Pinned magazines - safe and reliable as factory mag??

[urbantitanium]

Hi,

I am in NJ and several pistols that I would like to purchase are not available with legal 15 round magazine. Several FFL dealers will gladly pin the factory 17 round magazines to 15 for me and they
swear they are just as safe and reliable as a factory magazine. But how can that be, if you are tampering and modifying it?

Should I just go the safe route and only buy a pistol that comes factory standard with 15 round magazines, like the Glock 19, Sig P226, P229, HK USP, HK VP9, Walther PPQ, etc??

Any thoughts??

Thanks in NJ!

[Hauptmann]

It depends on the gunsmith. I assume that he plans on just preventing the magazine from compressing far enough to load more than 15rds. Personally, I would just go with something that uses a 15rd mag. The list that you provided is a good start......just pick the one that fits your personal preference.

My personal off-duty carry gun is a Sig P239 9mm with a reload. Why would I use something with a 8+1 capacity?......because often comfort and convenience is king. I'm much more likely to carry it rather than my P226, thus it is more likely to be ready for the unexpected.

[rdtompki]

We have "pinned" mags for our M&Ps (9mm and 40cal). They work ok. One of our factory 10 round mags only holds 9 rounds. My 9mm H&K P2000 has factory 10 rounds mags which are really just 13 round mags with a different baseplate and these are far superior to the S&W mags. Answer appears to be "it depends". Worst case you may only get 14 rounds in a mag.

[TGS]

Google "mag block".

Work great.

[olstyn]

Every gun on your list is well regarded by a significant portion of the shooting community. You can reasonably expect any of them to be reliable and accurate. I'd say just buy one, shoot it, and be happy.

[psalms144.1]

Personally, I would never choose a "modified" magazine. If I was limited by capacity to 15 rounds, I'd look at the G19, P320C, or VP9 for strikers; the P226/9, P07, P30 or P2000 for hammer fired pistols. All come in with factory full capacity magazines of 15 rounds. The P229 offers the option of using Mecgar 15 round magazines as well, and the P2000 can be fed off P30 15-rounders from the reload pouch.

I'd be shocked if you can't find a number of GREAT options in that field of contenders.

[urbantitanium]

Thanks,
I handled the VP9 today and loved it. I still want to look at the Sig P226 though.

[Nephrology]

Also worth mentioning that Smith and Wesson makes OEM factory 15rd magazines for the M&P9.

[urbantitanium]

Nephrology,

Yes, but try finding them! They are OUT of stock everywhere, unless you know of a source??

[Hauptmann]

Thanks,
I handled the VP9 today and loved it. I still want to look at the Sig P226 though.

As a long time Sig owner and armorer, personally I would stay away from a new Sig. VP9 is hard to beat in this day and age.

[Nj Det 354]

If your looking at the Glock 17 the factory is working on 15 round mags. Also I don't know what part of Jersey you live in but I know one dealer who has pinned Glock 17 mags that are supost to be good. Private Messege me and I will give you his contact info.