Cutting down powerfeeds?

[The Inflicted]

I'm new to the Automag world and like these guns but I'm already kind of sick of how high the hoppers sit up on these things. I've noticed that on both of these markers there's nearly an inch of feedneck that could be cut off and still provide plenty of surface area for the elbows to clamp to.

Assuming I'm shooting these guns with a forcefeed hopper, would this cause any issues with feeding? Also, is this frowned upon, either in the resale market or in the automag community generally?

[superman]

cutting them down is not really frowned upon as long as it is done nicely. I recommend a pipe cutter, then some sand paper/file to clean up.
I would also double and triple check your measurements. Some people cut them too short because they forget to check the bottom side clearance.

[Grendel]

Cut away, as Superman says use a pipe cutter (good one) and make sure you have a good ream that will work. That stainless steel is some tough stuff and the ream on my pipe cutter really was not up to the task.

[BrickHaus]

I'd personally avoid cutting the rt body down as parts are more obscure for those. Otherwise, what Superman said.

[MrBarraclough]

I agree with Grendel and Superman. I've cut down both a standard right feed body and a powerfeed Minimag body. I was conservative and only took like 0.6 or 0.7" off. Did a lot of test fitting of the feedneck and measuring and remeasuring first. Superman is quite right to emphasize the need to pay attention to the underside clearance.

I started with a pipe cutter that was probably too small and already pretty worn, which more notched the neck than cut it. Eventually I broke out the Dremel with some cutting discs. A little risky, I know. A hose clamp made for a workable stop/guide to keep the cut reasonably straight and perpendicular, just had to loosen and reposition it halfway through. Got me close enough to be able to clean up and square off the rough cut with a bench grinder and then finish the inner diameter with various grinding and sanding Dremel bits.

Never had any issues with feeding. A nice benefit of doing this is not only does it lower the hopper, but also it moves the center of gravity closer to the centerline of the marker, reducing the subtle torque from the hopper's weight.

[FredMnkyDad10]

You always pick up a second body, tons out there that have are already cut. Or trade

[Jordan]

I cut my RT feedneck down - left enough for an elbow to fit fully down to the body - and had zero problems feeding it with a LTR at 20bps (confirmed over a chrony even ).

I say cut it if you'll enjoy using it more that way.

[Dusty Bottoms]

I’ve done it to multiple mag bodies with no issues. I wouldn’t do it to a rare mag body, like a euro-feed RT body, but a standard powerfeed body, no problem.

[CFEL08]

I would also double and triple check your measurements. Some people cut them too short because they forget to check the bottom side clearance.

Second that one. Forgot to measure from the bottom and hacked the tube off. Just a hair short to seat all the way in the elbow.

[Psycho91]

As most have said just grab a decent pipe cutter and measure 10 times before cutting, works great for shortening barrels to

[tunaman5]

Chop saw with a metal blade works great too.

[The Inflicted]

Same deal with steel centerfeeds?
I've got a pair of clamping eclipse feednecks I'm not using.

[MrBarraclough]

What's the OD of the thinner part of the feedneck? Does it have enough thickness to just cut and mill it to an Eclipse feedneck stub? I don't have the Eclipse specs, but I believe they are fairly close to Empire specs, which I do have. At any rate, you might want to just send that body to superman for a feedneck mod.

[The Inflicted]

What's the OD of the thinner part of the feedneck? Does it have enough thickness to just cut and mill it to an Eclipse feedneck stub?

It's a little too thin so the method seems to be to use a small strip of metal or a series of O-rings to get a proper grip.

https://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?242606-E-tek-clamping-feedneck-on-direct-feed-automag

[Spider!]

Yes, there's some k&s hobby brass that fits well and never moves.

[Euphie]

I didn’t notice it mentioned, but my classic RT body was cut before I bought it and off the shelf long powerfeed plugs wouldn’t fit to turn it into a warp feed, but this was solved by just cutting down a long powerfeed plug and securing it with a set screw. So even cut down I can swap between warp feed right or powerfeed left with just a few screws.

so really no complaints on being cut down even on a gravity hopper so long as your level 10 is adjusted there are no issues there.