Mag interchangability??

[flamethrower]

Will the model 59 mags work in the whole series (5903, 5904,5906 )????

[GatorFarmer]

Yes, they should. I've used ancient 59 mags in my 5903 w/o problems. Note that the early 59 mags hold 14 rounds and not 15.

[Froggfuzz]

Does the magazine interchangeability work backwards as well? That is, do the later magazines work in the Model 59?

[GWCustom]

Yes, my 5906 mags work very well in my 459 and 59.
Van

[Froggfuzz]

Thank you, GWCustom, for your prompt reply. I just bought a nickel Model 59 in unfired condition, or it was until I ran a full magazine of my crappiest reloads through it without a hitch. That prompted me to start looking for more magazines. It came with one S&W mag and one 30-round magazine with training wheels attached. Have you any suggestions for a source of magazines or any advice on that subject? I've bought used police trade-ins for my 39-2 without any problems, but haven't been to a show recently. BTW, if you're in Sandusky, may I assume you are an OGCA and PAGCA memeber? I have been a member of OGCA for 30 plus years.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[max]

Frogfuzz, I have a factory 59 magazine that I will sell for 25 and I will pay the postage. You can contact me at [email protected].

[JudgeColt]

Yes, they should. I've used ancient 59 mags in my 5903 w/o problems. Note that the early 59 mags hold 14 rounds and not 15.

The very early "Non-A" magazines with the aluminum follower will hold 16 rounds!

[GWCustom]

Froggfuzz
My dad is a life member of OGCA and I grew up going to the old shows in Columbus. I joined when I turned 18 and went to most of the shows in Cleveland. It was great when they moved three the shows to Milan, but since they moved them all down to Wilmington I have dropped my membership.
Now as far as magazines go my I would recommend that you try CDNN for 5900 series mags. They have new ones for $29.99 and used ones for $19.99.
Van

[Froggfuzz]

Nickelsmith, I will take your magazine. Private e-mail on its way.
Thanks,

Froggfuzz

[Froggfuzz]

GWCustom,

I liked the old Columbus shows the best; Cleveland was great, too, but I'm in central PA and it's a long way to the shows now; I've kept up the membership, hoping that at least a few of the shows might be closer to me.

Thanks for you reply and for the information about the magazines. As you may have noted, Nickelsmith has one and I've agreed to buy it if it's still available.

I contacted CDNN several days ago because of their ad in Gun Digest The Magazine, but they said they didn't have any 59 mags; I'd have thought that they might have suggested that the 5900 series mags would have worked as you pointed out, but maybe they don't know that.

I did order two aftermarket mags from WhatACountry.com, along with some other stuff. I'll try them out and post the results here.

Again, thanks for your input and best wishes.

Froggfuzz

[Froggfuzz]

Originally posted by JudgeColt:

The very early "Non-A" magazines with the aluminum follower will hold 16 rounds!

JudgeColt, thanks for your input. What do you mean by the "Non-A" magazines? Are you referring to the serial number prefix?

Froggfuzz

[JudgeColt]

JudgeColt, thanks for your input. What do you mean by the "Non-A" magazines? Are you referring to the serial number prefix?

No. All Models 59 have the "A" serial number prefix.

I am referring to the fact that early Model 59 magazines have a floor plate that does not have an "A" stamped on it. They will hold 16 rounds. I just checked my stash of early Model 59 magazines and find that magazines with the "A" stamped on them, if they still have the aluminum follower, will also hold 16 rounds. I therefore should have made no reference to the "A" stamp, but rather (I think) to the aluminum follower being the key to holding the extra rounds.

As I recall, the "A" stamped on the floor plate indicated an updated magazine in some respect, but I cannot remember what the change was. Anybody remember what the change was?

[Hawgleg44]

If you have an older 59xx series 14 round mag, just swap the follower out to the newer orange follower and it will hold 15 rounds. I did it with all of mine.

[Froggfuzz]

Good information, Hawgleg. Thanks. I did get the magazine from nickelsmith and it is an older non-"A" type with the aluminum follower. It holds only 15 rounds however, not 16.

The after-market magazines I got from whatacountry.com, hold 15 rounds. They seem to work OK, though I only ran some of my ****** reloads through them; I'll try some factory later and see if there's any difference.