Does anyone know of a PDF or other chart that lists which magazines fit which models?
I know that there are some "family" series, like the 59 and 39, but I don't know what mags for other series fit other pistols.
When I travel, I hit the bargain bins at gun shops and random magazine lots at auctions. I cant take all of my pistols with me out of state, and I can't even bring some of my mags to other states.
A reference chart would be a great asset to the bargain-hunting community!
Any help is appreciated.
Assuming you are talking about S&W, so I will offer these:
59, X59 (2nd Gen) and 59XX (3rd Gen) mags will generally fit the full size and compact versions. Thus a 5906 mag will fit the 469 and the 6906, etc. The revers is not true as the shorter mag of the compact pistol will not lock in or reach high enough to chamber a round.
As to M&P, it is easy. If it is double stack (M&P full size and M&P compact), within the same caliber, the larger mag will fit the smaller gun, but not vice versa. Do not use a mag marked for one caliber in a pistol of a different caliber.
The Shields are interchangeable within caliber, but not with the larger M&P, such as Compact or Full Size.
It is a little more complicated with 39 series single stack. If memory serves, the 1st gen 39 and 39-2 mags will interchange with second gen X39 (439, 539 and 639), but not with 3rd Gen (39XX) pistols.
As to the SWVE and SDVE series, they interchange within the same caliber, but have different floorplates. Again, do not use a magazine marked for one caliber in a pistol marked for a different caliber.
To further complicate matters, you will find amateur or kitchen table gunsmiths on this and other forums who will insist that you can use 9mm and .40 S&W mags interchangeably within model, but my post addresses what the factory would approve, not what some tinkerer claims.
In addition, on the 3rd Gen pistols, the mag tubes, I believe, had dimples corresponding with cuts in the mag wells preventing use in similar frames but different calibers. This was done to prevent police and others from chambering a 9mm in a .40 S&W pistol barrel by mistake. This has disastrous consequences as has been observed at the FBI academy on several occasions. A loaded 9mm round drops down into the barrel and a .40 can chamber and fire right behind it. Now, this sort of thing can be fun on the 4th of July, but replacement of your blown up gun gets expensive, not to mention your medical bills.
One of these jollies on this or another forum who insist on buying a different caliber barrel to "convert" their M&P to another caliber will eventually blow up a gun, but there is no talking to them. If, however, you mistakenly chamber a 9mm into your .40 caliber barrel and chase it with a .40 caliber round, you will only do it once.
