Tech Note

October 2, 2000

TECHNICAL NOTE 22: OWNER CONVERSION OF M14 MAGAZINES TO AR-10 MAGAZINES

BACKGROUND: ArmaLite AR-10B rifle magazines are based on the proven M-14 rifle magazine. "Pre-ban" 20 shot M-14 magazines may be simply and legally converted to work in AR-10s.

Owner conversion consists of replacement of the magazine shell and follower with new components. Conversion is easy and reliable. The converted magazine continues to work in an M-14 as required by government regulations (although the bolt won't be automatically held to the rear when the magazine is empty). This conversion works only with high quality GI or Chinese-made M-14 magazines.

CONVERSION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Disassemble your M-14 magazine. Save the shell and follower as proof of conversion.

2. At the top of the follower spring, the end of the spring sticks out to the side. This material normally hooks into the M-14 follower. If used with the AR-10 follower, this section would rub on the inside of the magazine box. Cut the entire top coil of the spring off, leaving the new top straight across the front.

3. Insert the bolt catch trip spring and the bolt catch trip into the hole at the rear of the follower, with the beveled face of the trip to the rear and down. Make sure that the trip moves in and out of the follower without binding or catching.. Press the bolt catch trip into the follower and insert the follower about two inches into the new magazine box.

4. Place the follower spring in the magazine box so that the highest point is in the slot at the rear of the follower. Push the entire spring into the box, forcing the follower to rise, and hook the bottom of the spring into the magazine. As the bolt catch trip reaches the slot cut into the top rear of the magazine, it will extend from the magazine. When properly assembled, the magazine spring prevents the bolt catch trip from popping out of the follower.

If the magazine spring isn't installed so that it captures the bolt catch trip, the trip can pop completely out of the follower as the follower rises. If this happens, disassemble the magazine and try again. When everything is in place, install the floorplate.

Magazine assembly isn't as easy as it sounds. Some experimenting might be needed to get the magazine working well with your spring. Test the magazine by shooting the rifle.

WARNING: DO NOT HAND-CYCLE LIVE AMMUNITION THROUGH THE RIFLE TO TEST THE MAGAZINE. IT IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE AND DOESN’T GIVE A GOOD INDICATION OF MAGAZINE RELIABILITY.

MAW

Copyright © 1999 ArmaLite, Inc.