Shockwave Z-mags in STEn?
- Thread starter Slowmo
- Start date
I don't think it has the catch in the right place, but I'm curious if it could be added to the magazine or a modified magazine well could be used.
I mainly was wondering because Tapco used to sell Sten magazines that worked in MPA's MAC-based pistols too (MPA still sells them). That made me wonder if Shockwave magazines that work in a MAC could be used in a Sten.
I mainly was wondering because Tapco used to sell Sten magazines that worked in MPA's MAC-based pistols too (MPA still sells them). That made me wonder if Shockwave magazines that work in a MAC could be used in a Sten.
Landric
Well-known member
I don't have, and have never had, a MPA. That said, I believe the MPA MAC pistols use a STEN magwell. That is why the Tapco STEN mags work in them. The STEN magwell conversion was once a popular mod to the M11/Nine and M10 back when the regular 9mm mags were either hard to get/expensive (Walther mags) or junk (Zytels).
Thanks, a lot of my thinking was based on the apparently incorrect assumption that the MPA pistols use the same magwell. Sounds like there is no reason to think a Shockwave magazine would work in a STEN without substantial modifications.
It would be interesting project to take a STEN magazine well and cutoff the original well and weld on a M11 grip. If you were going to hold the gun by the magwell, it would provide a larger gripping surface without holding the magazine itself and presumably allow one to use Shockwaves in the Sten.
It would be interesting project to take a STEN magazine well and cutoff the original well and weld on a M11 grip. If you were going to hold the gun by the magwell, it would provide a larger gripping surface without holding the magazine itself and presumably allow one to use Shockwaves in the Sten.
Slowmo,
It can work. I made a new mag latch that replaces some of the STEN parts and now I only use Shockwave magazines in my STEN because they are easier to load. Also the 50 rounders work. It took a lot of trial and error to figure out the right geometry so that the magazine latches in the correct position to feed but it is possible.
It can work. I made a new mag latch that replaces some of the STEN parts and now I only use Shockwave magazines in my STEN because they are easier to load. Also the 50 rounders work. It took a lot of trial and error to figure out the right geometry so that the magazine latches in the correct position to feed but it is possible.
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If there were an enterprising talented welder who had access to a supply of STEN magazine housings, he could fabricate for sale a housing modified for using some other available magazine style. I'm reminded of the Chinese 7.62x25 Tok STEN parts kits that came into the country in the 90s. Those used Pps43 mags, which will feed 9mm. But good luck finding one of those mag housings anywhere.
I imagine a newly available Glock-adapted replacement mag housing would be a big hit. I'd buy one for sure! Hell, as long as they're at it,...manufacture some new bolts in .45acp or .40/10mm and heavier recoil springs to go with the larger Glock mag conversion, and breathe new life into those lovely little beasties.
Ooooh,...I'm getting a stiffy.
I imagine a newly available Glock-adapted replacement mag housing would be a big hit. I'd buy one for sure! Hell, as long as they're at it,...manufacture some new bolts in .45acp or .40/10mm and heavier recoil springs to go with the larger Glock mag conversion, and breathe new life into those lovely little beasties.
Ooooh,...I'm getting a stiffy.
I have one of those 7.62x25 set ups and tried it in 9mm but it didn't feed most of the time. I'd get a few rounds to go then it would jam. I think that it's because the round is short for the magazine and the 9mm ramp is steeper. Maybe it was just mine though it did feed the 7.62x25 ammo and 7.63 Mauser just fine. I don't know, I gave up quickly as I only had two of the special magazines.
I like the idea of a Glock mag well. Those 33 rounders are cheap and plentiful.
I like the idea of a Glock mag well. Those 33 rounders are cheap and plentiful.
I also think that the rearward rake of the Glock mag conversion would give a better balance to the whole thing vs. how it currently wobbles with all that weight hanging out to the left. The Glock mags not only weigh less, but by angling rearwards, the last round in the mag at the bottom wouldn't be extending out so far. Mathematically, that means less weight leveraging to cock the whole thing counterclockwise. And I would be curious to see if the recoiling sight picture would be better as a result. I know my STEN just does figure-8s through the target, no matter how tightly I try to hold it, and I'm convinced it has much to do with that weight hanging out so far. As the mag empties, the phenomenon is less pronounced. I don't experience this with my Sterling, but it also isn't engineered as crudely, and I'm sure that makes a huge difference.
