Hello All,

I have a project I want to complete and have been mulling over how to do it for a few years [in between a lot of other projects].

Specifically, I have about 8-9 P220 heel-release magazines that I want to modify for the American Mag catch's 4 slots in mag tube design.

These are for .38 Super and 9mm magazines.


My most recent thought was to use a clean aluminum can and slowly cut it until it can be wrapped around the left/front/right sides of the magazine tube and it aligns up/down/sideways.

Then I would tape it so that it is snug but acts like an outer covering to the mag tube.

Then I would try to gently cut the catch's slots in the aluminum, ensuring the 'template' stays aligned properly.

When all is done I could THEN transfer this template to each of the heel-release mag tube and cut the notches to about an 85% fit.

Then I would use hand files to dress the notches down until they were properly formed/located and the magazine could feed its' round into the barrel upon firing/manual manipulation.


Does anyone have a better idea of how to set up this template concept?

I'm sorry. I don't have an answer to your question.

I personally would not attempt this with a magazine that is no longer being manufactured.

With that said, are you certain that there are no other magazines that would fit your American release P220's (with a similar modification)?

For example, Beretta magazines will fit a Sig P226 if the catch is modified.

I've seen modified Kahr magazines for P230/232's on sale on Gunbroker and ebay.

Tripp Research makes 1911 magazines in 9mm and .38 super. Perhaps you could modify one of their magazines to fit your American release P220's.

I honestly wouldn’t do it, either.

Sell them.

I'd try a different approach. assuming the mag fits into the mag well properly and will cycle when held up in place. Assuming that's all good, then the really critical dimension is only the location of the top of the soon to me made catch slot. That location might best be marked with calipers or dividers from the top of the mag to the top of the new slot. After that, there's a couple of ways to do the deed, one being to drill a hole under that mark, then have at it with Dremel of Foredom tool with suitable cutters and riffling files to finish. A Dremel small cutoff wheel would also work used with care.