New made metal STEN mags.

[xm15e2s]

Keep shooting is now selling newly made Sten mags for $14.95 with $6 shipping.

On sale. Normal price is $24.95

Anyone try these?

I just ordered one to try.

Ive got many Sten mags but it would be nice to have some that were exactly the same mag to mag with modern factory consistency mag to mag and new spring tension.

Hell if the test mag I get turns out to be very good I will sell my huge stash of original Sten mags.

Best part is that these new mags dont require hours of cleaning!

 

[patracy]

Hmm, might need to check that out. But I'd want to convert them for use on my lage upper.

 

[geeko9mm]

Thanks, I am going to order some.

 

[ferndog1]

I bought 3, after I tried them I ordered 4 more. I have used them in a MKII, MKV Sten and Stenling worked great. Wouldn't fit in my Lanchester, too wide. Also my mag loader (AuSten loader) is a tight fit.
I gaged them (feed lips) with an original Brit magazine gage everthing was in spec. These are the best Sten mags I have tried and I have 30+ original WWII Sten mags. The feed lips don't seem to spread (and change the feed angle) like the originals do. Very smooth (Teflon?) finish that no doubt adds to their reliabilty.

 

[xm15e2s]

I received my one test mag.

I have not fired it yet, only dry feed and tested so far.

Construction very nice.
Painted black. They say Teflon but I say maybe not. Its black and slick but scratches off a little too easy with metal on metal wear. Still OK though.
The inside body is also coated.
The spring is also painted/coated like the body. Spring is strong.
Floor plate is very nice and not painted and is marked correctly with OFF and arrow.
Follower is also painted/coated.
First impression is very nice mag. NOT like a cheap USAmag brand or crappy ProMag brand.

I do see a problem in the construction as far as with "MY" Sten using them.
The top round is a little too far back when in the feed lips. Normally the rim of the round is supposed to hit a portion of the inside rear spine and make room for the ejector.
Too far back and the round hits or touches my ejector.
On my test mag the round is back a little too far for my liking. Dont know yet if it will cause a problem.

More to come once I test it with live fire.

 

[xm15e2s]

update:

The test mag doesnt work well in MY Sten because the round is too far to the rear and that added to my ejector may be a little too forward.

See my other post in this forum.

Your results may vary and most likely should work well for you???

They are nice mags! The black paint is not a good idea and they should change to a park or blue finish. The paint comes right off with metal to metal contact like when you insert the mag.

They should just park or blue them and it would be cheaper for them to make and sell.

 

[D-boy]

I bought 4 mags. It took me about half an hour to "almost" load them using both Sten and Lanchester loaders, with gloves on both hands. I got 3 loaded and after half an hour I left about ten rounds on the table for the fourth because I gave up.

I'll let you know how they shoot and then I'll throw them in the closet where they will stay.

 

[Traveler]

The modified UpLula is the best loader I have found so far.

 

[D-boy]

The modified UpLula is the best loader I have found so far.

Is the "modified" UpLula something I can buy off the shelf or have to modify myself?

The other half of my story is that the mags fed flawlessly, of course they were only loaded and fired once each. Well, almost flawlessly - the springs were so strong on two of them that my bolt would not feed the first round (and I only load to 30) so I had to download a round (or three depending on how you count) to shoot. I am OK with that since they may break in, I can download to 29, or I can trim springs.

I just need to find a way to get ammo into these things before I buy more.

 

[Traveler]

Is the "modified" UpLula something I can buy off the shelf or have to modify myself?

You have to modify it. It's the universal pistol model.

 

[D-boy]

You have to modify it. It's the universal pistol model.

Are there instructions for modification of the Keep Shooting new manufacture Korean metal Sten mags? If so, can you please post them or link them?

 

[ferndog1]

I bought 4 mags. It took me about half an hour to "almost" load them using both Sten and Lanchester loaders, with gloves on both hands. I got 3 loaded and after half an hour I left about ten rounds on the table for the fourth because I gave up.

I have seven of those mags and using a Sten/AuSten loading tool, mine are no harder to load than original Sten mags.
Another post mentions the paint coming off ? I have not had either of these problems...BTW I have no association with the seller or manufacturer, I'm just a consumer.

 

[D-boy]

I have seven of those mags and using a Sten/AuSten loading tool, mine are no harder to load than original Sten mags.

Another post mentions the paint coming off ? I have not had either of these problems...BTW I have no association with the seller or manufacturer, I'm just a consumer.

Is that the one with the lever? I have to two types with the plunger. If the lever one makes the difference I will buy it.

But there is zero doubt mine are MUCH harder to load, like 10x as much. Evidenced by the fact that when loaded with only 30 rounds the first round won't feed. I've never had that problem with any Sten or Lanchester mag. That is due to the spring tension, but the former issue (loading) is due not only to spring tension but also top geometry in my case (evidenced by the mags not fitting in other members' guns in this thread).

 

[ferndog1]

Is that the one with the lever? I have to two types with the plunger. If the lever one makes the difference I will buy it.

Here is a picture of the loader... on far left. Other 2 that are similar will work also. The one on the far right will work, but not as good as the others.

Plunger? that maybe a Suomi coffin mag loader? Often sold as a Sten loader.

 

[D-boy]

Ferndog1 thanks for all the help. I ordered a Sten box loader from IMA. I'll keep a lookout for an Austen but not up for $150 just yet.

 

[xm15e2s]

I was able to trim my ejector back a bit and now these work great.

Im going to rate these mags as a MUST BUY!

These are US quality and priced low.

The only improvement I can see is I wish they were blued or parkerized.

 

[D-boy]

They aren't made in Korea? Please excuse me if I am wrong.

 

[ferndog1]

They aren't made in Korea? Please excuse me if I am wrong.

They sure look like the others made in Korea, finish etc. I know an local surplus importer that sells to Keep Shooting and he knows them. He said they have/had connections in Taiwan and Korea.
The local importer I know has imported carbine mags from Korea, but he wasn't aware of Sten mags, but I showed them to him and he said that they sure looked Korean made.
I have Korean 30-round carbine, Sten and Glock mags all work great.

 

[D-boy]

I like Korean mags for fun I was just mentioning I had somehow concluded these were Korean as well. I forget where I heard that now.

 

[Open Bolts]

I wish someone would make some quality Sten mags in 7.62x25 but these have my interest.