High Standard-Magazines

High Standard Magazine Shim
This fix was originally devised as an alternate to modifying the frame of Texas High Standards in
order to get rid of excessive magazine movement in oversized magazine wells. Excessive front
to back movement will result in the magazine “nose-diving” as a round is being stripped by the
slide. This will result in the feed lips being at an inappropriate angle to, and an inappropriate
distance from, the chamber mouth. The result of all this movement is usually a jam. For a
more thorough discussion of this problem visit the “TEXAS HIGH STANDARD MAGWELL FIX” on
my web-site.
This particular fix can be performed on any magazine that is undersized and the magazines will
perform more consistently in original High Standard guns as well. This fix does not require
modifying the expensive frame and if you mess it up you can remove it with a few strokes of a
file.
The ideal front to back dimension of a magazine to be used in an old High Standard should be
.985”. I have measured many magazines that have been as little as .965”- .975”. The
magazine shown in the pictures is a Texas HS magazine that measured .974” originally. By
epoxying a brass shim of the proper thickness to the front of the magazine the ideal
measurement can be achieved. If you are performing this fix on a magazine to be used
exclusively in an oversized magazine well, the .985” dimension is not critical – it can be more.
Ideally the “fixed” magazine should just fit in the gun with no friction and be able to fall out freely
when the magazine latch is activated.
I suggest brass for shim material because it is easily shaped, easily cut, and easily filed. The
proper shim thickness is about .010” which, conveniently is the approximate wall thickness of
most .22LR cases.
The following directions and pictures will assist you in performing the fix.
Take a fired .22LR empty shell and make a lateral cut from the case mouth to the rim using a Dremel tool with a
cut-off wheel. Make a second cut parallel to the first about 1/8” apart. The two cuts should be about 90 degrees
apart when viewed from the front of the case. (i.e. first cut at 12 o’clock, second cut at 3 o’clock) Cut off the rim.
This will leave you with a semi-cylindrical piece that you need to shape to an open “U” shape using pliers. Fold
over a piece of medium grit sandpaper and clean the inside surface to get rid of any oxidation or powder residue.
Press the brass piece firmly onto the magazine from and make sure that there is some clearance between the edge
of the brass piece and the rear section edge of the magazine on both sides. If the brass piece is touching the rear
shell of the magazine on both sides trim some metal off the edge of the brass piece.
Degrease the front of the magazine with acetone or carburetor cleaner and apply a piece of masking tape on the
front of the magazine about ½” below the feed mouth. Place the brass piece on the magazine and using its bottom
edge as a guide, place a piece of masking tape across the bottom. Mask off both sides of the magazine using the
edge of the rear section as a guide.
Mix a small amount of 2 part metal bonding epoxy ( I recommend J-B Weld) and apply a thin coat to the
unmasked area. Clamp the brass piece FIRMLY in place. The brass piece must be in contact with the front of the
magazine
Epoxy will ooze out from under the brass piece. Wipe of the excess epoxy using a Q-Tip. Set the clamped
assembly aside for 24 hours for the epoxy to cure.
Remove the clamp and masking tape and clean up any epoxy projections with a file. Measure the front to back
dimensions of the magazine with the brass piece in place. It should not exceed .985”. Insert the magazine in the
gun. If it sticks or is hard to insert or remove you will have to do some filing. Blacken the brass with a magic
marker and insert the magazine in the gun. Remove the magazine and inspect for scraped areas on the marked
area. Lightly file the scraped area, re-blacken the brass, re-insert the magazine in the gun. and check fit. Repeat
fitting steps until magazine inserts and falls freely from the gun.

High Standard-Magazines

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High Standard Magazine Shim

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