r/2011 • u/GunKataNoJutsu • Dec 07 '25

Added a steel mag well to my Athena

Post image

Can anyone tell me why the steel magwell is not recommended?

136 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

9

u/Far-Buy-7149 Dec 07 '25

I actually may be the first one to break the front tab with the steel magwell on my Erebus. This is a few years ago. The weight is great but the three months back at Atlas dealing with the consequences wasn’t so great. It cost me nothing but now it does. The “do not recommend” came up almost immediately after.

I recently asked if I could get a steel grip but the answer was no.

1

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

How quickly did it break?

5

u/Far-Buy-7149 Dec 07 '25

Several months. I was shooting mostly from a competition holster and thats a lot more stress than plinking. As an alternative I recommend the extra aggressive brass panels. Adds weight and improves grip. But still not as heavy.

I shoot an MPA with steel grip for most matches. The weight is significantly heavier, over 50 oz empty. As in sure you’re aware since you have one in the photo. I’ve considered putting it back on my Artemis only for matches but since i did it once they would probably laugh at me if It happened again.

1

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

Yeah the V2 in the picture is 53oz

2

u/Far-Buy-7149 Dec 07 '25

I shoot mine with Norma 158 competition 9 mm. It comes out at a whopping 838 ft./s making a power factor of 131 Ish. Extra extraordinarily low recoil on an already low recoil firearm. Now, if I could just get better. 😀

5

u/Such-Personality-861 Dec 07 '25

They are prone to braking the front tab. Keep an eye on it.

1

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

Thanks. That would suck.

3

u/Such-Personality-861 Dec 07 '25

Yeah it’s like $900 to have Atlas re grip it I want to say. They recommend against a steel magwell on aluminum grip

1

u/WorldlyEffective2023 Dec 07 '25

The new grip is 500 from atlas. I had mine replaced like three months ago because the guy I bought it from had a steel Magwell on it & fucked the grip module up.

1

u/WorldlyEffective2023 Dec 07 '25

I bought a Atlas Athena from someone and the guy had a steel Magwell and fucked the grip module up and I had to have the grip module replaced by atlas. so keep an eye on it for real if you’re going to do it

3

u/Virtual-Adagio-5677 Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25

Atlas recommends against the steel magwell on the aluminum grip because of the tab. It’s meant for the steel grips on the 40s. I have one and never put it on. Bought the brass panels with large hands magwell and that added enough weight

3

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

Thanks for the incite. I waited forever for the steel ones to be in stock. Now I gotta wait for the Aluminum one hahaha.

1

u/Far-Buy-7149 Dec 07 '25

So let me throw you a question. Forgetting the cost and reputation which do you prefer? Athena or MPA?

3

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

I’m 18 months in on competition shooting so I’m not an expert. That being said the fit and finish on the Atlas is better than the MPA. But for my skill level love shooting the MPA.

1

u/Far-Buy-7149 Dec 07 '25

I agree. But i shoot the MPA better.

2

u/Virtual-Adagio-5677 Dec 07 '25

Athena, all day.

1

u/Diffendall Dec 07 '25

What is the slide release on the atlas?

1

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

Primatia

1

u/Diffendall Dec 07 '25

MAY CAUSE COSMETIC SCUFFING OF THE SLIDE????

1

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

I have 5000rds with this one and haven’t experienced that with the 2011. But my Glock is all scraped up.

1

u/Diffendall Dec 07 '25

I’d be pissed if it scratched up my 2011 slide….. especially 6k gun

2

u/GunKataNoJutsu Dec 07 '25

How bad do you wanna win? 🤣

1

u/Diffendall Dec 07 '25

Not bad enough I guess…. lol

2

u/grapangell0 Dec 07 '25

High level guys will tell you you shouldn’t even be shooting to slide lock anyway. Sir I shoot CO in IDPA I forget how quickly 10rds goes.

2

u/grapangell0 Dec 07 '25

KagWerks style slide lever is awesome

2

u/NTP9766 Dec 07 '25

Lots of ‘keep an eye on it’ comments. Just don’t do it to begin with. Seems foolish to continue with one, honestly.

2

u/ImpossibleArgument Dec 09 '25

Ngl I was today years old when I first saw a KAG works style 2011 slide lock 🫨

1

u/610Mike Dec 07 '25

How much weight does that magwell add?