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Thread: Sten 20-Round Magazines From Centerfire Systems

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member tj214's Avatar
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    Sten 20-Round Magazines From Centerfire Systems

    Read about this source here on MilSurps, ordered the 10-pack ($110 shipped), which arrived yesterday. None of the 10 mags or internals had ANY preservative on or in them , and all are rusted, some with considerable rust.

    Is this typical for these mags from Centerfire?

    I think they'll clean up reasonably well, but this is way outside my experience buying a couple dozen mags from other sources, all of which were heavily packed with cosomoline. I certainly want the 20-rounders since we've been having so many feed issues with the unmodified mags.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Peter Laidler's Avatar
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    Rusty magazines are nothing new, even with SLR/Bren magazines. Just degrease, light bead blast drop in the phosphate tank, paint, through an oven then an oil bath. They'll last another 30 years. Done zillions of them

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    Legacy Member tj214's Avatar
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    Thanks, Peter. Good news indeed!

    Now to figure out whether the feed lips are correct . . .

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    Legacy Member Vincent's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tj214 View Post
    Is this typical for these mags from Centerfire?
    For these ones, yes. The pictures on their site show they have rust. 10-Pack of 9mm Sten 20rd Magazines - Used


    I got some a while back. I tried one right out of the box without cleaning the filthy thing and it ran fine. Gave the rest a quick clean with WD40 and rags. They all worked flawlessly. They are by far the most reliable Sten mags I have. (I only load 19 rounds in them)

    There was a rusty MP38/40 mag in the last batch of these I got from them. I called and she asked if I wanted to exchange it or keep it. I chose to keep it since I could sell it for about the cost of the 10 Sten mags. Then I friend asked me if I was interested in a transferable C&R MP40. Well, I already had a magazine! How could I say no.

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    Another alternative, requiring less equipment, is petroleum jelly, spread it on, let it sit, then wash it off. Then paint with a high temp auto paint in flat back. I did this on some M-14 mags I ran across 20 years ago. The mags have held up very well. Of course, they are no longer in a combat environment.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vincent View Post
    Then I friend asked me if I was interested in a transferable C&R MP40. Well, I already had a magazine! How could I say no.
    My kind of logic, I've bought a rifle because I had a bayonet too...
    Regards, Jim

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    Sten magazines. Lips to be parallel and the bullet 'angle of presentation' to be 8 degrees. How do I remember all this guff after all these years........

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    Legacy Member AmEngRifles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    Sten magazines. Lips to be parallel and the bullet 'angle of presentation' to be 8 degrees. How do I remember all this guff after all these years........
    It’s how are career paths are chosen. If you could do the same thing with biological systems, you’d have been a surgeon! 😉

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    Most 20 round mags were done post manufacture in India.
    Due to feeding problems with the mags in India (for some reason) they went to the wires and while reducing the capacity from 32 rounds to 20 increased the reliability.

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