Hi all,
First a preface: The following is intended to convey how I did it (or what worked for me) not a “how to do it”. I think that statement necessary because manufacturing tolerances could mean that things that work in my pistol might not work in yours. If you want to try this in your pistol please proceed at your own risk.
Here is some info on the flush fit magazine.
The magazine I am using is from Metalform: (the blued version of this):
Metalform Pistol Magazine
I bought it from Brownells ($16.16 at the moment): METALFORM : .45/Officers ACP Blue 7 Rd. Nylon Follower w/Welded Base (620-245-117) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools The base wasn't welded, but is not removable.
*note: you need to log in at Brownells to see their discounted pricing.
The magazine may or may not lock into place as it comes. If it doesn’t, the fit can be adjusted by removing some material from the top of the latch window (cut out) on the right front of the magazine. Do this slowly, checking often for fit. Once the magazine locks in place, make sure it does so fully. If it doesn’t you may need to remove material from the other surfaces of the latch window.
NOTE to P45 owners: The modified magazine may fit closer to the bottom of the frame in your guns than it does in the CW45. I don't have a p45 to confirm this, but it certainly appears so in LSP972's post: http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=58903&postcount=94
This may (or may not) require a little work on the bottom of the frame to accommodate the magazine.
Once the magazine locks into place, the top of the magazine must be adjusted to clear the bottom of the slide and extractor. Do this by removing material forward of the feed lips. Again, do this slowly, checking often for fit.
YouTube - Why Officer's magazines need to be modified to work in the Kahr CW45
Note: See VAguy's post for some excellent tips on doing these modifications - http://kahrtalk.com/36325-post35.html
Here's a shot of an unmodified Officer's magazine, the modified Metalform magazine, and a Kahr magazine:
Here are the modifications:
The amount of material that needed to be removed:
Profile of the unmodified Officer's magazine and the modified one:
Top view of the modified magazine (left) and a Kahr magazine:
Round position (Kahr on the left, modified magazine right):
I prefer to have the slide lock back, so I'm going with a Kahr follower and spring installed in the modified officer's magazine (6 round capacity). Here's a photo for comparison (modified magazine with Kahr internals left and a stock Kahr CW45 magazine on the right):
YouTube - CW45: hand cycling from a 7 round, modified Officer's magazine
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Alert: camsden1 reports that certain Mec-Gar magazines have a follower that will lock the slide back: http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=40290&postcount=63
wyntrout posted info on where to find these magazines:
*I now (01-07-2011) have one of these magazines and the slide does lock back during manual manipulation. However, I had multiple instances where the slide failed to lock back during live fire drills. This might be do to tolerance stacking in my CW45 compared to camsden1's gun. I still think the magazine worth a look. If it does work consistently in other guns, all is good. If not, the Kahr follower and spring can be installed in the tube.Originally Posted by wyntrout
*Revisited this magazine (8-2-2011) and removed a little more material from the top of it. Tested it at the range and it worked as per camsden 1's report.
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Other posts/threads to see:
Seven rounds and lock back with the Wilson mag rebuild kit -
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=67867&postcount=113
Adjusting Chip McCormick follower to lock the slide back - http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=77503&postcount=158
Modified Kahr magazine (shortened with with Kimber base plate) -
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=82170&postcount=188
CW45 7Rd Flush Fit MAG that locks 100% - http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7813
Regards,
Greg
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