geen,
Nice looking 82. I haven't put rubber base pads on my 82 yet, as I've wanted to keep it stock, but I will have to add them and likely wood grips, too.
Can you clarify the difference between the mags with thin steel vs thick aluminum base plates? When I got my 82 in '12 most folks reported receiving two mags, one with the thin steel plate, the other with the thick aluminum plate. Both of mine came with thin steel plates.
Aren't the mags identical? It's my understanding it's just the base plates that are different, but I don't have a mag with an aluminum plate to compare. After all, the rubber base pad is a base plate, as it replaces the stock base plate.
I've confirmed that my 82 and .380 83 mags are interchangeable, the only difference being the Czechoslovak military acceptance mark on the 82 mags. Come to think of it, the absence of rubber base plates on my 82 mags tells me at a glance (and feel) that they contain 9 Makarov, not 9 Browning, should they ever get mixed up. If I install rubber base plates, maybe I should Krylon the 82 mags Commie Red?