Magic: Turning Rossi M92 Plastic Into Gold

[Rangr44]

Well. if not real gold, then gold-colored brass, anyway.

I discovered that my new Rossi .357 Model 92 was issued with a yellow plastic magazine follower (UGH) - and my thoughts were to either buy a steel one to replace it or make one from brass.

Since my scrounge box had an old slide-adjustable measure for blackpowder, I decided to try my hand

BTW - I don't know if this size brass object-d'-art will work for a larger mag tube - like a .44 or .45 (or if they even need metal followers)





First, I marked out the job



Then I cut the inner half of the measure to length, going by the depth of the INSIDE of the plastic follower, and it's OAL



Into the drill chuck with it, and turn the brass measure's body down to match the OD of the plastic



So far, so good - now it needs to be cut so the OAL matches the plastic



We have separation again !   :mrgreen:



Time to bevel/round the leading edge of the brass copy, and polish out the rough turning marks







Now to pop it back into the Rossi, to be sure it actually works.   

.

[AtlLaw]

Now to pop it back into the Rossi, to be sure it actually works.   

Well, did it?   

Every time I see one of you guys do something like this it makes me wish I had imagination and talent... 

 

[Rangr44]

Yep.   

It turns out that the most critical issue, besides the obvious need of the dual diameters to be correct, is the length of the smaller diameter section:
If it's too long, the follower nose protrudes into the path of the lifter, fouling it
If it's too short, the last cartridge won't be pushed all the way through the mag throat onto the lifter.

[blackhawk45]

WHY ?

[Rangr44]

Why not ?          

.

[jbquack1]

i have done a couple of these for my 45 colt.The first i made out of bronze which looks good polished and then i made one out of drill rod and polished/blued it.works great.I had to do a few other mods to get the rifle to take .450 nose length bullets.Steves gunz makes an excellent dvd for slicking up the action.jim