NEED ANY INFO ON VALMET 71S .223

[JOEZETA]

i just bought one over the net...dont know too much bout them....I need mags for it, are they impoosible to find? The seller recommended Orlite Galil mags with no mods...
also will take .223 AK mags with mods, is this true? any sources for mags? What is the difference of a model 71 or 76? caliber?
Any info on this piece appreicated...thanks, joe

[LokdCokdAndRedE2Rok]

Look in Shotgun News there are always mags for them in there

[M77B1]

I believe you might have some problems using Galil mags in your Valmet. I would see if Tony Tromix has any of his conversion mags left for sale; they are supposed to be excellent and were $69 each.

I know the M76 has receiver cover mounted rear sights as opposed to the M71's trunnion mounted unit.

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M77B1 aka FN49

[This message has been edited by M77B1 (edited 07-24-2000).]

[DK]

Ditch the Galil mag. I've learned enough here and at a few other sites to know I'm not gonna risk it w/ my M76. Definately call Tony Rumore from Tromix (918)251-5640 !!!

His mags are cheaper than original, look better, fit better, and probably work better too! ($68 ea. shipped) I've bought 5 in the last 2 weeks, and the are really nice. He only has 10 or so left, and says he ain't makin' any more!
DK

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Historically Freedom is bought with steel, not gold...

[JOEZETA]

thanks, im ordering the mag today from tromix....

So does anyone know if the Galil 223 orlites
work? anyone ever try them? thankyou..Joe

[mickb]

Tried the orlites in my M-76, and found that the round would hit the bottom of the barrel extension before going into the chamber. This can push the projectile back into the case, raise pressure and potentially destroy the gun. Steel galil mags were a little better, but the mag needed mods before it would work right. For the $$, go with the Tromix mags.

Mick

Originally posted by JOEZETA:
thanks, im ordering the mag today from tromix....

So does anyone know if the Galil 223 orlites
work? anyone ever try them? thankyou..Joe

[ValmetM76]

The Tromix mags are the Wiegar STG40(whatever) mags that you can get from Inter Ordnance for $19.00 and then CONVERT THEM YOURSELF!

ONLY a little grinding to the mag and some cold bluing is involved, certainly not $50 worth of work.

Regards,
Mike



[This message has been edited by Valmet M76 (edited 07-24-2000).]

[M77B1]

I believe the Tromix mags are Teflon coated.

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M77B1 aka FN49

[mickb]

What needs grinding and how much? Mag latches, or mag lip reinforcing or both?

Mick

Originally posted by Valmet M76:
The Tromix mags are the Wiegar STG40(whatever) mags that you can get from Inter Ordnance for $19.00 and then CONVERT THEM YOURSELF!

ONLY a little grinding to the mag and some cold bluing is involved, certainly not $50 worth of work.

Regards,
Mike

[This message has been edited by Valmet M76 (edited 07-24-2000).]

[ValmetM76]

A little grinding on the forward front SIDES of the mag and a little latch lug (rear) work.

That's it!

[Tony_Tromix]

OK smartass, you asked for it. Here are the mods....anyone that wants to do it and sell the mags for $68....go for it. There are much easier ways to make a buck.

#1 - cut the front leading top edge of the mag down.

#2 - radius both the left and right top front corners.

#3 - recut the relief for the ejector

#4 - cut down the ramp directly above the back latching lug.

#5 - cut the lower side of back latching lug

#6 - cut back (widen) the distance between both mag lips for bolt clearance.

#7 - widen the back of the mag where the bolt enters.

#8 - chamfer both left and right sides of the bolt entry position.

#9 - undercut both right and left feed lips to alter the angle of attack so the rounds will hit the center of the chamber.

#10 - realign the deflector ears to set the left/right angle of attack.

#11 - cut down the top face of the right hand feed lip.

#12 - hand sand out all the tooling marks.

#13 - make at least 50 mags at a time, or you can't get them black Teflon coated.

#14 - Haul them to the Teflon coating people and pick them up two weeks later.

#15 - reassemble the mags and do a final test fit in both the 71 and 76 guns. Note: some of the mods listed are for the 71's and some for the 76's.....you can guess which ones.

Tony Rumore
Tromix Corp

[mickb]

Tony,
if that is the process you go through, then $68 per mag is a reasonable price, I think. However, is there really a difference between the .223 mags for the M-71 and M-76? I thought the mags were the same?
Valmet M-76, have you actually done the mods to the Weiger mags you mentioned? How did the mags work? And did you check that the rounds entered the chamber centred, or did they smack into the barrel like galil mags do? I'm curious as to what success you've had.

Mick


[This message has been edited by mickb (edited 07-25-2000).]

[Tony_Tromix]

Mick,

I have sold nearly 250 of these StG940 Wieger magazine conversions and spent nearly a year working out all the bugs to get them to fit the Valmet guns. The problem is that there are a lot of subtle differences in the mag wells of each individual rifle, hence the number of modifications steadily grew as I learned of each specific annomoly. If Mike got the mags to work with just a few cuts, so be it, but take those same mags and pass them around, and I assure you, there will be problems. Typically in a 76, you can leave the front to back length about .020" longer than on a 71. So mags modified for the 76 on the high end of the tolerance range, will not fit in a 71. The key is knowing exactly where the "center" of the tollerance is, for each cut you make. After several variations of the mag mods were completed, I still got an occasional report of tight fitting mags in the 71 guns. I then carried a mag around with me to a pile of gun shows for nearly a year, and was able to find four different 71 guns to do a fit check with them. Three of the four worked fine, but then I found the "bastard" 71. I still could not tell what the problem was right at the moment, so I just bought the damn thing right on the spot in order to develop yet another mod to allow the mags to fit these odd balls. The Wieger mags, even after you manage to get them to hook up in the gun, will still feed a bit low without additional work. You will also find a lot of variation from mag to mag in the Wieger's, so some will require more or less work than others.

To be honest with you, if someone else would like to try their hand at supplying these converted mags for sale....go for it. I would rather not screw with it any more.

[mickb]

Tony,
I appreciate the response, as I've learned a lot from it. I had no idea that the valmets would be such a pain in the arse to fit. But hey, at least you've been able to supply decent mags at a price much less than factory mags. I hope for the sake of other Valmet owners that you don't stop the conversions.

Mick


[This message has been edited by mickb (edited 07-25-2000).]