I worked up a flush-fitting magazine for the Recon 45

[squidsix]

A while back I bought a Recon 45, and fiddled with it like I normally do. After a workout, I have been carrying it quite a bit and really like this pistol.
I have looked and looked but nobody really makes what I wanted in a magazine for it.
I am not shy about making what I want, so I did my thing:
Took a 7-round 4516 magazine, cut the bottom off, made some heated bends, added an old school 4506 magazine base (they made some metal ones with rubber pads on them ages ago and I have a couple of those old mags).
The result? Flush fitting CCW perfection for my wonderful Recon 45!!
I also made some mods to a ProMag slip on sleeve for their 10-round mags to use with this pistol and a S&W 4506 mag. This gives me 6+1 in the pistol, and 8 more on the belt. Great combo for carry in my corner of America.
I have 10 more 7-round 4516 mags too in case I want that, and have added 4513TSW bases to a couple of them which feel great in the hand.
Still looking for more of those bases to swap out my others, as I dont care for the pinky rest on the normal mags.
Enjoy the pics.
(Before you get upset with my work, note that the final sanding and finishing is yet to be done)

 

[squidsix]

More pics.

These are a few more shots. I will take some proper photos when I finish sanding.

 

[18DAI]

Very nice! Great job!

I use the rounded TSW baseplates on all my 7-round carry mags. They do feel great in the hand! Regards 18DAI

 

[squidsix]

I am toying with the next thing, which is a 4513TSW-style grip on the Recon made from a straight 4506 grip. I did this once before on a CS9 and it came out ok, but wasnt nice enough. I am a lot older and more cautious now, so I think I will give it a go. I have a 4516 frame/4566 slide combo it will go on, and we will see what happens.

 

[18DAI]

I am eagerly awaiting your next project my friend! Best regards, 18DAI

 

[squidsix]

Did you ever get that recon 45 of your own back from the work you were going to do?

 

[18DAI]

Yes. BMCM did his usual fine job. Regards 18DAI

 

[squidsix]

Yes. BMCM did his usual fine job. Regards 18DAI

Just leaving that out there man? No details? Killing me!

 

[squidsix]

I made another one. Seemed smart to have two.

 

[Steve912]

I am toying with the next thing, which is a 4513TSW-style grip on the Recon made from a straight 4506 grip..

"I gots to ask..."

The Recon looks like a straight grip--what will the 4506
grip do?

 

[Doc1500]

I hope that little lip that sticks out the front doesn't dig into your pinky finger.
Nice job.

 

[squidsix]

I rounded that little lip off quite a lot on both mags (the other mags I have with steel floorplate too). It doesnt bug my hand at all but give just enough purchase to rip the mag out if it didnt drop free.
The only advantage to fitting a 4506 grip would be to extend the heel of the grip to the bottom of the 7-round mag. Like the 4513TSW just larger.

 

[Steve912]

The only advantage to fitting a 4506 grip would be to extend the heel of the grip to the bottom of the 7-round mag. Like the 4513TSW just larger.

Ahh...so a longer mag fits and looks/feels right.

 

[squidsix]

Right. With the factory 7-round mag there is a space behind the floorplate. If its going to be that long anyway, why not a longer grip?
I made these shorter mags to make it more concealable (with the 3913 I use steel floorplates too and have the same effect) but there is no reason not to do a longer grip and use the stock mags.

 

[squidsix]

A little more info since I have been asked:
I scored the magazine to make a line while in the pistol without the floorplate on it.
Then, using a promag sleeve to keep things straight, i cut the mag body to allow bending of the sides of the mag. For the first one, I heated it up with a torch, but the second (and now third) I did it cold. I used wide-jaw vice grips to make the bend on each side.
Then ground the wings down till the metal magazine base would fit. I initially used a black nylon base from a 4506 mag but then remembered I have a few 745/845 mags with metal base and black rubber pad. Under tge rubber is a perfectly useable steel floorplate, and thats what I used.

 

[squidsix]

This is the magazine base I used. Most 745 models cane with these. Its a glued on black rubber base but under it is a stainless steel floorplate with S&W engraved in it.

 

[guzzitaco]

A little more info since I have been asked:
I scored the magazine to make a line while in the pistol without the floorplate on it.
Then, using a promag sleeve to keep things straight, i cut the mag body to allow bending of the sides of the mag. For the first one, I heated it up with a torch, but the second (and now third) I did it cold. I used wide-jaw vice grips to make the bend on each side.
Then ground the wings down till the metal magazine base would fit. I initially used a black nylon base from a 4506 mag but then remembered I have a few 745/845 mags with metal base and black rubber pad. Under tge rubber is a perfectly useable steel floorplate, and thats what I used.

Thanks a lot for the explanation...this is a great idea...

I will try to do it on one of my 457 mags...