Where are all the Gen 1-2-3 mags?

[GaryS]

There in lies the issue. All of my 3rd Gen guns are in good shape and can be used for self defense or any other lawful purpose. Still, without magazines, they are at best single shot pistols.

OEM mags are no longer in production for most 3rd Gens, and as we have discussed time and again, aftermarket mags are of generally poor construction.

Which is why I have a small cabinet stocked with 39xx, 69xx, 59xx, CS9, and 457 magazines. And a cigar box with springs, followers, and baseplates as well.

They're in the safes of those who feel they need 10 mags for every gun or in the hands of the E-Bayer looking to make a buck. Because they are long out of production, there is no replenishment in the market.

 

[Green Frog]

Realistically, how many mags would one need for a specific, single stack gun, to use in various Action Pistol style matches, etc? Two, 3, 4, 5, more? I can take the three Dad left me with his 39-2 that I can add to the "starter pair" for my built-up Model 639 Franken-Smith, but that is sort of a stop-gap. I'd like to put together a devoted package that can stay with this "working gun." I know more is always better, but what would be a good, practical number for my range and defensive setup?

Froggie

PS I may end up starting over again with a 659, but for now, it seems like those mags are a lot more available around here at this time(?)

 

[db4570]

It's funny how much things changed in just the couple of years I wasn't paying attention. I assumed that when I bought this 439 that mags would be readily available like they were for my CS9. I figured the whole Model 39 platform was so plentiful that mags would always be available.

I will keep my eyes peeled for them now.

 

[peterdeb]

It seems to be just the way it is. It is not Covid related because more than a year ago the true S&W OEM mags had dried up at most all decent sources.

There have been a ton of posts in the last few months. I overpaid (I thought) for an original black follower Model 39 on flea bay ($53) over a year ago, then found out that I was actually lucky to grab it at that price!

The bottom line seems to be that ProMag's suck most of the time, and Triple K is downright ******* right out of the package...both worthless as to reliability. MecGar doesn't manufacture the S&W line, so basically nobodies making a decent repop.

Best Advice? Jump back on Flea Bay and pay the price (if you even see a "buy-it-now") as there are a ton of bidders like you..want one and can't find it. It is for sure a Sellers market these days.

Completely agree with Best Advice. If you want the quality dsS&W mag, especially with the "X" follower, you have to pay for it. Others want them too. like other things, the price is forgotten with the piece in hand. Keep looking for "that deal" and you may never find it. Good luck!

 

[jughed440]

They're in the safes of those who feel they need 10 mags for every gun or in the hands of the E-Bayer looking to make a buck. Because they are long out of production, there is no replenishment in the market.

I tried to trade off or sell my 'hoard' on this website just in the last week. Numerous factory mags at fair prices. Only one person bought any...all others who replied were tire kickers and low-ballers who had wrongly assumed that a $10 (or less) factory magazine could be had. Penny auctions on GB is the next step

 

[Green Frog]

I repeat, how many single stack mags does a person need if planning to use his 1st-3rd Gen gun for casual competition? This was not an idle question as I'm currently trying to get my Franken-Smith to a complete package that I can get a variety of uses from.

TIA~Froggie

 

[oldman10mm]

I don't participate in competition shooting so for me 2 magazines (as they typically came with from S&W) per pistol is fine.
Other than that for the collection, one of every potential variety. Variations would be of follower style and color, spring baseplate metal or plastic, magazine baseplate color-metal-plastic, witness holes-few-many-both sides, upper vertical indentations, catch holes one side or both sides.
Then above that, buying virtually all I find at shows for shipping to members that can't find them. I sell them for $5 above what I paid to cover the shipping envelope and postage. I don't sell any of my current 10mm mags BUT about 2 years ago I picked up many 10mm mags from my main supplier as he found a stash hidden/unknown. He sold them to me at $40 and I resold them at $45 to members here and on the 10mm forum. Currently inventorying for a misc for sale thread.

 

[jughed440]

Some care to ask why anyone would need more mags than what came in the original box of the gun. My #1 reason is that range time should be spent honing the shooting skills, not re-loading 1 or 2 mags.
The more important and downright scary reason is that there are people in power (via ignorant voters) who want ALL firearm magazines to be illegal to own. MOST gun owners know that and are wisely buying spare mags while they still can.

Honestly though, I would like all owners of the same models of guns that I own to have that '1 or 2 is enough' mindset. Sure would be easier and cheaper for me to 'hoard' more mags

 

[GaryS]

i have "range only" magazines and "carry only" magazines. That way I don't have to empty my carry magazines when I go to the range. My range magazines sit in my range bag.

Some care to ask why anyone would need more mags than what came in the original box of the gun. My #1 reason is that range time should be spent honing the shooting skills, not re-loading 1 or 2 mags.
The more important and downright scary reason is that there are people in power (via ignorant voters) who want ALL firearm magazines to be illegal to own. MOST gun owners know that and are wisely buying spare mags while they still can.

Honestly though, I would like all owners of the same models of guns that I own to have that '1 or 2 is enough' mindset. Sure would be easier and cheaper for me to 'hoard' more mags

 

[oldman10mm]

I just put an ad in the classifieds misc for sale forum concerning OEM S&W mags.

