Another one for the engineers!!! ......Luger mag shells! <IMG SRC="/luger/graphics/smile.gif" BORDER

John Sabato · 04-05-2002, 11:36 AM

of everday CRS or cold rolled steel and after forming the lips and flanges are probably heat treated to give them more durability. With today's manufacturing methods, I think that the spot weld process gives them superior rigidity over the old folded type magazines like for early lugers. I

don't think there is a sufficient demand for a particular alloy to be mixed just to make magazines. The only stainless type I am personally familiar with is 316, which I used to manufacture literally thousands of outdoor metal enclosures for electronics like traffic signals. It is plenty hard, dulls tools quickly, and is fierce to bend compared to CRS too, but anything made out of it will be lasting long enough for several generations to enjoy it.

Let's also not forget that the very best magazines for the M16 and AR15 class of rifles is made of aluminum! Magazines for combat use are designed to be throw-aways and that includes pistols. We as a group just happen to try and preserve them for historical and collector purposes...

Well that's the end of that combination brain-dump/op-ed.

regards,

John Sabato

04-05-2002, 11:36 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	G.T. This is just a guess, but I think that today's mags are made out of everday CRS or cold rolled steel and after forming the lips and flanges are probably heat treated to give them more durability. With today's manufacturing methods, I think that the spot weld process gives them superior rigidity over the old folded type magazines like for early lugers. I don't think there is a sufficient demand for a particular alloy to be mixed just to make magazines. The only stainless type I am personally familiar with is 316, which I used to manufacture literally thousands of outdoor metal enclosures for electronics like traffic signals. It is plenty hard, dulls tools quickly, and is fierce to bend compared to CRS too, but anything made out of it will be lasting long enough for several generations to enjoy it. Let's also not forget that the very best magazines for the M16 and AR15 class of rifles is made of aluminum! Magazines for combat use are designed to be throw-aways and that includes pistols. We as a group just happen to try and preserve them for historical and collector purposes... Well that's the end of that combination brain-dump/op-ed. regards, John Sabato