Removable mag tube plunger
Posted: 23 Jan 2016 21:06
Hey Folks,
This is sort of my first post, but I wanted to share this. I decided to work on my ranch hand and add the old school plunger magazine system. That way there are both multiple ways to load and also remove ammo. So in a nut shell here is what I did. I started by purchasing a Henry Big Boy plunger for 44/45. From that you can get the knurled twist, spring, and plunger. Next I replaced the stock mag tube with a new metal tube at 0.625" x 0.028" x 0.569", cut down to allow for the knurled knob to still be less than the barrel. On the barrel there is a notch for the barrel/mag strap cut into the barrel. The new mag tube length goes to this notch as the strap will be relocated to behind the front sight. So the next step was to grind in new notches for the strap to be behind the front sight on the barrel. Then to grind corresponding notches in the new mag tube. Using the knurled knob as a template, I then ground a 'L' notch in the tube so the future plunger can be pushed and twisted to secure. The brass plunger took a bit of work too. I used a brass tube from K&S engineering with the specs, 9/16" x 0.014". This brass tube slides almost flawlessly up and down the existing mag tube size. To keep the plunger from falling out of the brass tube, I used one of those pipe cutters that bends the edge of the pipe over a bit as you cut the tube. Then assemble plunger, spring, and knurled knob in the brass tube cut to a length just a hair under the new mag tube size. The knob is held on by a hole and set pin that is pushed through that hole. So the end result is below. Granted I still need to blue the new mag tube a bit and sand down the brass tube a bit to let it spin a bit more freely. Loading on both sides though seems unaffected. But now I have the ability to quick load through the top or quickly dump ammo. Silly, yes, but why not?!?!?
This is sort of my first post, but I wanted to share this. I decided to work on my ranch hand and add the old school plunger magazine system. That way there are both multiple ways to load and also remove ammo. So in a nut shell here is what I did. I started by purchasing a Henry Big Boy plunger for 44/45. From that you can get the knurled twist, spring, and plunger. Next I replaced the stock mag tube with a new metal tube at 0.625" x 0.028" x 0.569", cut down to allow for the knurled knob to still be less than the barrel. On the barrel there is a notch for the barrel/mag strap cut into the barrel. The new mag tube length goes to this notch as the strap will be relocated to behind the front sight. So the next step was to grind in new notches for the strap to be behind the front sight on the barrel. Then to grind corresponding notches in the new mag tube. Using the knurled knob as a template, I then ground a 'L' notch in the tube so the future plunger can be pushed and twisted to secure. The brass plunger took a bit of work too. I used a brass tube from K&S engineering with the specs, 9/16" x 0.014". This brass tube slides almost flawlessly up and down the existing mag tube size. To keep the plunger from falling out of the brass tube, I used one of those pipe cutters that bends the edge of the pipe over a bit as you cut the tube. Then assemble plunger, spring, and knurled knob in the brass tube cut to a length just a hair under the new mag tube size. The knob is held on by a hole and set pin that is pushed through that hole. So the end result is below. Granted I still need to blue the new mag tube a bit and sand down the brass tube a bit to let it spin a bit more freely. Loading on both sides though seems unaffected. But now I have the ability to quick load through the top or quickly dump ammo. Silly, yes, but why not?!?!?