But yeah,...having a spare Glock adapter would allow you the modularity to use cheap plentiful lightweight mags, while not requiring the permanent alteration of the weapon or degrading it's collectable or historical value. I think that would be worth a few hundred bucks.
I agree,...but,...for the STEN to feed from a double-column mag like an Uzi mag, the STEN bolt itself would need to be milled on and have dimensions changed in order to clear the mag and still scoop a round out of the top. And that would lighten the bolt and increase the cyclic rate and cause other issues. And if you're going to start doing all that, you might as well just start making an entirely different weapon.
Correct. For the 7.62x25 STEN kits that utilize the PPS-43 mag and magwell, those STEN bolts are modified in exactly this way. If so inclined to do all that, you'd want to utilize the best SMG mag ever...the Sterling.
Once upon a time when I had one of those 7.62x25 kits -and- the thought of using a Sterling mag with one of my STENs, I swapped PPS-43 magwell for the original STEN magwell and kept the 7.62x25 bolt in place. I thought it would work, because why not?...the STEN mag fits up and works in the Sterling.
IIRC, the Sterling mag fit the STEN magwell fine, but wouldn't completely seat in my STEN b/c the actual cutout in the tube itself was too narrow to allow the wider (at the top) Sterling mag to seat. At that point I decided not to cut on / modify one of my registered tubes...and that the original single-position feed STEN magazines would be just fine.
Good luck.
StenAtopia
Well-known member
Sent you a pm. Curious as I’d like to do this as well. Would love your input. Thank you.
I'm away from home right now. I'll take a photo or two and share them when I'm back. I had to try more than several times to get the geometry right. The latching isn't the best and I'm still not liking the ergonomics of the latch but the mags are a lot easier to load.
My mind keeps going back the the Glock magazine adaptor idea that atfsux suggested. As long as the STEN has a single feed bolt you are stuck with single feed magazines (I tried really hard to think of an idea to make the Sterling or Soumi mags work I can't come up with one). The Glock mags are probably the best solution given their cost and availability. I bet a 3D printed adaptor could work.
My mind keeps going back the the Glock magazine adaptor idea that atfsux suggested. As long as the STEN has a single feed bolt you are stuck with single feed magazines (I tried really hard to think of an idea to make the Sterling or Soumi mags work I can't come up with one). The Glock mags are probably the best solution given their cost and availability. I bet a 3D printed adaptor could work.
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StenAtopia
Well-known member
Great. Thank you sir.
StenAtopia
Well-known member
When you say geometry? More or less the mag height or a side to side thing? I was thinking of ordering a Sten magwell. Cut off a portion of the mag insertion part, just leave a section for the plunger assembly and weld a m11/9 magwell onto it?
So I knew I couldn't possibly be the first guy to think of using single-feed Glock mags in STENs, and that SOMEBODY must have played around with the idea already. So I did a little bit of Google sleuthing on the interwebs and came up with a CAD file some dude worked up back in 2019 for a 3D printed replacement magazine housing for the STEN utilizing Glock mags. That file can be found HERE.
I don't know how resilient it would be in plastic, although that would be a cheap way to try it out as a proof of concept, perhaps tweaking it here and there to improve upon it before moving on to having it made via metal additive manufacturing techniques (aka 3D metal printing).
I don't know how resilient it would be in plastic, although that would be a cheap way to try it out as a proof of concept, perhaps tweaking it here and there to improve upon it before moving on to having it made via metal additive manufacturing techniques (aka 3D metal printing).
StenAtopia
Well-known member
So I have been very eager about this. A couple issues came up. Number one. The Sten mag is about 1.513” wide. A Shockwave is about 1.360 wide. So a spacer will need to be put in towards the front of the magwell that will push it back which in return pushes the mag further from the chamber as compared to a Sten mag which is far away enough. So my speculation in respect to a Shockwave mag working would be to push it more forward to the chamber and either move the ejector forward or add a blob of weld to it, reshape it and that will correct ejection. Plan “2” a standard m11/9 magwell is very close to fitting inside a Sten magwell. So if I can fit a magwell inside, figure out the mag height and adress the ejector then I should be GTG. Time to order some parts. I will report back.
Awesome!!!
This is all I need, another project!
I can’t wait to try this. I’ve got a lot of things I’m currently working on but I’ve always wanted to use glock mags with a Sten.
Thanks for posting.
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