Shockwave Technologies Z-mag (beta) review thread

[Marty in UT]

I also wanted to add that we finally came up with an awesome finish for the mags: matte black zinc plating. You'll love this stuff. It's a super even, consistent flat finish that's just incredibly tough. It's also pretty slick, which means--combined with the polymer follower--you shouldn't ever have to lube the mags.

 

[Bukowski]

you shouldn't ever have to lube the mags.

That sounds amazing! Thanks for the update on the mags. Any chance you could post some pics of the new mag finish?

I have waited this long for quality, metal mags and I don't mind a little longer. If anything, this gives me more time to acquire more ammo to use in the mags.

 

[ChuckB]

I can't speak for anyone else, but as the son of a lifelong tool designer, I expected a couple months delay at minimum.

 

[Marty in UT]

I can't speak for anyone else, but as the son of a lifelong tool designer, I expected a couple months delay at minimum.

This is my first time working this closely with a tool and die maker. I'm learning a lot.

 

[American180]

Keep up the good work Marty, I'm sure they will be worth the wait.

 

[GUNMAN]

I also wanted to add that we finally came up with an awesome finish for the mags: matte black zinc plating. You'll love this stuff. It's a super even, consistent flat finish that's just incredibly tough. It's also pretty slick, which means--combined with the polymer follower--you shouldn't ever have to lube the mags.

So the pre-order mags will have polymer followers? I seem to remember some posts that indicated a change to polymer followers was going to be expensive, and wasn't going to happen during early introduction. Did I miss something? Since there are multiple threads related to these mags, I didn't go back and re-read them all to figure out when this change happened.

Polymer followers decrease friction with the bolt, which is a good thing, right?

Thanks,
Rat

 

[bac0nfat]

So the pre-order mags will have polymer followers? I seem to remember some posts that indicated a change to polymer followers was going to be expensive, and wasn't going to happen during early introduction. Did I miss something? Since there are multiple threads related to these mags, I didn't go back and re-read them all to figure out when this change happened.

Polymer followers decrease friction with the bolt, which is a good thing, right?

Thanks,
Rat

I think it went back and forth a few times, but what you're probably thinking of was how he shipped all the beta mags with steel followers. None of the production mags will have steel followers.

 

[Concorde]

Polymer followers decrease friction with the bolt, which is a good thing, right?

Polymer followers decrease friction with the MAGAZINE. The follower shouldn't be touching the bolt except that last cycle when the magazine is empty, and prior to that, it's only touching the last cartridge.

 

[GUNMAN]

Bacon & Concorde,

Thank you both for the clarification. You guys are great!!

Also, sorry for signing my post with my handle from a different forum. I was in a hurry this morning, trying to get out the door.

Regards,
Gunman

 

[medphys]

Could someone tell me the width of the feedlips (outside to outside) please? I'd also be interested in a pic of the bolt face looking through the ejection port with a mag inserted. Specifically I'd like to see how the feed lips fit into the channels on the bottom of the bolt.

Thanks!

 

[Gaujo]

So after a two-hour meeting with my metal-stamping guys--we had a lot of things to go over today--I walked out and drove away, when I realized I hadn't taken a single picture of all our nifty new tooling that's in progress. Sorry. I can probably have them shoot a few for me and email them to me next week.

Anyway, there have been a whole host of things that have delayed completing the production tooling: holidays, flu, other health issues, etc. Add to that, we decided to go with a progressive tool for much of the mag body itself. This "set us back" a couple of weeks in and of itself just on the mag body.

Long story short, it looks like we're going to be a month later than my previous "worst case" scenario of end of January. Meaning, end of February for 30-rounders and March for the 50-rounders to start shipping.

I understand if there is anyone who doesn't want to wait another month. Just drop me an email, and I can supply a refund immediately. For those of you who can wait the extra few weeks, it'll be worth it in the end.

My gun has already waited since 1984 for these mags, a month or two is a pittance ;-)

 

[Marty in UT]

Quick Update

I wanted to give everyone a quick update. The magazine body tooling is coming along quickly now. I'm very hopeful that February is going to be the month. (God knows we blew that January deadline right out of the water.) Here are a few pics of the tooling in progress.

Magazine body trim and pierce die in progress:

Feedlip forming tool halves getting there:

 

[bruh44]

Thanks for the update.

 

[American180]

Looks like your going all out to make a quality product. Keep up the good work.

 

[PDXsparky]

Nice seeing the progress. I'm glad I preordered a 6 pack. I'll bet I get them before I get the stamp I payed for back in April.

 

[bruh44]

So what's the word, can we expect to see the mags before the end of the month? I hope so I just sold all my Cobray and PAM2 mags.

 

[PDXsparky]

Nice seeing the progress. I'm glad I preordered a 6 pack. I'll bet I get them before I get the stamp I payed for back in April.

I got surprised with stamp last friday, so now I'm ready to be surprised with a package of mags in the mail, hopefully before April.

 

[MACER]

I got surprised with stamp last friday, so now I'm ready to be surprised with a package of mags in the mail, hopefully before April.

PDXsparky,
Just for my info, do you know what day in April you sent forms off? I sent forms off "May-20th-2013" Maybe give me a approximate date.

I'm waiting on a P.S. M-10/45. Will post pics when it comes in!

Thanks, MACER

 

[Jmacken37]

Marty those pictures are just too cool!

Jake

 

[davecz]

I preordered a 6 pack this weekend, love the pics of the tooling.

Ill probably have the mags months before the stamp comes in on my gun but I like to be prepared.

Excited to get into the FA game