Hämmerli 215 magazines

Anybody have any experience with replacement Hämmerli magazines for a 215. My choices seem to be remanufactured by Red Feather in metal, New polymer mags from Europe or used mags. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks, Paul

Another alternative:

Modifications of M41 Mags for 208s Use

I guess I've been running these three for 19 years, now.

Don't want to steal the OP thread but. Modified 41 mag for 215? Interesting, how is it modified? I have a Chinese copy of a 208, which is a Walther design and used in the Olympics back in the 30s. after the war Germany couldn't make guns so they were made in Switzerland. Gun is like new, I want to re-barrel it and put in better magazines.

I have a 208s but the mags are the same. The original are 8 rounds but I wanted extra mags in 10 rd.

The Red Feather metal aftermarket mags would not run in my 208. Thet are somewhat different than original and rounds did not feed properly. I tried two, and also tried modifying the magazine "lips" in attempt to adjust the feed angle. This didn't work, and red feather was kind enough to take back the unmodified mag (they are pricey).

Recently I got two of the plastic mags from a supplier in UK. As posted elsewhere they are slightly oversized and have to be modified a bit to fit freely in the mag well. This was an easy job with some file work- essentially removing some material from the flat rear and round front of the mags. I also removed the ledge above the catch, which prevented the mag from seating completely.

The plastic mags seat pretty deep but are still easy to remove. I used them this week for the first time and was very pleased. They fed perfectly and it was nice to have 10 rounds.

Being plastic they probably won't last 20 years, but with slight modification they function perfectly and were relatively inexpensive (about $30 each).

Froneck wrote:Don't want to steal the OP thread but. Modified 41 mag for 215? Interesting, how is it modified? I have a Chinese copy of a 208, which is a Walther design and used in the Olympics back in the 30s. after the war Germany couldn't make guns so they were made in Switzerland. Gun is like new, I want to re-barrel it and put in better magazines.

That link has the steps.

Only three things are needed: 1 - thin the M41 Magazine, 2 - cut  the magazine catch notch, and 3 - raise the top of the follower cross pin slots (if necessary).

Thanks Ed! Chinese 208 has the magazine catch like the 1911. I'll put in a new barrel and get some 41 mags.

JHHolliday wrote:I have a 208s but the mags are the same. The original are 8 rounds but I wanted extra mags in 10 rd.

The Red Feather metal aftermarket mags would not run in my 208. Thet are somewhat different than original and rounds did not feed properly. I tried two, and also tried modifying the magazine "lips" in attempt to adjust the feed angle. This didn't work, and red feather was kind enough to take back the unmodified mag (they are pricey).

Recently I got two of the plastic mags from a supplier in UK. As posted elsewhere they are slightly oversized and have to be modified a bit to fit freely in the mag well. This was an easy job with some file work- essentially removing some material from the flat rear and round front of the mags. I  also removed the ledge above the catch, which prevented the mag from seating completely.

The plastic mags seat pretty deep but are still easy to remove. I  used them this week for the first time and was very pleased. They fed perfectly and it was nice to have 10 rounds.

Being plastic they probably won't last 20 years, but with slight modification they function perfectly and were relatively inexpensive (about $30 each).

Odd.  I have a 208s (445XX serial #) and the 3 RFO mags with aluminum base I have perform flawlessly, while the original mag with plastic base I had to drill a hole in and put some gutted 550 cord sheath on to pull it free from the pistol.  I have Horton's grips, so can't just reach and grab.
All 4 mags feed 100% though.

Froneck wrote:Thanks Ed! Chinese 208 has the magazine catch like the 1911. I'll put in a new barrel and get some 41 mags.

Hope that works well for you Frank,  For yours, just make the notch in the correct place so the catch holds the magazine at the right height and you should be good to go.  I would still check the proper operation of the slide stop, so it doesn't round the corner on the slide notch.

Not sure what the BEST way to set mag entry height is but l had success with inserting them with the slide closed. This prevents them from going in too far. You can always lower them but if you start out too low, you're stuck.

I bought a 208/215 magazine from Red Feather. The base fell off on the first day, rounds are hard to load..

I'm wondering, will X-esse mags work? Maybe the New Walther CSP mags.

I recently tuned two new Redfeather 208 magazines. The feed lips were WAY to close together. Those magazines are hard. Fortunately I have the tools to modify/fix the problem. Have seen many older Hammerli magazines that feed lips look chewed on. Softer steel.
Jon

Thanks for all the help and great info. I decided to try and make a mag from a S&W Model 41 mag. it fits and holds the slide back when empty. Just need to try it at the range with live ammo. At the top is a S&W Model 41 Mag. Att the bottom is a Factory Hämmerli mag and in the middle is  the altered mag. 

I’ve used the plastic mags monthly for 3 or 4 years and have had zero problems. I did have fit a few. Took less than 30 mins with a file. Work flawlessly.

The mag performed flawlessly with about 100 rounds in both slow and sustained fire. No FTF or FTE and the slide stays open after the last shot. Think I'll make another since 3 is the sweet spot for me with mags. 2 mags for the stage and one in reserve for an alibi. It only took about 1/2 hours worth of work with a Dremel. I removed the tight spots on the body with a Dremel mounted sanding cylinder and the slot was cut with a Dremel diamond cut off wheel. Relief for the slot was done with a small cylindrical diamond grinding stone. In case anyone wants to try, these are the instructions I followed.


1) Disassemble the magazine.
2) Remove the grips and magazine catch from the Hammerli.
3) Slide the magazine into the well and note where it starts to bind.
4) File or lightly grind the sides to relieve the binding.
5) Be sure to clean the magazine thoroughly before each check so you
don't transfer filings into the gun.
6) After you have a smooth working magazine, compare it to your old
Hammerli magazine (you may have to disassemble that one too) and mark
the back to match the length of the original with the top of the two
magazines even.
7) Cut the slot such that the top edge will match the bottom of the
Hammerli magazine tube. You might also want to relieve the sides
slightly so the bottom edge rests on the catch, instead of the two side
cuts.
8 ) Clean everything well to keep any filings out of the gun.
9) Reinstall the catch and reassemble the magazine.
10) Test the magazine for fit and see if it locks the slide back.
11) If it doesn't lock the slide back, remove and disassemble it again
and cut the two side slots just a little higher. Check closely how far
up the slide stop is lifted. Make sure it is more than just barely
catching in the slide.
12) Clean everything well, reassemble and try again.

FWIW - I made 41 mags work in a Trailside 20 or so years ago.  I described doing it in the old Lava list.