Triple-K Magazines

[Luke]

Has anyone else used the Triple-K stainless steel magazines for shooters?

Just used one this morning on a shooter Luger which is a little unpredictable in cycling, and it worked perfectly.

I know they look cheap, but the one I have seems to work much more smoothly than my Mec-Gar magazines. A sample of 1 proves nothing, so I would like to hear if anyone else has found the same.

Thanks,
Luke

[pipeman45]

I tried one in a colt AR-15 I have and I don't think I'll make that mistake again. Then again the pistol mags may be alright.

[Luke]

Although I haven't seen any of the other Triple-K magazines, the Luger version does not look like quality. It appears to be cheaply manufactured. However, the sliding action of the follower is much smoother than that of the Mec-Gar mags I have. I think it has to to with two things:

1. The Triple-K spring is a wide zig-zag spring which does not tend to bind as does the coil spring in the originals and in the Mec-Gar.
2. The follower appears to be made of nylon and slides up and down the mag tube smoothly with virtually no binding.

I am not becoming a Triple-K advocate; just looking for information.

Luke

[Rod WMG]

Originally posted by Luke
Although I haven't seen any of the other Triple-K magazines, the Luger version does not look like quality. It appears to be cheaply manufactured. However, the sliding action of the follower is much smoother than that of the Mec-Gar mags I have. I think it has to to with two things:

1. The Triple-K spring is a wide zig-zag spring which does not tend to bind as does the coil spring in the originals and in the Mec-Gar.
2. The follower appears to be made of nylon and slides up and down the mag tube smoothly with virtually no binding.

I am not becoming a Triple-K advocate; just looking for information.

Luke

Interesting observations. What little I've read about these mags has been negative. I, too, would like to hear more.


I suppose the price is listed on their site?

[Hugh]

I had a couple of older blued ones that were junk. I have a couple of the newer ones made of SS (I guess, or chromed anyway), they work as well as my Meg-Gars, just don't look as nice.

[Lugerdoc]

I agree that the newer 3K mags are of exc quality (stay away for the old "Mexico" marked ones) and come with a life time unconditional warantee. This is the same mag that came in the early US made SS Mitchell lugers and will also fit the PO8. I carry only the wood bottomed ones in stainless @$30 each and the blued black plastic bottomed ones @$20. TH

[Dwight Gruber]

Tom,

Do the new mags carry 8 shots, or only 7?

--Dwight

[Luke]

Dwight -

I can't be certain about the Triple-K mags that Tom carries, but I strongly suspect that his stainless version is the same as mine. Mine only holds 7 rounds. I'm not sure why they hold one round less than the originals. Some legal restriction, maybe?

Luke

[Dwight Gruber]

My WAG would be that the spring they selected only allows seven rounds at full compression. Poor engineering, if so.

--Dwight

[Luke]

Dwight -

Strange finding. I have two of the stainless models, one with plastic bottom and one with wood bottom. The plastic bottom mag easily accepts 8 rounds, while the wood bottom mag will only accept 7 rounds . . . no matter how hard I press on the top round.

My conclusion: The conceptual design, using nylon follower and zig-zag spring, is good engineering, BUT the implementation thereof is poor.

Luke

[John Sabato]

Luke, another fact to add to your Triple-K file. I recently had the chance to meet new forum member Markhepler... and examine his first Luger. Among the accessories was a magazine (stainless) with spot weld construction that is the earmark for Triple-K mags. He advised me that the mag functions in a virtual flawless mode at the range, BUT the holdopen operation is very erratic...

Upon removing the right grip, and examining the operation of the holdopen by this magazine compared to the other two original mags that he had, it became obvious, that the mag button on these nylon follower Triple-K mags is of a smaller diameter than a "standard" mag and unless the mag is manually pressed upward, it would not be a reliable source for engagement with the holdopen device. I suspect that his is true for all Triple-K mags of this type of construction...

How does the diameter of the follower button compare to your genuine original magazines?

[Luke]

Hi John,

Good observation. I have seen the same problem. The buttons on my two Triple-K mags are smaller in diameter, and occasionally the holdopen function fails after the last round.

One would think that the folks at Triple-K would get their act together, as they have a potentially good product. I like the stainless steel tube, the zig-zag spring, and the nylon follower. The current implementation, however, is less than satisfactory. Having said that, I cannot deny the smooth operation and lack of jams since I started using these mags.

Luke

[Luke]

Unbelievable ! ! ! One of these on eBay now has six bids and is currently at $56.00 ! ! !


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...540527700&rd=1

By the way, I believe that "lugerdoc" has them available - new - for around $30.00.

Help me out if I am mistaken in this, Tom.

Luke

[John Sabato]

I don't recognize the ebay user "handles" as members of the Lugerforum. Too bad they haven't researched the market before they start bidding on commonly available merchandise....

auction "frenzy" seems to get a lot of folks new to computers and the internet.