making inexpensive 50 beowulf mags

[bolus]

I doubt this will pertain to many people but just in case. I got a Alexander arms 50 beowulf upper recently. The upper comes with one magazine. Replacement mags are hard to find, cost in the $26-30 range. And many people complain about the tilting follower that likes to stick.

Turns out the magazines are just metal AR magazines with slight modifications.

the only difference is the front lip of the magazine has been ground down so that the head of bullet does not catch when chambering.

Here is the alexander arms one on the top and my modified one on the bottom


The red line here indicates where I had to modify


Finally, replaced the follower with a magpul self-leveling follower so it does not tilt and get bound up when putting in rounds



So a $30 mag can be made with a <$7 metal AR mag like one of these
<broken link removed>

with a non-tilting follower for about $1.80 each
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/23...-magazine-follower-ar-15-polymer-package-of-3

I did try a PMAG but the polymer is just not strong enough to hold the rounds in place and it starts to bow out.

Read More

 

[Stomper]

Well done!! I make mags for my .308 Galil by modifying M-1A/14 mags with a Dremel and spot welding hand filed/ground front/rear lugs to them, because factory mags are as scarce as hen's teeth, and SPENDY.

I can't say I'm a fan of plastic mags, and only use USGI/STANAG mags in my AR's, including my 6.8SPC (with a 6.8 follower). I've NEVER had any issues with one in 30-yrs since I first laid hands on an M16A1 in basic training.

I've had a macked-up AK47 mag that was corroded just enough inside at the middle that you could only put 7 rounds in it before it goobered up.

 

[IronMonster]

How do you like the beowulf? I have a friend who has one who has tried and tried to talk me into buying it. He wants like a grand though (it does come with a few mags and some ammo)

Seems like it would be fun, but I dont know that I would shoot it enough to justify having it.

 

[bolus]

How do you like the beowulf? I have a friend who has one who has tried and tried to talk me into buying it. He wants like a grand though (it does come with a few mags and some ammo)

Seems like it would be fun, but I dont know that I would shoot it enough to justify having it.

Just got the upper a few days ago and ammo and the lower yesterday. So my only experience is loading mags so far. at $1.50 a round I wont be shooting it too much, but I wanted a 50 caliber something and this was the least expensive way I figured out how to do it.

 

[Stomper]

Hey Doc, $1.50 is half the cost of some .50BMG rounds I've been seeing on sale lately.... You should get a .50BMG single-shot bolt-action upper for your AR too.

 

[IronMonster]

Shoot, $4 a round for the .50 BMG is cheap. Try buying ammo for your 20mm Anzio

 

[Stomper]

LOL... You should change your screen name to "Iron-one up ya- Monster".

 

[bolus]

Hey Doc, $1.50 is half the cost of some .50BMG rounds I've been seeing on sale lately.... You should get a .50BMG single-shot bolt-action upper for your AR too.

I'd love a Tactilite upper but a bit out of my price range now

<broken link removed>

 

[IronMonster]

Yeah I have looked at the Tactilite, I think as far as drop on .50 BMG uppers its the one to have. I think if I had a good place to shoot it I could come up with the dough but right now it seems pointless to tie the money up in one simply because I have no good place to play. If you dont have 1000 yards at least its not really .50 worthy

 

[Stomper]

Are those AR15 or AR10 lower compatible?

 

[bolus]

on the other end of the price spectrum, apparently this is a thing:
26 round mag.

 

[Stomper]

That thing must weigh what, 15 lbs?

 

[bolus]

I dont even know how you would reach around it to hold the gun. Perhaps you just hold it to your chest and hug it.

 

[Stomper]

LOL.... 'Merica!!

 

[bolus]

Went out shooting today the last few rounds in the mag are snagging on the lip of the brass. Rounded it out with the dremel and it should be fine now. even did this with the factory mag.



After

 

[zephyrnyc]

... I did try a PMAG but the polymer is just not strong enough to hold the rounds in place and it starts to bow out.

Is it impossible then to convert PMAGs with windows, or PMAG40s to .50 Beowulf mags? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Idahobound]

I doubt this will pertain to many people but just in case. I got a Alexander arms 50 beowulf upper recently. The upper comes with one magazine. Replacement mags are hard to find, cost in the $26-30 range. And many people complain about the tilting follower that likes to stick.

Turns out the magazines are just metal AR magazines with slight modifications.

the only difference is the front lip of the magazine has been ground down so that the head of bullet does not catch when chambering.

Here is the alexander arms one on the top and my modified one on the bottom
View attachment 211236

The red line here indicates where I had to modify
View attachment 211237

Finally, replaced the follower with a magpul self-leveling follower so it does not tilt and get bound up when putting in rounds

View attachment 211238

So a $30 mag can be made with a <$7 metal AR mag like one of these
<broken link removed>

with a non-tilting follower for about $1.80 each
Magpul Enhanced Self Leveling Mag Follower AR-15 Polymer Yellow Pack

I did try a PMAG but the polymer is just not strong enough to hold the rounds in place and it starts to bow out.

Does the non-tilt follower you reference have to be caliber specific? Thanks so much for sharing your experience modifying cheap mags for the 50 Beowulf round! What a great idea!

 

[Idahobound]

Does the non-tilt follower you reference have to be caliber specific? Thanks so much for sharing your experience modifying cheap mags for the 50 Beowulf round! What a great idea!

And thanks for getting back with the follow-up fine tuning you did rounding out the front after you tested your creation and fixed the bullet case hanging up problem

 

[bolus]

Does the non-tilt follower you reference have to be caliber specific? Thanks so much for sharing your experience modifying cheap mags for the 50 Beowulf round! What a great idea!

mine were 5.56. the rifle was still picky on what mags it liked

 

[Idahobound]

Thanks for answering again. We're all your mags of the same variety mil spec metal AR15 variety? I want to make sure I'm understanding what you are saying. If there is one better to modify over the other or if you modified a few of the same type but still experienced feed problems even though they were same type mags to begin with?