Compatibility of TSO Magazine tubes of 9mm and 40 magazines?

[Capt. Chuck]

I am going back to RI from Florida where they have recently passed a law restricting magazine capacity. Prior to going there I need to find some 9mm TSO magazines which is just about impossible. I have searched everywhere with no results. I have been able to locate a few TSO 40 magazines. My question would be do they both use the same magazine tube with different internals? If so I was thinking of buying the 40's and changing out the guts with 9mm internals. The only other issue might be the feed lips? Would anyone be able to answer these questions with certainty.

I know that I can magblock them or rivet them but I'd prefer not to go that route. Thanks in advance for any anticipated replies.

Please email me with any suggestions as I am new!!

[Wobbly]

Strange first post, but Welcome from Georgia.

Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the sticky posts in the 'New Members' Forum and also the 'Important Information' sub-section.

[Capt. Chuck]

Hello Wobbly,

I have been lurking in here for many months after trying to register. I thought my registration was unsuccessful until I gave it a final attempt yesterday and found that I was registered all this time but I guess my password was incorrect. As you suggested I read the pertinent sections of the rules for new members and edited my first post. Hopefully I am now in compliance.

During my lurking period I noticed that you possess a great knowledge of many of the subjects covered in this board so I respectfully ask what was strange of my inquiry? Normally I would not go in that direction as I always get whatever is necessary to properly participate in this sport. The problem here is I cannot find any 9mm TSO magazines despite months of searching. Now as time my gets shorter in this free state of Florida I have no magazines to take back to RI with me. Sure I could take 3 of my six existing 20 round magazines, magblock them, and then epoxy them shut so that they can never be opened again. I shoot a tremendous amount of rounds weekly and know that the day will come where those mags will need spring changes. The epoxied in place base plates will not allow me to do that which means they will have to be discarded to the trash heap. To avoid that happening I have researched getting 40 cal., 10 round TSO magazines which are readily available. I would never do this under normal circumstances as I know they will most likely not be as reliable as 9mm mags. I do not compete other than with my friends as I am too disabled to enter any competition circuit. I do not use this gun for CCW so reliability is not an issue. My question seeks to find a reasonable and legal way to solve my problem as I  love shooting my TSO. I have perused various forums where I have learned that people have successfully done this with Glocks, but I know doing this with CZ may be a whole different ballgame.

So I thank everyone for their patience and look forward to any advice or recommendation. This is one of the few times I have asked for information. Most of the time I am an information provider on the forums. I'm very glad to be here because it is a great forum.

[tdogg]

So do you have calipers to measure the feed lip width on your 9mm magazines?  I'm guessing that would be the difference between the 9mm and 40 variants.  I don't own a 9mm variant but have 12 40 cal TSO magazines.  The 40 Cal lip width is 0.385 +/- .005 ish.

I doubt there is anything different with the follower and spring, so the guts should be the same.

I'm guessing your fine with the 40 caliber magazines.  I know the new Mecgar 17rd afc shadow 2 magazines work for both calibers, they have 9mm witness holes on one side of the tube and 40 numbers on the other side of the tube.

Welcome to the forum!

Cheers,
Toby

[himurax13]

I am going back to RI from Florida where they have recently passed a law restricting magazine capacity. Prior to going there I need to find some 9mm TSO magazines which is just about impossible. I have searched everywhere with no results. I have been able to locate a few TSO 40 magazines. My question would be do they both use the same magazine tube with different internals? If so I was thinking of buying the 40's and changing out the guts with 9mm internals. The only other issue might be the feed lips? Would anyone be able to answer these questions with certainty.

I know that I can magblock them or rivet them but I'd prefer not to go that route. Thanks in advance for any anticipated replies.

Please email me with any suggestions as I am new!!

The first gen Tactical Sports and TS Orange 9mm mags and .40 mags are not compatible. The feed lips have different dimensions.

[Capt. Chuck]

Thank you Tdogg and Humirax for your input. I'll be measuring those feed lips shortly and let you know what I find.

[Capt. Chuck]

Just checked the 9mm mag feed lip dimensions and they are .362. While I was checking it I took a .40 cal piece of brass and it fit in there perfectly and at the proper feed angle. I'm thinking it may work. I have ordered a .40 TSO mag. When I try it out I'll let everyone know. I'm finding it hard to believe that I am the only one with this problem. Hopefully this info no mater which way it goes will be helpful to others.

[WW Martin]

I checked a TSO 9mm and the opening at the feed lips was .355-.358. The opening in the TS 40S&W is .376-.379. Measured at the back and front.
The bodies both were .862-.865 wide. The 9mm has .020 deep ribs the length of the magazines two to a side, I imagine to center the ammunition in the magazine. So the follower would need to be narrow or gruved to accommodate. The 9mm wants to feed straight out through the top of the 40S&W magazine. In my opinion I'd try to to find the proper mags.

Bill

[Capt. Chuck]

Thanks for your suggestion and measurements WW Martin. I have been trying to find them since the RI law went into effect (last December) with no luck whatsoever. It is my hope that someone will read this and alert me to where I can find them or give me an alternative solution. I love my CZ but I have to tell you I am very disappointed with their supply chain. Hopefully it will improve.

[WW Martin]

Brownells lists a 10 round mag for the TS 9mm. But are out of stock. You could put your name on the notify when in stock list.

Bill

[gunzip]

As a test, I loaded 14 rounds of Speer 9mm into unused 40S&W TSO mag and cycled them thru a 9mm TSO.

All worked well.  But, when the same ammo was loaded into a used 40S&W mag the rounds wanted to jump out past the mag lips.

It looks like the mag lips will be the first issue in using 9’s in the 40 mags.

[Capt. Chuck]

Thank you again WWMartin for your suggestion. I have covered those bases by sending all website that normally carry those mags to notify me.

Gunzip that was very kind of you to try that. I was hoping that somebody would. I have a new .40 magazine coming tomorrow. You have given me new confidence that it will work. Since it will never be used for .40 I think the feed lips will not get wider. I'll let everyone know.

[Capt. Chuck]

My .40 cal TSO magazine finally arrived yesterday and I took it to the range today. I loaded it up and it seemed to hold the 9mm rounds quite well. They also appeared to be at the correct feed angle. The only problem that it holds 13 rounds. I am mag limited to 10 rounds. So this mag will not solve my problem. I'll be sending it back tomorrow. Wish I had better news to report.

Thanks to all.

[Bhert213]

Dude?    Springer precision has TSO 9 mags 20rd in stock.   

[Capt. Chuck]

Thanks Bhert but I need 10 round mags not 20 thanks to the State of RI.