Will Mec Gar 5906 EX magazines function in a 4006TSW?

[Echo40]

Just a question for some of you folks who may own both. I've read that Mec Gar 5906 Extended Magazines will function in a 4006TSW, and if such is indeed the case, then I would like to pick up a couple of them since the standard 11 round magazines cost about as much as the Mec Gars do, but don't hold as many rounds.
Yes, I am aware that said 5906 magazines are designed for 9mm Luger rather than .40 S&W, but I've read that they will function in a 4006TSW, and specifically the TSW model only.

NOTE: I have no intention of using my 4006TSW for Self-Defense at all, (I have an SW40VE for that) it's a range gun, ergo the reliability wouldn't be an issue if it doesn't function 100% perfectly at all times.

EDIT -- 06/01/20: CONFIRMED (Details Below)

 

[4T5GUY]

Well they certainty “snap” right in, they hold the slide back, and they “shoot” right out when the mag release is pushed.

Don’t know about feeding though cause I can’t shoot in my backyard anymore.

Jim

 

[Echo40]

That information on it's own is helpful enough because it at the very least would likely indicate that even if they won't feed reliably, perhaps they could be modified to feed reliably.

If you have any .40cal Snap Caps to test out manual feeding, then I would appreciate it if you'd give it a try and let me know what the results are.

If it will reliably chamber a .40cal Snap Cap, then it will most likely feed live rounds reliably as well.

 

[4T5GUY]

Sorry I do not have any .40 snap caps. Heck less than a year ago I didn’t even own, (much less want a .40,) by any manufacturer.

Let’s just say I’ve “warmed up” to the wonderful S&W 3rd Gen offerings in .40.

Jim

 

[adrianolsen]

Make sure the ejector pad sits flush across the magazine feed lips

 

[Echo40]

So in the time since I posted this thread I found some Mec-gar 17-round 5906 Magazines online for $23 and decided to give it a go.

Upon receiving the magazine in the mail today, I can confirm that said 5906 magazines will fit/function in a 4006TSW with absolutely no modifications necessary, at least as far as hand cycling the ammo goes. It will be awhile yet before I can take it out to the range, so that will have to wait for a future update.

However, I can confirm that the Mec-gar 17-round 5906 Magazines will indeed fit .40 S&W cartridges without any modifications to the feed lips, the magazine will fit securely into the magwell of a 4006TSW, and rounds will manually feed from the magazine into the chamber when the slide is cycled or otherwise locked back to the rear then manually released with the magazine inserted.
Admittedly, my first two attempts to chamber a round did hangup on the feedramp, but a simple tap to the magazine caused the rounds to chamber, and subsequent attempts in which I was more conscientious about pulling the slide fully to the rear then releasing it as well as attempt to chamber rounds with the slide locked back then released were successful, ergo I attribute those first couple of hangups to myself short-stroking the slide.
Regardless, the magazine is at the very least adequate for range use.

Lastly, I was able to squeeze 12 rounds into rhe magazine before my thumbs gave out on me, but I'm confident that with the aid of a mag loader that the magazine could fit at least 13, possibly even 14 rounds of .40 S&W.

As previously stated, once I finally get a chance to go out to the range, I will report back with the results of how reliably the magazine functions, but with the threat of COVID-19 among us, many ranges in area are closed, so don't hold your breath.

 

[TNZ71]

I’m pretty sure the 9 and 40 magazines are dimensionally identical with the exception of a dimple protruding on the 40 to prevent inserting into a 9mm. But the followers are different.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

As an alternative, CDNN still has some factory 4006 magazines.

 

[Racer X]

As an alternative, CDNN still has some factory 4006 magazines.

But they aren't surplus $5.99 each either!