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. Froggie, us collectors may stockpile gun accessories like grips,
parts, barrels, paper, boxes, etc. Why not mags? Call it collecting
or hoarding, I dont know. I have a few spare mas for the autos I have
and shoot.

 

[CALREB]

When I shot PPC you really needed at least 25 mags to shoot a match. Otherwise trying to change targets, get back to the line and reload a mag or 2-3 between phases didnt do anything for your heart rate. Wife shot also so there was another 27 or so. Used older ones for practice. Ive given alot of mags away to new shooters. And always 5 or so if I sold a gun. But now I keep the spare ones I have in case I buy a gun, I dont want to have to chase magazines. Glad I got them years ago. Wish I had more mag parts.

 

[Racer X]

Magazines are considered a wear item. Followers will wear, springs will weaken the more they get used, and feed lips will eventually start to lose their shape. Every time they get bent back, they lose it again just a bit sooner. These aren't .556 AR magazines where they will be making them for the next century.

A 5906/4006 might last another 100 years, but will there be magazines? In just half a decade 69xx mags became scarce. 10xx almost unobtainable.

 

[Green Frog]

I just put an ad in the classifieds misc for sale forum concerning OEM S&W mags.

Thanks! I hope my request got in early enough for the Armalloy Mod 39!

Regards,
Froggie

 

[trossit]

I just purchased a 15 round Mec GAR magazine for my 5906 from Galati International online. They offer a lot of magazines from their online website and it only took 3 days to arrive. Very impressed.

 

[Miami_JBT]

On average, I keep five mags per gun if they're strictly range toys. My social guns have more mags of course. I have about 25-30 8rd 45xx mags and I have a 4506-1, 4566, 4566TWS, WVSP 4566TWS, and a 645. So that equals about the same general layout for my range toys. My 4040PD, I have like six mags for it. My 909 is at four or five. My 6906 is like a fifteen. But that's because I kept my 5906 mags and got the grip spacers for them. Same with my 4013 TSW. My 3913 is at like eight magazines.

 

[cmansguns]

talk about mags "out of production"

I realize this post is about mags for S&W pistols out-of-production for a while and we are bemoaning paying $50 to $75 for an old original mag to some Flea Bay Seller.

For those of you that collect, shoot and enjoy mil-surp 1911A1's when is the last time you saw a genuine lip of floorplate marked C-R (Colt-Risdon), L (M.S. Little Co.), R (Risdon), or that ever elusive GS (General Shaver) for your classic WWII treasure at less than $100?

The days of shoe boxes full of these guys at local gun shows is long...long...over. I've even seen totally rusty specimens that wouldn't clean up with $50 stickers on them. Believe it or not some are showing up in antique stores marked as "vintage WWII memorabilia"....still priced out of sight, but that way they can get around booth owners association rules about no gun stuff.

If you have them....enjoy them....if you need or want one or two keep looking, but be ready to pay the fiddler.

 

[Green Frog]

Well, thanks to oldman10mm I've got a third "dedicated" mag for the Franken-Smith project gun, so that should be enough for even casual competition, and I still have the three with the 39-2 I can "borrow" if needed. Not that I wouldn't pick up a couple more at a favorable price.

Now to concentrate on getting sights I like installed and getting it to shoot to suit me.

Froggie

 

[mbliss57]

On average, I keep five mags per gun if they're strictly range toys. My social guns have more mags of course. I have about 25-30 8rd 45xx mags and I have a 4506-1, 4566, 4566TWS, WVSP 4566TWS, and a 645. So that equals about the same general layout for my range toys. My 4040PD, I have like six mags for it. My 909 is at four or five. My 6906 is like a fifteen. But that's because I kept my 5906 mags and got the grip spacers for them. Same with my 4013 TSW. My 3913 is at like eight magazines.

There is part of the answer. Many S&W enthusiasts including myself don't have just 2 mags per gun as issued.
I believe done have realized their inherent value as a commodity unto themselves and have many ( 100s) to supplement income. After all it's much easier to sell 5 mags at $50 each to anyone anywhere in the country ( almost anywhere) than to try to sell a used $909 or 457. The 2nd requires either a transfer or local buyer interested in a purchase who is local ( in my state.. it's even harder in many states)
So it then becomes simple economics of supply and demand. The $20 mag days for a used S&W are long gone. I would even say in certain cases you might pay as much for an oem mag as for the gun itself.


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[Miami_JBT]

There is part of the answer. Many S&W enthusiasts including myself don't have just 2 mags per gun as issued.
I believe done have realized their inherent value as a commodity unto themselves and have many ( 100s) to supplement income. After all it's much easier to sell 5 mags at $50 each to anyone anywhere in the country ( almost anywhere) than to try to sell a used $909 or 457. The 2nd requires either a transfer or local buyer interested in a purchase who is local ( in my state.. it's even harder in many states)
So it then becomes simple economics of supply and demand. The $20 mag days for a used S&W are long gone. I would even say in certain cases you might pay as much for an oem mag as for the gun itself.


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My HK SLB2000 cost me $800 NIB. The 10rd factory magazine cost me $250 NIB.

I purchased a second Star PD .45 for $400 since the gun came with four extra magazines. The OEM mags alone are usually about $80 a pop.