Since newly arriving on this Forum I have nothing like the number of posts that I'd previously made, and so don't have access to the Sales pages, so can't see what's available to buy in the way of Rapid magazines.
However, looking back at some older posts, I see that the availability of various third party 3D printed mags was increasing, with some being clearly better than others.
Can someone please let me know what the current thoughts are on high quality magazines and where I get them at competitive prices: I'll be needing .20 and .22
I have a couple of mags in .22 and .177 from Dr Bob which are used fairly regularly and I've not had any problems with them. Also got a couple of his older mags which came with the Rapids I bought. Don't know how old these are or how much use they've had but they still work fine. I recently bought a .22 mag and a .22 single shot loader from Carm off the Bay. Can't comment on the mag durability as it's not had a lot of use but the 3D manufacturing seems well done and it appears to be put together well. Likewise the SSL which has had a fair bit of use. Nice snug fitting in the breech and pellets transfer smoothly to the barrel. I do prefer the Dr Bob offerings and it would be good if he could produce a SSL too.
I have Carm magazines in .177 .20 .22 .30 and do prefer them over the original design or the DrBob. They are easier to use, no cover to turn around just insert the pellets and they are half the price of original/DrBob.
They have hold up fine for the last 4 years and I have not used the originals again since.
https://www.carm-magazines.com/magazine-for-theoben-rapid-7-air-rifle.aspx
Quote from: etiam viviens on August 06, 2025, 06:49:22 AMI have Carm magazines in .177 .20 .22 .30 and do prefer them over the original design or the DrBob. They are easier to use, no cover to turn around just insert the pellets and they are half the price of original/DrBob.
They have hold up fine for the last 4 years and I have not used the originals again since.
https://www.carm-magazines.com/magazine-for-theoben-rapid-7-air-rifle.aspx
I had two Carm mags. One of them broke, with the pillars snapping, which allowed the O ring to enter the pellet chamber. When I pushed the bolt forward, the O ring jammed into the breech. I had to take the barrel out to sort it.
My Dr Bob mag is still the best I've got.
Thanks for the info gents.
Checking through my stash I find I've got one each of Theoben original, Dr Bob and RAW, so I guess I can experiment.
Incidentally, if you use Theoben scope rings that screw direct to the rifle, is it usual to find that the mags are a really tight tolerance, as the front ring fractionally overlaps the breech?
Just check the front mount hasnt been put on the wrong way round, as if i remember correctly the hole is slightly offset.
I already did that, and you're right, there is a very slight difference.....still really tight fit though. Not a bad thing necessarily, but I was just surprised
Forgot to mention the mag I got from a company called Pneumatic Ballistics who make mags for a few different brands - BSA et al. They make a single cassette and a double/tandem cassette type. Expensive compared to the 3D type but they are all metal construction and very nicely machined. (believe their main business is making aftermarket parts for high performance cars). Mine works flawlessly but I have to move the barrel slightly forward to get it to fit into the breech smoothly and this makes the other mags too loose a fit. (the company made a very nice looking PCP which seemed to go under the radar).
Coincidently, I was faffing about earlier today, changing scopes on my SLR98 rammer using Sportsmatch 30mm rings made for the Theoben mount. These have two holes in each base for the hex head fixing which provides a bit of leeway.
I bought one of Dr Bobs in .22 6-7 years ago to rule out issues with my irreplaceable 20 year old AWT mags.
Wasn't particularly impressed, couldn't get the wheel to feed smoothly and when the spring & cover plate tension was adjusted to feed ..the cover plate would ride back and pellets jammed in the breech.
IIRC Bob has some issues with a batch but the AWTs were ok and by then I moved the thing on.
When I built up my .177 S-type in 2020 I purchased an SMWE magazine to get me started, didn't like the exposed wheel on the l/h side which was easy to catch and it had a breech alignment issue.
Also struggled to index properly half way through the mag with some pellets.
Great customer service, replied straight away and replaced it with another from a fresh print run, still didn't align and index properly. Sent both back.
Assume glitches have been ironed out since then.
Again in 2020 I bought a couple of CARMs which have been faultless, I'm not shooting thousands of pellets a year so haven't had a chance to wear them out lol.
Left loaded / part loaded / empty- spring tension remains good, o-rings are good. Don't know where I put the spares if one broke.
I liked the idea of the Pneumatic Ballistics mags, seem to be bombproof like the old metal Superten mags..but back then there was mention of clearance issues with R7s ( non adjustable bolt/probe) and tbh it was more of a want than a need.
I've put a few thousand pellets through the Mk1 .22 Rapid via the Dr Bob mag without a fault. I have an original Theoben mag which continues to operate without fault. I also have a little used SMW single shot loader which is functional if a bit fiddly to use. Good to have an alternative in case problems arise. The scalloped block for single shot loading would be my preferred option but my two Rapids don't have this facility. I'm hoping to get a Rapid with this feature to add to the collection!
I only use carm mags in my rapids and have done for years with no problems whatsoever.
I like the ones on ebay with the yellow spot to show empty, I know the maker was on the other rapid forum, not sure if he's on here.
It's only the pellet cassette that rotates, the cover is fixed which I find much easier, only .22 atm but if 20 & 25 appear I'm in the market 8)
They are the same design as the Carm magazines and they are coming in all kalibers
Quote from: etiam viviens on August 15, 2025, 06:34:30 AMThey are the same design as the Carm magazines and they are coming in all kalibers
Are you sure? this type
They work on the same principle, this one has a clear cover.
How they work is simular, could be a better build quality as they are more expensive.
He sells these on ebay in .177 .20 .22, also makes an single shot loader that looks to me as one one copy of Carm.
Carm has a window with the shots left an an E when MT, instead of the dot in the circle.
But that looks like the only difference.
Quote from: etiam viviens on August 06, 2025, 06:49:22 AMI have Carm magazines in .177 .20 .22 .30 and do prefer them over the original design or the DrBob. They are easier to use, no cover to turn around just insert the pellets and they are half the price of original/DrBob.
They have hold up fine for the last 4 years and I have not used the originals again since.
https://www.carm-magazines.com/magazine-for-theoben-rapid-7-air-rifle.aspx
Hello, how do you load these types of mags. I've only ever used the original rapid mags? He's website is not all that clear on the use of them. At least what I can see.
I'll try and find some videos on the tube. Maybe there is some.
You just turn the rotor and drop a pellet into each chamber until it's full.
Quote from: Brooksy on October 08, 2025, 08:55:32 PMYou just turn the rotor and drop a pellet into each chamber until it's full.
I got it today and it's seems to work great, less fiddly to load as a well. Overall first impressions, very good!
After making the magazines for over 12 years now, any issues have been well and truly sorted, hence the 5-year guarantee. If you are not using them much, I'm sure the 3D printed ones will do you just fine.
Bob
Just beware of the Carm magazines. I had one where the little posts broke off, allowing the O ring into the pellet chamber. This resulted in the pellet probe pushing a pellet, and the O ring into the breech. I had to take the barrel out to free it off.
I'll keep that in mind Brooksy. I bought a .177 Carm mag and a single shot loader recently. The mag has worked ok but it feels like the pellet skirt snags on the O ring when chambering pellets. No noticeable effect on accuracy but it does niggle me slightly. It also happens but slightly less so with the ssl.
Got a couple of original Theoben mags that are still ok and a couple of Dr Bob's that have worked fine since I got them a few years ago.
Has anyone tried the DARC magazines? Find them on fleabay. I like the rotating magnetic lid idea but wonder how well they work?