 

[Rule3]

Mecgar makes many of the OEM mags for SW and many others,

 

[pharmer]

If'n they don't work CDNN has what you're looking for @$20 ea + shipping. 5 for a little over $100 ain't bad. Joe
https://www.cdnnsports.com/media/ca...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/m/smi4006blue.jpg

 

[Sevens]

I’m pretty sure the 9 and 40 magazines are dimensionally identical with the exception of a dimple protruding on the 40 to prevent inserting into a 9mm. But the followers are different.

Hold up a second. I either agree or agree only partially, let's make the details clear. The outside dimensions, meaning -- will these two different magazine bodies insert properly and lock in place properly in either pistol (with the exception of the dimple made specifically to prevent this) then yes I agree that they are dimensionally identical when it comes to the rough outside dimensions.

However, the feed lips are absolutely different. If you look at a 4006 mag and a 5906 mag next to each other, you should be able to easily see the difference with the naked eyes.

I took my dial caliper and measured examples of each. For this test, I simply grabbed three of my (well used) 5906 mags and three of my (well used) 4006 mags. All orange follower for the 5906, two blue and one yellow follower for the 4006 mags. All mags are OEM S&W.

Feed lip dimensions at the rear of the magazine
range from 0.332" to 0.335" for the 5906 mags

range from 0.359" to 0.363" for the 4006 mags

Now then, will either mag work in either pistol, assuming the "prevent nipple" is removed, or, as in the case of the Performance Center PPC-9, the pistol itself ignores the prevent nipple and allows the magazine?

Perhaps... yes. I've certainly heard of folks who use the 4006 magazines to feed 9mm in the PPC-9. But in that case, you would be feeding the slightly smaller round through the magazine with the slightly wider feed lips.

Going the other direction and using the slimmer feed lipped magazine for larger rounds? This may also work, but this is a trick that I'll never try. I have no desire whatsoever to put the slimmer feed lips through the (potential?) punishment of feeding under the naturally violent feed cycle.

I might alter my position on the matter if either of these magazines were scarce, but these magazines are the antithesis of scarce. However, I do recognize that a larger-than-standard-capacity magazine for the 4006 seems elusive, if not completely not in existence.

But the magazines are absolutely different. And upon dissecting just one of each, the followers are completely different and the blue 4006 magazine follower gets jammed up and stuck if you even attempt to drop it under it's own weight in to the 5906 magazine tube. No bueno, no way.

 

[JohnHL]

I think it is curious that S&W designed the 40 mag so it would not insert in the 9mm, but not vice-versa.

Mistaking a 40 mag for the 9mm is no problem because 40 rounds will not enter the chamber of the 9mm.

Conversely, mistaking a 9mm mag for the 40 WILL allow you to pump 9mm rounds into the 40 barrel, setting up the possibility of a double, triple, or even, quadruple feed.

Something I hope never happens, but if it does, I would like to be watching from a safe distance.

Most off us are aware of the shotgunner's nightmare, the dreaded 20-12 kaboom!

It maybe time to enter a new term to the shooter's lexicon.

The 9-9-40 kaboom.

Be careful.

John

 

[Liftrat]

Well, I had a chance to try this out today. I bought a Mecgar 15rnd 5906 magazine to try in my 4006tswCHP, being intrigued by the idea. It fit in the pistol, fed rounds manually, and locked the slide open when empty. So, off to the range. I fired 50 rounds of a combination of lead SWCs and round nosed handloads through the pistol with no issues. Well, one; the magazine failed to lock the slide back once. Otherwise, good to go. The 15 round 9mm (the max available in my state) only holds 11 rounds of 40S&W, so no advantage there, but it's good to know it works.
Sevens is correct in that the feed lips are about .030" narrower in the 9mm, and that the blue 40S&W follower will not totally fit in the 9mm magazine, but, at least for me, the concept has validity. If a 17 round mag were available to me, I could see getting 12 or 13 rounds of 40S&W in it. And since I don't own a 9mm S&W, there's no concern of a 9-9-40, as it were. Consider it a pursuit of knowledge for knowledge's sake.