Painting Mags

[Ex PVT Ryan]

The new SAR-1 I got today came with 3 mags. The first two I opened in the store and had some finish wear, third I opened at home and it was new (probably the one from CAI). All three were shiny and had the rib down the back (origin?) Anyway, I'm looking at these two worn ones and the finish itself is really shiny, I don't really like it. Any thoughts about somehow stripping the finish and hitting it with some flat black paint (BBQ Paint?). Can I go right over it as is?

[weevil]

The European ones are ribbed, which country is anyones guess. I've got some that are supposed to be from E.Germany, Romania, and Hungary. Other than the color of the paint they all look the same. The Chinese ones don't have the rib. Don't buy these unless you look at them! I got some at a gunshow they were the same as the Euros, but no rib. I ordered some over the web, they were real cheap. When I got them I found out why. The top of the mags were sheet metal, not thick steel. They work but look crappy, and are nasty to load by hand. Well thats all I know, hope I helped.

[weevil]

Oh I forgot. The E.Germ.s were used, and badly scuffed. I used steel wool to strip them, and painted them with black primer, I was going to put a gloss coat on, but I like the dull finish. :D

[Ex PVT Ryan]

So "ribbed" means that the spot welds are all along that "rib" down the back? I must have had it backwards I thought those were Chinese. Anyhow they're way too shiny for my liking so I'm gonna hit 'em with the steel wool and some flat black. Thanks for your help!

[weevil]

The Chinese don't have the strip of steel, running down the back.

[Ex PVT Ryan]

Thanks for your help, weevil. I guess I'm gonna have to get used to that strip or test out some chinese mags. Right now I think it's kind of nasty (in a bad way).

[quib]

Field stripped my surplus mags, scrubbed with dish soap and Scotch brite pads. Primmed with light coat of flat black then 2-3 coats of Rust-Oleum semi-gloss black. Bake at low setting in oven to dry. (caution pisses off wife) Mine turned out nice with a durable finnish. The Euro mags have a flat rib extending down the back of the magazine. The Chinese are flat down the back. Don't have any of those,heard they were not as strong. I bought 4 Euro mags from Centerfire for $19.00 when I cleaned them up as mentioned above the looked just as good as my buddies E-German and all four for the price of his one mag. All four work great.