The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Smithy

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 10, 2022, 08:01 PM   #1
45flaco
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2017
Posts: 133
AR-15 magazine for wildcat

Hey guys. Newest wildcat cartridge feeds, cycles, and ejects great.
It's a shortened 308 case, necked up to .375 that is fired from an AR-15.
300 grain at 1000 fps for a spooky quiet subsonic, or a 200 grain at 2200 fps for a nice hog and whitetail load.

Problem is the mags. 223 mags don't work at all.
7,62x39 mags feed nicely, but because they're not quite wide enough to doublestack the 308 based cartridge, they bulge in the middle. This makes it a bit of an effort to insert into the gun, and ejecting a mag with rounds in it is nearly impossible.

I was wondering about a few solutions:
458 socom or 450 bushmaster mags.
The problem is, I'm not sure whether they're perfectly single stacked, or slightly staggered.
If I assume that they're trying to maximize capacity with a slightly staggered design, then they should work great.
But if they're designed to be perfectly single stacked, then the internal width is probably reduced, which won't help.

Anyone happen to know what AR mag would have the widest internal width?
Needs to be just slightly wider than the 7,62 AR mags.

Alternatively, any 7,62x39 mags that are actually built sturdy enough not to bulge in the middle?
The one I'm using currently is the "AR-stoner" brand
45flaco is offline  
Old July 11, 2022, 08:27 AM   #2
stagpanther
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 2, 2014
Posts: 10,929
My 458 socom uses a retro-fitted single-stack follower, you're in a tough spot so I would look for a similar cartridge of the same case width. Then you have to worry about how well it will feed--been down this road myself and it drove me nuts. The position of the feedlips as well as the sidewall ribs of the magazine will affect how the cartridges stack under spring pressure.
__________________
"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill
I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!

Last edited by stagpanther; July 11, 2022 at 08:32 AM.
stagpanther is offline  
Old July 11, 2022, 09:39 AM   #3
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,131
.458 SOCOM magazines are standard AR mags. Some people/brands put single-stack followers in them, but they still stagger with more than one round loaded.
Pretty much the same story with .450 BM.

Try Grendel mags, if you have a friend with some that you can borrow.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old July 11, 2022, 11:23 AM   #4
MarkCO
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 1998
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 3,934
Ditto on post #2 and #3.

Last few custom uppers I built for clients for larger case diameters, I had success with Stainless steel mag bodies. I'd machine out the ribs, tacking back in a small plate in the middle of the created slot, double wound springs and single stack .450BM followers.
__________________
Good Shooting, MarkCO
www.CarbonArms.us
MarkCO is offline  
Old July 11, 2022, 12:06 PM   #5
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 27,184
My solution, since you are using a modified .308 Win case would be to build the gun on the AR-10 chassis. The one made for .308 Win ammo.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is online now  
Old July 11, 2022, 01:48 PM   #6
MarkCO
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 1998
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 3,934
Quote:
Originally Posted by 44 AMP View Post
My solution, since you are using a modified .308 Win case would be to build the gun on the AR-10 chassis. The one made for .308 Win ammo.
Probably, but he appears to already have a rifle built, so that is not a viable solution to his current problem.
__________________
Good Shooting, MarkCO
www.CarbonArms.us
MarkCO is offline  
Old July 11, 2022, 06:16 PM   #7
10-96
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 19, 2005
Location: Tx Panhandle Territory
Posts: 4,155
When the 6.8 SPC came out I recall there being issues with bulging. Know anyone with a 6.8 stainless clip you can try?
__________________
Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day)

I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.
10-96 is offline  
Old July 21, 2022, 02:04 PM   #8
45flaco
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2017
Posts: 133
Quote:
Originally Posted by 44 AMP View Post
My solution, since you are using a modified .308 Win case would be to build the gun on the AR-10 chassis. The one made for .308 Win ammo.
It's based on the 308. But cartridge length is closer to 45 acp than it is to 308. It's even shorter than 223 by a fair amount, unless I use really heavy bullets.
An AR-10 would be way larger than needed, and would have it's own problems.
45flaco is offline  
Old July 21, 2022, 02:06 PM   #9
45flaco
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2017
Posts: 133
Quote:
Originally Posted by 10-96 View Post
When the 6.8 SPC came out I recall there being issues with bulging. Know anyone with a 6.8 stainless clip you can try?
I'll try to find one. I think I may just end up making my own mags from scratch, all the AR mags I've seen seem to be more disposable quality metal.
45flaco is offline  
Old July 21, 2022, 02:10 PM   #10
45flaco
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2017
Posts: 133
Quote:
Originally Posted by 10-96 View Post
When the 6.8 SPC came out I recall there being issues with bulging. Know anyone with a 6.8 stainless clip you can try?
Ignore my last statement, you are a genius @10-96.
I searched for stainless mags, and it looks like duramag sells a stainles 7,62x39 mag that has no rear rib. I'm betting this will work without modification!
Just ordered one.
45flaco is offline  
Old September 15, 2022, 06:37 PM   #11
45flaco
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2017
Posts: 133
Update! The duramag works flawlessly.
@10-96, you're awesome and probably just saved the project.
45flaco is offline  
Old September 16, 2022, 10:18 AM   #12
MarkCO
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 1998
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 3,934
^Great news.
__________________
Good Shooting, MarkCO
www.CarbonArms.us
MarkCO is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2023, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07408 seconds with 10 queries