Does anyone have an AR15 9mm that uses STEN mags?

**hkshooter** · August 24, 2002, 12:34

I want to build one and take advantage of all the cheap sten mags out there but I don't know if it's been done already. Any advice?

meeper · August 24, 2002, 14:36

I don't know about the 9mm AR-15, but I have a 9mm Fal that uses sten mags.

**hkshooter** · August 24, 2002, 14:50

I would like to see that. Any pics? Who built it?

Tony. · August 24, 2002, 16:35

Olympic Arms make the 9mm / Sten Mag AR15. It requires that you either buy their converted Sten mags or buy a mag block from Socom Mfg.

rocko · August 24, 2002, 16:46

A couple of folks at http://www.ar15.com have recently WECSOG'ed the mag block from the Colt system (ASA and RRA currently make Colt clones...) to use the Sten mags. Reports are good so far, and it looks like Kurt Wala from Kurt's Kustoms may start turning some of these converted mag blocks out himself. Check out the pistol cal forum at ar15.com for more info.

Rocko

rocko · August 24, 2002, 16:54

Oh yeah, advantage of the colt system is that you can use the normal ar15 mag release with just a small mod to the mag. You'll need to cut a small notch in the Sten mag, but this beats welding a piece of channel on the back of the mag like you need to for the Oly system (or pay Oly $20 to do it on your Sten mags). The SOCOM block with the Oly system allows use of Sten mags without any mods at all, but the block itself is held in by the normal mag catch. The Sten mags are dropped/removed with a paddle release on the SOCOM block. If you hit the normal mag release, you dump the mag+block, generally something you would not want to do

.

Additionally, the Colt system is the only 9mm setup that had a bolt hold open device. Unfortunately, this only works with Colt factory mags, which are $100+ when you can even find them - it's still nice to have the option though. Of course, you'll need to have another stock (non-converted for Sten mags) mag block to use colt and/or other converted double feed mags (UZI, etc).

Rocko

**hkshooter** · August 24, 2002, 17:17

Does Socom mfg have a web site? And as usual I can't get ar-15.com to work. I couldn't find anything. I was thinking of WECSOGing one of the colt blocks myself but wanted some input about it first.
Thanks for all the help guys.

Bzrkr · August 24, 2002, 17:24

I have the Oly 9mm set- up for my AR-15. I got it about 7 years ago and have had no probelms with it. I don't know what piece of channel rocko is talking about needing to be welded on to the mag though. All I need to do to convert sten mags is either grind off or bend flat the ears on either side of the sten mag and drill and tap a hole for a 8-32 socket head cap screw. I have about 20 converted sten mags.

**hkshooter** · August 24, 2002, 17:29

The channel he is talking about is used on the newest Oly 9mm. In order to make the mag fit the well Oly welds on a big, fugly piece of steel to the mag instead of using an adapter block of some sort. Stupid idea. Mags are $80 or so and no pouches will fit them. Plus they are heavy. I like the Converted colt block idea and the Socom idea too. I just need to find info on both. Just got back from ar-15.com and found nothing there in any forum or any search.

gman552 · August 24, 2002, 18:27

Here's the SOCOM web page:

Socom Mfg. (9mm mag well adapter)

Here's a seller who has them for $55 + shipping:

MacTec Enterprises (halfway down the page)

I love Google.com

I have a Socom block with my Oly 9mm carbine upper (which I bought as a package back in 1992) - works very well with unmodified Sten mags (which are maybe $5.00 each), but the only problem is that using the standard AR-15/M-16 mag release drops the mag and block onto your big toe (ask me how I know.) This could be a problem in a "stressful situation."

The "new" modified Sten mags are fugly, and probably useful as a club with the lump of metal welded on - good luck finding a pouch to fit them.

HTH

gun_collector · August 24, 2002, 21:55

I have a Olympic ARms 9mm carbine flat-top with a the socom sten block adapter. Works like a champ.

Remember, sten magazines were made by a variety of different places, so you need to gauge the ones that will work for you.

I've been using Wolf 9mm ammo and haven't had a single problem with it.

To date, I'm on my 2nd case of 1,000.

The hoop-la regarding the mag release button is simply hoop-la.

August 24, 2002, 12:34	#1
hkshooter Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 5391 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,790	Does anyone have an AR15 9mm that uses STEN mags? I want to build one and take advantage of all the cheap sten mags out there but I don't know if it's been done already. Any advice?

