Knowing the current Mec Gar P229 mag is a 17 round mag I was wondering if originally they made them in 15 round capacity for the bigger mag well P229s.

Yes, as factory 15-rounders. They never made aftermarket 15-rd 229-1 mags.

 

Sooooo, how is it I have Mec Gar mag marked P229-1 that are 15 rounders?

They are dark black and say Mec Gar on the base

I will post a pic later today

 

I have bought the black AFC coated 17 rounders and put normal base plates on them to turn them into 15 rounders. Spring is the same.

 

Thank you, I own both and was wondering if this was doable.

 

No, I got them with a M11A-1 just received from GB.

It came with 5 15 rnd mags marked Sig P229-1 and 4 Mec gar 15 round mags marked P229-1 and I am guessing, while never used they are a few years old


You can see both are marked P229-1

Notice while the plastic extension is market Plus two the metal base is exactly where the Sig's base plate is and the MG rubber is more like a buffer that does nothing (I am guessing later they used that space to go 17rnd???)
Note both have that change in width just below the 7-6 numbers

 

Nope, the dark Mec-Gar mag is 17-rounder (15 Plus 2). Mec-Gar, by contractual obligations, cannot make an aftermarket mag that is just 15-rounder. That is why the "Plus 2" extension.

 

That said, you can buy the 17-rounder and replace the Plus 2 extension with the flush fit base plate and make it a 15-rounder. I've done it, and so did Mike748 above. And, I'm sure others have done so.

 

To convert, you need the base plate and the insert (those from a 357/40 mag will work). The +2 base removes by pulling on that little protruding tab and sliding the block off.

 

Take the base plate off and show us what's blocking it. These pics are exactly what my 17 round mags look like including 15 round holes in the back.

 

I will do that tomorrow and post pix then

 

Sounds to me that you have 17 round MecGar mags that aren't broken in yet. With brand new mags it can be hard to get the last rounds in, had that with my SD(VE 16 round mags.

 

I appreciate all the help as I am ignorant of P229 anything.

What I see is the bodies between Sig and MG are exactly the same (except the logos and coloring) with the same length spring.
The difference is the base plate with the MG Plus Two buffer.

From your experience I now understand there never was a 17 round mag as in marked with slots showing rounds 16-17.

However, I can only get 15 rounds in these mags but if I really push hard I can squeeze 16 in but it feels too tight.

Perhaps the last post explains that.
Maybe they need a break in?
How long did it take for your 17 rounders to hold 17 rounds?
Have others bought these "17" round MG P229-1 mags and initially only got 15 rounds in them?

Your comments have been a big help, thanks

 

I have a couple of those MecGars (the 17-rounders) and they seemed to hold the 16th and 17th rounds pretty easily and pretty quickly. The old "load 'em up and let 'em sit" trick seems to work most of the time. Squeeze in as many as you can and let it sit for a week, unload and repeat.