2XTM Magazine Well Installation

6/14/2006 Revision F

The following steps outline a typical installation. The builder may deviate, as necessary,
to suit his individual needs.

Operation 1
Front Trunnion Modification

1. Grind off rivet holding bullet guide to the trunnion. This is located on the underside. Using a
punch, drive the rivet out and the bullet guide should fall free.
2. Make a vertical cut on the underside of the trunnion to a level just above the bolt lugs. Make a
horizontal cut just above the bolt lugs.
3. This action should have cut away the lower rear section of the trunnion about .9” by .9”. I use a 4”
angle grinder with a .040 thick metal cutting disc.
Operation 2
Receiver Modification
1. Measuring from the front of the receiver 2.600” scribe a vertical line on both sides of the receiver.
Scribe second vertical lines at 4.350”.

2. Measuring down from the top rail of the receiver .750” scribe a horizontal line between the two
vertical lines on both sides of the receiver.
 3. Remove the area inscribed on each side of the receiver. I use a 4” Makita angle grinder with a
.040” thick metal cutoff blade or a Dremel tool with a cutoff blade for this operation. It is best to
cut this area small and enlarge the openings as required to provide a tight fit to the new mag well.

The small area to be removed from bottom of receiver is to the left side of the left caliper point.

4. Measuring from the front of the receiver 2.00” scribe a line on each side of the bottom of the
receiver. This is the area on each side to the existing mag well hole to be removed. Remove only
the bottom of the receiver not the sides.
Operation 3
Remove the Existing AK Mag Guide Rail
Typically, the AK receiver has a guide rail that stabilizes the AK mag on the inside of the right side of the
receiver. It is positioned just above the newly removed openings. A 1” x 1/8” portion of this guide rail
must be removed. The area that protrudes has to be ground off, as shown in this photo. Grind this area
back flush with the rail surface. This rail is typically made from .040” thick steel stock. The replacement
mag well will install flush to minus .020” against the inside vertical surfaces of the right and left lower
rails.

Receiver after cutouts are removed. Note the right side lower rail protrusion that stabilizes the AK
mag has been ground away. Also the small area on each side of the bottom receiver has been removed
to open the hole large enough for the mag well to be inserted.

First fit of 2XTM mag well just to assure that the opening is large enough.
Operation 4
Fitting Drum Mag to Mag Well

The objective here is to position the drum as high as possible and still have bolt clearance at the drum and
feed ramp. This is done by removing material from the lower side of the receiver and mag well. Also the
forward portion of the feed ramp will be lowered and shortened if required to provide bolt clearance.
Adjust the mag well length to snuggly hold the drum. This can be done with a hammer (method #1) or a
vice.

Method #1 to tighten fit on drum.

Method #1A if the mag well is too tight on the drum.

Remove material along this surface to lift the drum higher in the gun. Slanting this surface in at an angle
removes the least amount of material. I like to use a file for this operation. A slight inward taper to
conform to the drum diameter removes the least material.
Operation 5
Fitting the New Mag Well to Receiver

1. Install the front trunnion without the barrel.

2. Slide the new mag well into the opening in the lower receiver. This may require enlarging the
opening. The top of the new mag well should fit tight against the bottom of the lower rails.
3. Some amount to squaring up of the mag well may be required. Use a file, grinder or method #1.

Measuring down from the ejector to the drum left side rail on one of mine is approximately .195” with the
drum inserted all the way.

View from the business end.

Operation 6
Trimming, Fitting and Polishing the Feed Ramp

There must be clearance between the feed ramp and the bolt. When the mag well sits tight against the
lower rails there needs to be enough room for the bolt to travel across the top of the feed ramp. Usually
the bolt lug that strips the cartridges from the drum sticks about .250” below the upper surface of the mag
well. Turn the mag well upside down on a flat surface and measure the amount of material that needs to
be removed from the feed ramp.
Use a file to remove material from the top of the ramp to achieve a good fit.

Lowering feed ramp

Once the bolt clearance is correct, file or grind the front of the feed ramp back square with the mag well.
Grind it back to a point where the angled surface of the ramp meets the front of the feed ramp or just
beyond.

Trimming feed ramp back

Polishing the feed ramp

If the feed ramp groove appears too shallow it can be deepened with a Dremel. Take care to maintain the
same angle. I use a fine stone with about 3/8 to ½” diameter. Polish the feed ramp to a mirror finish
using Cratex wheels and a Dremel, or 600 or finer wet-or-dry sandpaper.