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August 24, 2002, 14:36	#2
meeper Registered FALaholic #: 2264 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Benson Utah USA Posts: 143	I don't know about the 9mm AR-15, but I have a 9mm Fal that uses sten mags.

August 24, 2002, 14:50	#3
hkshooter Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 5391 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,790	I would like to see that. Any pics? Who built it?

August 24, 2002, 16:35	#4
Tony. Registered FALaholic #: 755 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 682	Olympic Arms make the 9mm / Sten Mag AR15. It requires that you either buy their converted Sten mags or buy a mag block from Socom Mfg.

August 24, 2002, 16:46	#5
rocko Registered FALaholic #: 7145 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 532	A couple of folks at http://www.ar15.com have recently WECSOG'ed the mag block from the Colt system (ASA and RRA currently make Colt clones...) to use the Sten mags. Reports are good so far, and it looks like Kurt Wala from Kurt's Kustoms may start turning some of these converted mag blocks out himself. Check out the pistol cal forum at ar15.com for more info. Rocko

August 24, 2002, 16:54	#6
rocko Registered FALaholic #: 7145 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 532	Oh yeah, advantage of the colt system is that you can use the normal ar15 mag release with just a small mod to the mag. You'll need to cut a small notch in the Sten mag, but this beats welding a piece of channel on the back of the mag like you need to for the Oly system (or pay Oly $20 to do it on your Sten mags). The SOCOM block with the Oly system allows use of Sten mags without any mods at all, but the block itself is held in by the normal mag catch. The Sten mags are dropped/removed with a paddle release on the SOCOM block. If you hit the normal mag release, you dump the mag+block, generally something you would not want to do . Additionally, the Colt system is the only 9mm setup that had a bolt hold open device. Unfortunately, this only works with Colt factory mags, which are $100+ when you can even find them - it's still nice to have the option though. Of course, you'll need to have another stock (non-converted for Sten mags) mag block to use colt and/or other converted double feed mags (UZI, etc). Rocko

August 24, 2002, 17:17	#7
hkshooter Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 5391 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,790	Does Socom mfg have a web site? And as usual I can't get ar-15.com to work. I couldn't find anything. I was thinking of WECSOGing one of the colt blocks myself but wanted some input about it first. Thanks for all the help guys.

August 24, 2002, 17:24	#8
Bzrkr Registered FALaholic #: 6257 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: WI Posts: 30	I have the Oly 9mm set- up for my AR-15. I got it about 7 years ago and have had no probelms with it. I don't know what piece of channel rocko is talking about needing to be welded on to the mag though. All I need to do to convert sten mags is either grind off or bend flat the ears on either side of the sten mag and drill and tap a hole for a 8-32 socket head cap screw. I have about 20 converted sten mags.

August 24, 2002, 17:29	#9
hkshooter Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 5391 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,790	The channel he is talking about is used on the newest Oly 9mm. In order to make the mag fit the well Oly welds on a big, fugly piece of steel to the mag instead of using an adapter block of some sort. Stupid idea. Mags are $80 or so and no pouches will fit them. Plus they are heavy. I like the Converted colt block idea and the Socom idea too. I just need to find info on both. Just got back from ar-15.com and found nothing there in any forum or any search.

August 24, 2002, 18:27	#10
gman552 Registered FALaholic #: 6335 Join Date: May 2002 Location: TX Posts: 1,863	Here's the SOCOM web page: Socom Mfg. (9mm mag well adapter) Here's a seller who has them for $55 + shipping: MacTec Enterprises (halfway down the page) I love Google.com I have a Socom block with my Oly 9mm carbine upper (which I bought as a package back in 1992) - works very well with unmodified Sten mags (which are maybe $5.00 each), but the only problem is that using the standard AR-15/M-16 mag release drops the mag and block onto your big toe (ask me how I know.) This could be a problem in a "stressful situation." The "new" modified Sten mags are fugly, and probably useful as a club with the lump of metal welded on - good luck finding a pouch to fit them. HTH

August 24, 2002, 21:55	#11
gun_collector Registered FALaholic #: 1492 Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 53	I have a Olympic ARms 9mm carbine flat-top with a the socom sten block adapter. Works like a champ. Remember, sten magazines were made by a variety of different places, so you need to gauge the ones that will work for you. I've been using Wolf 9mm ammo and haven't had a single problem with it. To date, I'm on my 2nd case of 1,000. The hoop-la regarding the mag release button is simply hoop-la.