Sten Mags in a Sterling(?)

[snake_bitten]

I heard that you can use Sten mags in a Sterling(?). I do not have a Sten mag to compare with my Sterling mag. What modification needs to be done? Thanks for all comments, SB

 

[Vegas SMG]

Yep, you can use unmodified STEn magazines in a Sterling, but you can't use Sterling mags in a STEn.

_________________
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

 

[Bob T]

No modifications needed.

You can also use the 50 round Lanchester magazines in the Sterling as well (or one of Bustoff's 60 round Sten mags).

 

[" Izzi "]

Wow...

What a great info that is!
I have both the Sterling and Sten long time, and never knew you could use the stenmags in the ling.
Learning every day when reading the Uzitalk forum.
Thanks.

 

[Traveler]

but you can't use Sterling mags in a STEn.

True... unless you make a simple modification to the STEN magazine catch retainer and the Sterling mag. Then supposedly you can uses both mags in both guns.

The inner arm is extended approximately .150" then filed so the feed horns just clear the rear of the mag. Then a second catch recess is cut into the mag.

The modified Sterling mag will click twice when it's used in a Sterling as it has two catch recesses instead of just one.

I can't get the mod to feed properly. Maybe it's just me. Others claim it works.




.

 

[Bob T]

Problem is the Sten is single feed, the Sterling double feed.

The Sten bolt would have to be modified to clear the Sterling mags feed lips.

 

[Whole Bunches]

Note: I have a Sterling SMG. A friend has a box of STEN mags (around 15 mags). We found that about 1/3rd the STEN mags were too tight to fit into the Sterling mag housing. Of the 2/3rds that did fit in the mag housing, about half presented the round in the wrong postion to chamber. Of those that fit and fed, no problems (other than STEN mags are harder to load compared to Sterling).

 

[Banshee]

Note: I have a Sterling SMG. A friend has a box of STEN mags (around 15 mags). We found that about 1/3rd the STEN mags were too tight to fit into the Sterling mag housing. Of the 2/3rds that did fit in the mag housing, about half presented the round in the wrong postion to chamber. Of those that fit and fed, no problems (other than STEN mags are harder to load compared to Sterling).

that has always been a problem with STEN mags, even in a STENGUN.

 

[mhpdblue]

that has always been a problem with STEN mags, even in a STENGUN.

So true......and so sad because Sten's are fun

 

[Banshee]

About 15 years ago I bought 30 STEN mags for $1.00 ea at a gunshow. 5 or 6 of them wouldn't fit in my STEN. I fitted them in a few minutes with a file.

 

[kanewtervalve]

I bought 30 Sten mags from Tapco awhile back for my Olympic Arms AR 9mm, found a wide range from total crap to almost new, the spoon loader works great almost impossible to load more than 10 rounds without it. I'll have to try the ones I marked bad and the ones marked good in my Sterling when I get it.

 

[chili17]

STEn mags make the sterling shoot more "choppy" to me if that makes sense. I have been able to get all of my STEn/Lanchester mags to work with a hammer and file. Trick is knowing which to use

 

[Staddle]

Lanchaster mag in a Sterling

I have a couple 50 round Lanchaster mags that I would like to use in a Sterling Mk 4. They fit in the mag well but will not click into place. Any advice on what I need to do to modify them? Thanks.

 

[sniperdoc]

Try fitting them with the bolt open. If they fit then, you need to remove a TINY bit of material from the mag notch, the portion nearest the "top" of the mag (where the cartridges are loaded, it can be confusing since the mags are sideways)

 

[Traveler]

A couple of things can cause that. One is if the mag is not going far enough into the mag well. The other is if the catch slot is not cut in the right place. You need to know which one it is before you modify the mag.

Put a snap cap or dummy round in the mag and check the position of it relative to the feed horns on the bolt. If the mag is in far enough in, pull the trigger and see if it will feed the dummy round. If it does, take the catch out and scribe the mag through the catch hole. Then you can cut the slot with a dermal.

If the mag is not going far enough in, trim the tabs so it does.

 

[Kramer]

About 15 years ago I bought 30 STEN mags for $1.00 ea at a gunshow. 5 or 6 of them wouldn't fit in my STEN. I fitted them in a few minutes with a file.

The joke back then was that Sten mags were so cheap they were using them as filler for packing boxes.

 

[sniperdoc]

Mine is a Wiselite Semi, but so far it eats what it's fed!

 

[Traveler]

One more thing.



The two on the left are Lanchester, two on the right are Sten.

See how the back of the Lanchester mags are not cut out like the Sten mags? That can keep the catch from going into the slot too. File them to look like the ones on the right and see if that helps.

 

[twistie]

The Aussie F1 smg http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=463 & the Aussie WW2 Austen http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=727 mags will fit a Sterling also.

 

[Hughjimbissel]

I had a handful of Sten mags to try in my MkIV but none of the 5 or 6 would fit in the magwell so, having a stack of actual Sterling mags, I shuttled the Stens off to friend to use in his SWD M11/9 conversion. With difficult loading and erratic quality control, I can't see it being worthwhile except under crisis conditions. Why try to use a marginal magazine design in place of a superior one?