Operation 7
Fitting the Barrel to the Feed Ramp

Measure from the front of the trunnion to the feed ramp. Measure the distance the barrel needs to be
pressed into the trunnion so that the barrel is within .030 to .050” of the feed ramp.

Mark the barrel so it will be spaced approximately .030 to.050” forward of the feed ramp.
Install the barrel into the front trunnion. Install the barrel/trunnion assembly and study the feed ramp and
chamber relationship. The objective is to have a smooth bullet travel path up the feed ramp and into the
chamber. By moving the barrel slightly in the trunnion this can be achieved.
Operation 8
Securing Mag Well to Modified Receiver

Temporarily attach the mag well to the receiver. (This photo does not show the front trunnion and
barrel.) Install these screws before proceeding. Rivet builder note: It is recommend that screws be
used to attach front trunnion and mag well until the gun is tested, then re-fit with rivet at that time.

Temporarily attach the new mag well to the receiver by drilling four holes and tap for screws. 10x32
by 3/8” long screws work well, but may need to be trimmed. Longer screws may interfere with mag
fitting. The two receiver holes for the lower trunnion are well located. Another two holes can be
drilled about .8” forward of the rear side of the new mag well. Locate about .55” from the top of the
receiver rail down.
Operation 9 (Optional)
Fitting Stick Mag to 2XTM Mag Well - If Desired

My experience has been that stick mags are difficult to fit and are generally problematic. That is because
they feed from two positions. The bullets take a path to the right and left of center where a drum mag
consistently feeds from the center. An advanced builder should be able to make stick mags work, but it is
challenging. If you desire to use stick mags there are two areas that need to be worked. The front slot for
the guide may need to be slightly widened. This is done with a file and should be widened to at least .290”
The under and insides of the new mag well side rails need to be relieved to provide clearance for the stick
mag so that it protrudes high enough to function correctly. This is done be removing material with a
Dremel until the stick mag has clearance. Follow the same process as inletting a gun stock. Remove
material, check, remove material check, etc. etc, etc. It is generally only the area near the rear of the mag
well where the stick mag is widest that the most material needs to be removed. Unfortunately, there is no
firm surface on the stick mag to get a reference dimension from. The feed ramp may need to be widened
as well as the front vertical side may need to be beveled to guide the bullets onto the feed ramp

Remove material along this surface to fit stick mag. Remove only enough material to raise the mag and
only in the areas needs. Removing too much material will weaken the mag well.
Operation 10
Functionally Check Feeding

With the mag well out of the receiver polish the feed ramp to a mirror-like finish. With the barrel and
mag well installed proceed to check fit of the AK bolt to receiver and feed ramp then perform feeding test.
Don’t use live ammunition, but if you feel you must - take out the firing pin and the fire control group. It
would be very easy to have an accidental discharge here. I like to use the standard AK-47 or 74 recoil
spring and let the bolt fly forward to strip a round from the mag. If you ride the bolt down with your hand
the feed may be slow enough to miss feed. Once you are certain the mag well is properly fitted, remove it
from the receiver. The extractor may contact the barrel face and therefore this shallow area should be
removed from the barrel. Once you are convinced that the barrel is in the correct position, pin the barrel,
head space and install bolt stop. The bolt stop is necessary to assure proper head spacing and also to
prevent the bolt from slamming into the barrel.

Operation 11
Hardening

I am not convinced that this step in necessary, but like to do it anyway. Use the same method as
hardening the receiver axis pin holes. Don’t get greedy and in a hurry. Do this in at least 6 or 7 heat and
quench cycles doing a small area at a time. I start by hardening the feed ramp, then the front corners then
the screw holes. Don’t try to heat everything at once. Remember this is much thicker than a sheet metal
receiver so leave in quench until it is cool. The mag well may move slightly during hardening, so if it
resists going back into the receiver try not to bend it. Grind material away, as necessary, from the outside
of the mag well or the receiver to get it reinstalled. Bending the mag well after hardening could result in
breaking the front corners. In the unlikely event this happens weld the crack area and continue to re-fit
the mag well to the receiver. A lot of the strength comes once the mag well is secured to the receiver at
the front trunnion hole and middle of the top rails. Polish the feed ramp again, if necessary.
Operation 12
Final Installation

For the final installation rivets can be used in place of the screws. If screws are used be sure to use a
thread locker like LocTite. Welding the mag well in place is also an option. If welding is used protect the
feed ramp from weld spatter. Weld only a small area at a time so you don’t warp the receiver or the mag
well.

This is what it is all about.