Detents

[Killshot_Kustoms]

I have always enoyed mags but never got into building them. Micromag was my first "high end" back in the day, then went to cockers. I have always woundered why modern and aftermarket mags have stuck to thread in detents. Why havn't they moved to a dedicated low profile cover and replaceble detent, like AKA style used on vikings and Excals. I have an XMT body I orderd from his first run years ago without detents and was planning on putting the detents i use in my cockers in it it. I'm genuinely curious.


J4 Torque detents I use in my cockers. They bend inward like a ball detent, kinda like the OG oring detents. Just better and lower proflie.





AKA Style

[superman]

Luke did some bodies that had a detent that came up from the bottom of the body, but those were only on his. Some of his other bodies were similar to the aka style, but still used a threaded part to hold it in.

[LukeAO]

I prefer off the shelf parts when possible to make it easier on my customers years down the road after I'm retired. Instead of making molds or buying other manufacturers parts I can buy stainless (detent) balls for about .10 cents each or Delrin for .09 cents direct from McMaster Carr. Even my detent covers were designed so they could easily be made after I'm long gone. It's much cheaper than manufacturing a proprietary part and my general approach to all part designs where possible, plus it will keep my stuff viable long after I'm gone...

[Calvin]

This is the way.

[DocsMachine]

Agreed. (And I say that as somebody who makes a fair part of his living repopping obsolete parts for antique markers. )
Doc.

[StaticShocked]

100% Agree and i practice this as well.

[DocsMachine]

It's worth noting that spring detents last a lot longer than any rubber/urethane.

It's not big a thing on a 'Mag, whose bolt stays open 'at rest', but any gun, open or closed bolt, where the bolt is closed at rest (like in storage, between games, etc.) a rubber detent, no matter how well designed, 'takes a set'.

I sell a ton of rubber Spyder/Intimidator/Clone style detents, and I'm told that most people replace them not because they've worn out, but because they took a set, and don't stick out into the breech far enough anymore.

Springs and balls don't.

Yes, it's nice to have small, low-profile detents, and soft rubber that doesn't ding up your bolt. But it's also nice to not have to replace a rubber detent twice a year because the finger doesn't stand up anymore- and worse, replacements are hard or impossible to get. (Like VMs. And I'm not sure, but I think I'm one of the few people still making both styles of Angel A1 detents.)

I've had an idea for years for a low-profile springy non-rubber detent that should be basically indestructible. The body would have to be specifically machined for it, though, so it's not a replacement or retrofit.

Doc.

[alpha_q_up]

I have always enoyed mags but never got into building them.

Sounds like we need Kraken and/or Maelstrom mag 👀

[Killshot_Kustoms]

Not getting into mags unfortunatly, don't even have enough time for my cocker parts.

[ConradCustoms]

Mags have kinda been function first and then fashion. We do have some stuff on the drawing board that would address detents like you mentioned and move towards a more sleek body line and still use a more frequently seen and off-the-shelf style detent.

[Killshot_Kustoms]

I do apreciate being able to buy off the shelf parts, and the "if it ain't broke don't fix it". It bugs me designing a sleek body to have these large bulky detents. My OCD/ADD kicks in. I am making sure my personal detents will be available long after im gone / out of this hobby. Currently machining a plastic injection mold and will make them in house. Actually making a slighly longer style if paint gets even worse. They currently have no problem holding .675 paint. I will just give them a product number and add them to my companies inventory and then can be bought whenever (non paintball company). I will also publish the CAD model so they can be 3d printed. We still run molds that were made in the 50's.

[LukeAO]

If you dont like looking at detents, just hide them.