owners) usually result in a bulk sell-off of bargain bin contents for dirt money before the new owners come in.

The trick (around here at least) is to find an older shop still owned by the old fart original owner.

Then you have a pretty good chance.

I picked up a CS45 magazine for cheap that way recently. It was mismarked (Model-wise) to boot.

yeti · Mar 13, 2016

Systematically buy OEM mags when you run across any for palatable pricing. Those OEM mag bodies and feed lips hold up well.

When you need other springs buy a bulk pack of Wolff mag springs (check yours, but odds are they will be the plain end coil version) while they are a stock item. You may have to wait for them to run a batch if they are out, but Wolff is great.

Towns · Mar 13, 2016

I am certainly glad I ordered 2 of the 3913 and 3 of the 5904 mags from Midway the other day.

Has anyone used these before?
Smith & Wesson 69 Series Magazine - Brand New, 12-Round 69 Series Magazines - Keepshooting®

Aegis · Mar 13, 2016

TTSH said:
Well, my problem is simple. I've bought too many 3rd Gens with only one or two magazines. That's just how they came... take it or leave it.

As it turns out today, I'm in pretty good shape on some, great shape on others... but still lousy shape on a few.

Of course, it doesn't stop there. I have bought... and hope to continue to buy... magazines for 3rd Gens I don't even own yet. The CS45 is one example. The 1006 is another example. And then we can start talking "pre-rail" TSW guns too.

I have also acquired a large stable of 3rd gen 45's. As far as i am concerned Pro Mag is not a magazine I will use. Hopefully Mec Gar will be able to make/sell 10mm & 45 magazines in the future. I have gathered about 30 of each 10mm & 45 magazines so far.

What's going on with 3rd Gen magazines?

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