Converting 1911 mags for use in your 'third gen' S&W

[Orsetto Lavatore]

I got bored today, and said to myself: "self, I bet you could make a 1911 magazine work in your S&W 4506!" ... "Don't be CRAZY self - you know those are two different guns" I replied.

Well, I happened to have a cheap chintzy "USA" brand 1911 mag handy, so I busted out the dremel and went to work. A few minutes later, I had it.

What did I have you ask? A functioning magazine for my 4506! It feeds cartridges flawlessly, activates the slide lock reliably, and ejects from the well with authority. See attached video of the function test:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OmM937IDGA"]YouTube - 1911 Magazine Conversion for S&W 4506[/ame]

The only 'catch' is that the last round position keeps constant pressure on the slide lock, so the slide locks back with one round still in the mag - you lose one round capacity. I'm working on a fix for that.

Anyhoo: I still intend to use S&W mags for this gun, but I though I would share this, simply because 1911 mags are so much more plentiful and so much cheaper. Its not an optimal conversion (YET) but it could come in handy in a pinch.

I will tinker with it until I get it perfect. I'm debating if I should take out the follower tab that activates the slide lock (and lose the last-round open feature) or if I should weld a piece of spent brass to the follower (keep the slide lock activation, but lose 1 round capacity).

 

[dom1104]

thats... impressive.

 

[Orsetto Lavatore]

I bent the tab on the follower down a little - that did it. Now it holds all 8 rounds, and still activates the slide lock.

 

[drgnrobo]

Very cool ,going to try that out with one of my junk 1911 mags .Ive got a s&w 645 & should work the same way

 

[Orsetto Lavatore]

Let me know how it goes. Only thing I have left to do is make a buffer for the floor plate, and I think this will be worthy of additional attempts.

 

[wetidlerjr]

The only 'catch' is that the last round position keeps constant pressure on the slide lock, so the slide locks back with one round still in the mag - you loose one round capacity. I'm working on a fix for that...

Did the round get loose or did you lose it ?

 

[Orsetto Lavatore]

I do that a lot. It's a bad grammar habit.

Thank you for your interest in my project.

 

[wetidlerjr]

I do that a lot. It's a bad grammar habit.

Thank you for your interest in my project.

It is interesting. Keep up the good work.

 

[Bluedragon]

That is pretty cool. I am a fan of the 3rd gen Smith's but I have never messed with any of the 45 caliber models. Still that's cool you were able to convert mags for it. Thanks for sharing.