Want to Change Your 805 to the Czech Pattern Mag ...

[armoredman]

If there is a sufficient market response, I am willing to bet they'll import more original pattern mags. I am now looking for durable AR magazines for mine - MFT seems to work pretty well so far.

[AKToday]

armoredman -----try Lancer smoke (or clear too) 30 rd mags, you won't be disappointed.   They are tough and function great in any rifle I have ever tried.

[armoredman]

Looking local - I'll see if Lancer is a stocked product. Heard nothing but good so far.

[RSR]

Quick question -- can you easily convert back and forth from AR and "retro" magwells or is it a permanent commitment w/ the hole drilling?  My concern w/ the original mags is that with there being more than a few Scorpion Evo mags cracking even just sitting new on shelf unloaded, presumably these are of the same polymer composition...

The lancer translucent mags are neat and probably most appropriate considering the original, but generally you can save 25-40% per mag by going w/ the opaque version...  Opaque versions of polymer generally also have proven to be more durable in torture testing...  With mag inserted into an AR magwell, you can only see the bottom ~1/2 or 15-18 rounds or so anyways.

Botach has one of the better deals on Lancer mags, especially when accounting for free shipping and no tax if not in CA; 43 translucent smoke lancers in stock right now: https://www.botach.com/lancer-l5awm-5-56mm-magazines/
Translucent smoke @ 1-2 mags, per mag: $21.95
Translucent smoke @ 3+, per mag (10% discount): $19.76
Translucent smoke @ 7+, per mag (15% discount): $18.66

Opaque @ 1-2 mags, per mag: $15.95
Opaque @ 3+, per mag (10% discount): $14.36
Opaque @ 7+, per mag (15% discount): $13.56

You can combine multiple colors, including translucent and opaque, to reach the discount quantities.

Sportsmansguide has 3 mag package deals on opaque lancers too that aren't too bad of a deal if part of their buyers club and taking advantage of a free shipping promo...

Cheaper at botach are HK Smoke Translucent Stanag mags @ $15, no quantity discounts: https://www.botach.com/heckler-koch-hk-5-56mm-polymer-30rd-translucent-magazines/

Or

ETS Smoke Translucent @ $15 per 1-3, 4-6 @ $14 per, and 7+ @ $13 per: https://www.botach.com/ets-ar15-m4-translucent-5-56mm-30rd-magazines/
Main thing w/ ETS is they have a coupler option which allows you to link two mags together: http://www.defensereview.com/elite-tactical-systems-ets-ar-mags-coupling-capable-all-polymer-smoke-translucent-5-56mm-ar-15-rifle-magazines/

Don't have personal experience w/ either of these mags, but have seen really good reviews of ETS and what I've seen on HK have been sort of meh.  Also, both have thicker lowers than upper, so PMAG gen 3 reviews are probably a good guide for what weapons they'll fit.

[AKToday]

RSR ----- you can change back and forth on magwells if desired.    The pin hole just needs to be drilled in location of original pin holes from factory.    Once you send off the "retro" (EURO) magwell and have pin hole drilled in same location as one that comes on rifle, it is just a matter of punching pin out, sliding on magwell and reinstall pin.    Don't really know, but if you changed back and forth constantly, you might enlarge diameter of hole from wear.

[RSR]

Okay, so it's drilling a hole for a new lower to match the rear/trigger guard portion of the lower -- not the front pivot/takedown pin?  I read it as the latter at first...

[AKToday]

RSR  - you are correct, it is only the "stabilizing" pin hole that needs drilling to match.    It has nothing to do with the front pivot/takedown pin hole----it is already there on the "retro" (EURO) lowers.   The magwells will exchange and probably work fine without the "stabilizing" pin hole ---- but the military wanted it there for a reason---to make sure it doesn't move any.

[RSR]

Great info.  Thanks AKToday!

Saw this on slickguns -- smoke lancers for $15.29.
https://www.magcommander.com/products/lancer-l5-awm-30-round-223-5-56-ar-15-magazine-translucent-smoke?variant=1177019688

Shipping

Orders Under $24 Ship for $6.49 - Orders Over $24 Ship for $8.99

So 3 mags or more come out cheaper than Botach.  2 mags and shipping actually come out cheaper too.  Haven't ordered from MagCommander before however...

[mikec]

Shot Bren 805 with the retrograde conversion couple of separate times this weekend, at urging of my 9 year old.  Rifle functioned flawlessly, nice trigger, easy hits on a 200 yard target standing.  Gun is relatively HEAVY compared to my Sig 550, probably all the metal hardware attachment points they stuck on it.  Sig 550 mag is a more "polished" design and easier to get in and out of the rifle.  Gun heats up fairly quickly, as all .223 do, 60 rounds of fast fire and you can feel the radiant heat, but hand is separated by the bottom rail, so there is an air gap.  I moved the cocking handle on the right side to avoid any potential issues with hitting my left hand.  Worked great.  I will post some pictures if I can figure out how.

[armoredman]

That air gap on that bottom rail does certainly help with heat, doesn't it.

[AKToday]

If anyone is interested ----- there are 30 rd CZ BREN EURO mags for sale on GunBroker.com again.   Decent price and good guy to deal with.

[mikec]

There were 10 mags, now they are all mine, hehe..  promise not to grab any more.

[mattld]

I second that.  Gun Shop did mine too, excellent job, fast turn around, reasonable price, good communications, what more can you ask for?

I like the translucent CZ mags better.  Haven't tested them yet, but if there are anything like plastics used in Steyr AUG or Sig 550 series mags, they are far durable than any AR15 mags.

It's little bit of a pain right now that CZ USA sells only the "retro combo", 5 mags and mag well, so if you want 15 or 20 mags for your rifle you would have to buy 3 or 4 kits (and wind up with 3 or 4 mag wells) or scrounge mags from Internet few at a time.  Why can't CZ USA sell mags only??  And rather than "retro" they really are the "original" ones.  They are being politically correct, since Americans like AR style mags.

Assume you guys mean Superior Arms & Machine in Jacksonville, TX? That is the name of the gun shop that matches the name and phone number provided earlier. Any pictures of their work drilling the retro magazine support pin? Thanks.

[AKToday]

Hello Mattld ----- I assume any competent Gunsmith could do the work, but I have had several done by Superior Arms and Machine in Jacksonville,TX and they look like factory work.

[beanz2]

I switched my 805 over to the ?Euro pattern? magazine well and haven?t had my new magwell pinned at all.  It had been working well for ~300 rounds so far.  It isn?t my main rifle, but just a range toy at this point. 

Wonder what harm running it unpinnned?