AIWB P365X for USPSA carry optics/open

[JCN]

The Shadow follower and spring work great with positive dropping of mag and good lock back on empty.

One single mid mag jam on the lip with the flattest of flat nose ammo, but I want reliability.

Mag body so far is untouched, will do a little front lip shave and I think that’ll take it to 100%.m

EDIT: shaped front lip as a ramp.

[JCN]

32 round mags and metal forming pliers arrived.

This is the length I’m going to cut them down to.



The left sided mag can fit 21 rounds.

I would estimate that the 170mm Open mag would fit 25+ rounds.

Should be good enough to get on equal stage planning footing with CO.

First step is bending the tabs to see how much I should allow for cutting new ones.

[JCN]

After trying to bend the tabs straight on the bottom of the factory mag, it’s too stiff and small to work even with pliers.

So decided to use physics.


Cut long tabs to help lengthen torque arms and ability to make a 90 degree bend at the top lip.



Used a flat punch to make the 90s



Cut away some of the excess and left things long



Last step will be to trim surfaces.

Experiments will include whether the 32 round magazine and follower makes 20 round mags work better.

And whether the Lakeline follower and mags help reliability.

[JCN]

Open legal.

[JCN]

I’m getting 24 rounds with the stock 32 round spring. I could fit more if I cut the spring, but I want reliability and really only looking to get 23-24 rounds to match CO.



Going to go test if it works, but if it does then maybe that’s part of the solution for the stock mags.

More spring tension to overcome the nose dove.

If not, than Lakeline follower experiment.

[JCN]

@CarlK

So the 24 round magazine has a very stiff spring since it’s using the 32 round spring in a shortened body.

Works well even with metal flat nose (frangible sparks).

But…

Still nose dive chokes with polymer flat nose…

Which brings me to the conclusion that there’s just too much friction drag with the polymer noses and no amount of spring pressure will correct that.

So Carl, if you’re okay with it I’m just going to say that these mags are essentially incompatible with polymer flat nose.

If you really wanted to run flat nose polymer I’d recommend lubing them with a little silicone spray on the noses.

I think I have a good handle on the function otherwise. The 20 rounders are essentially under sprung.

Should be GTG with the Shadow springs if you don’t have draggy nose ammo.

[CarlK]

Thanks for doing all that work. Just a quick clarification- I never used polymer flat-nosed ammo. It was solely 124 and 115 gr ball ammo. It wouldn’t function with ball ammo so I didn’t even try with my preferred carry rounds - Winchester Ranger 147 gr or Federal HST 147 gr. (Both of these rounds are standard, jacketed hollow points.)

[JCN]

Thanks for doing all that work. Just a quick clarification- I never used polymer flat-nosed ammo. It was solely 124 and 115 gr ball ammo. It wouldn’t function with ball ammo so I didn’t even try with my preferred carry rounds - Winchester Ranger 147 gr or Federal HST 147 gr. (Both of these rounds are standard, jacketed hollow points.)

Okay good! What slide are you using (XL or regular) and RDS or no. I want to check your mags with the kind of slide and ammo you use.

[CarlK]

Okay good! What slide are you using (XL or regular) and RDS or no. I want to check your mags with the kind of slide and ammo you use.

Octane Z365 slide (basically a 365X slide) with 507K.

[JCN]

Octane Z365 slide (basically a 365X slide) with 507K.