With my PSA Daggers (G19 clones) and Ruger PC Carbine/Chargers all using Glock™G19 magazines, I was looking for extra capacity. Strike Industries answered that call with their Extended Magazine Plate for GLOCK™G19 as well as their Aluminum Extended Magazine Plate for Glock™G19s. These magazine baseplates replace the factory ones on OEM mags, and offer an additional five rounds of 9mm capacity. Other than materials, the biggest difference is the price, they both function the same. The aluminum ones are within the USPSA 140mm race division limits, and just fine for less official competition too. Strike Industries sent me a few of both to install and test out. So I coordinated that with some other upgrades. After all, what’s better than shooting steel as part of product reviews?
Package contents
The $17.95 Strike Industries (polymer) Extended Magazine Plate includes the +5 extension, an extended spring, and a steel locking plate with a steel set screw. Available in any color you want, as long as it’s black polymer.
Each $38.95 Strike Industries Aluminum Extended Magazine Plate (EMP) also includes an extended length spring, an aluminum lock plate with M3x8mm set screw, a hex wrench, and a warning card. Color options include a nice matte black that’s a little smoother than a Type III hardcoat. There’s also red that really pops, and FDE that has a bit of a gold look to it, as it’s shinier than it might be if it was Cerakoted. All three look great.
Construction and features
As expected, the polymer EMPs are exactly that – polymer. I think we’ve seen enough “plastic” guns to know that it’s going to hold up just fine. Of course, the more expensive EMPs are machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. Smooth, rounded edges on both allow them to stay low drag and snag-free. Cuts on either side make them easy to grab, even with gloves on.
Strike Industries doesn’t list the spec for the polymer version, but they do for their aluminum version. They’re 1.90″ long, 1.12″ wide, and 1.37″ tall. That’s 48.35mm x 28.51mm x 34.86mm for our metric friends. Total weight is 1.9 ounces, before adding the extra five rounds. Length on the polymer ones is slightly shorter, due to the design of the locking mechanism. It’s vertical, rather than horizontal, which saves a bit of length. According to my scale, they weigh 0.8 ounces, or 22 grams.
Installation (polymer version)
One of the advantages of the polymer over aluminum (in addition to price and weight) is that they are super easy to install. Strike Industries still suggests consulting a gunsmith if you’re not comfortable/competent doing it yourself. But if you watch the video (for either version), you’ll see just how easy it is.
Use your fancy magazine tool (or a punch) to remove the stock baseplate, spring, and follower. Place your follower on the new spring, and replace it back in the magazine body. Carefully slide the EMP onto the magazine while compressing the spring. Once installed, slide the locking plate into the slot at the rear. Tighten the screw until it’s flush, and no more. If you over-tighten it, you’ll probably cause some damage. I use the bag that the EMP came in to store the factory spring and baseplate. Because OCD.
Installation (aluminum version)
Due to the polymer over steel design of the OEM magazines, it’s probably pretty easy to damage them once the baseplate is removed. And the aluminum EMP is designed to fit really tight. Which is why Strike Industries states that they must be installed by a certified gunsmith only. Unless you bought during peak Covid, magazines are so cheap that it’s not worth paying a gunsmith. As always, patience and going slowly is the key to a successful install without damage.
Once the OEM baseplate has been removed, and the spring swapped, installation is easy. Using a small C-clamp, gently apply some pressure to the bottom of the magazine, right in the middle. The key is to use the least amount of pressure necessary to get the EMP on the, and then take the clamp off. It helps to hold the magazine body in a vise, so that you can use the clamp with one hand and slide the EMP on with the other. I’m making it sound way more complex than it is. Just remember not to crush the magazine body. With the EMP in place, install the locking plate with the included wrench.
Field testing
For the record, most of our shooting is done on public land. And some days, we’re literally standing in a field. So yeah, field testing. For these accessories, I don’t think I need to run hundreds and hundreds of rounds. The magazine body and follower are still OEM. Only the spring and base have been replaced. So as long as there is sufficient spring pressure, reliability should be the same as a stock magazine. In other words, I used this as an opportunity to get some more trigger time with my PSA Dagger and my Ruger PC Charger. And nothing to report here, they both worked as well as they did before, just with fewer magazine swaps.
My experience with rimfire competition pistols has given me a greater appreciation for magazine base plates. Not just higher capacity, but better ergonomics. Extended magazine plates make it easier to slam that magazine home. And reloads are usually faster and smoother with a little more real estate to grab. If you’re using them on a Glock with a Strike Industries magwell, know that it’s totally compatible there too.
Conclusion
These are great accessories for adding capacity to your competition pistol. Or any firearm that uses the OEM G19 magazines. And I really appreciate that Strike Industries has the two options. Whether you get the polymer ones for $17.95, or aluminum at $38.95, they work as advertised, and look great too. For the overall design, quality of finish, and included spring, either one is offered at a fair price. I’ve seen what you get for a few bucks less from the “mystery brand” on auction sites that hate the 2nd Amendment. It’s not worth trying to save money. If you’re needing extra capacity without giving up the inherent reliability of OEM magazines, these are ideal. Check them out at StrikeIndustries.com.
I’d like to thank Strike Industries for sending some of their Extended Magazine Plates for this review. While they offer a huge amount of innovative firearm accessories, sometimes it’s all about the basics. Either way, they deliver.