[Harold Mayo]

I've realized recently that, despite shooting AR-15's for years, I really have no good knowledge of magazines. I have a bunch of 20 and 30 round magazines that I got from a friend whose gun store went out of business about 10 years ago and that's all that I've ever used. Never had an issue with any of them but I'm wanting to buy a dozen or so 30-rd AR mags and am wondering what the general consensus is.

Anyone want to volunteer some knowledge?

[Ridgerunner665]

I have been trying to stay with NHMTG mags (made by Okay Ind.)...but I have several Double Star mags that are every bit as good...most hardcore guys will tell you that Pmags are the best...they may be, I don't know since the gun store doesn't carry them...I only want things (mags, ammo, reloading components) that I can find easily. My 2 cents...and thats about all its worth.

[paratroop23]

The HK mags are supposed to be the best, but they are pretty expensive.

[Guitargod1985]

GO with Magpul's Pmags. I just ordered a couple a few weeks ago and now I'm going to be ordering at least 10 more. These things are more reliable and durable than any metal magazine I have ever used.

Disclaimer: I haven't used an HK mag, so I don't know what they are like. I just can't see spending enough on one HK mag when you could have three Pmags.

[clemsonu0219]

H&K are by far the best I've ever used...guaranteed not to jam

[kgpcr]

Stick with Mil Sped mags. Stay away from the Promag, Eagle, TrippleK and that kind of crap!

[wideym]

Pmags are the best AR mags out there. Expecially with a $15 price tag, most gun stores sell alloy mags for more than that.

[Ben Shepherd]

The consensus seems to be that the pmags are the new standard. HK mags come close, but given thier price tag, I'll stick with pmags.

I've literally jumped on a pmag trying to break it........no dice. Still works fine.

I've tried to stick a pmag follower on purpose, I can't.

[BozemanMT]

doesn't much matter, get a decent aluminum one (Okay industries is the current ones) and chuck the follower and put in magpul followers.
They work superb.
The follower is the key.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

A lot of people who used the H&K mags liked them initially but have discovered that they do not seem to hold up as well in continuous use (http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7206084761/m/7381044953).

I have not had the chance to get any extensive use with the H&K mag myself. I do have one 07/07 marked PMAG which I like a lot and which is working well in four different ARs; but still doesn't have enough rounds through it to know how it will do longterm.

So to my mind, the USGI aluminium mags with the Magpul follower are still the safe bet for good, reliable mags that you know will still be good 15 years down the road. However, it looks to me like the PMAGs definitely have the potential to be better. I like the reliability and function of the PMAG I have and I like that you can load 30 and still seat it with the bolt forward. The feed cover is also a nice touch if you are in a dusty environment (since it seems dust in magazines causes more feed issues than dust in the action).

[taliv]

what bart said, except...

i don't plan on having any of my current mags 15 yrs from now. if you're not denting, breaking, losing, bending, cracking, etc your magazines on a fairly regular basis, you're probably not doing it right :) have fun HARDER.

granted, the next assault magazine ban will probably change my priorities... :(

[RockyMtnTactical]

USGI (specifically D&H) and the new PMAG's are my favorites.

Check out www.bravocompanyusa.com as they sell both at good prices.

[homeka45]

.44mag.com also has a good selection and prices. Shipping is fast and easy even to us unfortunates in Hawaii.

You can also get Pmags from Brownells even cheaper if you have a C&R license.

[Coronach]

i don't plan on having any of my current mags 15 yrs from now. if you're not denting, breaking, losing, bending, cracking, etc your magazines on a fairly regular basis, you're probably not doing it right have fun HARDER.

granted, the next assault magazine ban will probably change my priorities...This is where I am, too. I want to be able to treat magazines as a disposible part of the system, but reality compels me to do otherwise. As it is I have a set of ratty old mags that (still) work that I use for any drill that entails me or them hitting the deck.

Mike

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Yes, taliv has a good point though after doing the 1994 ban I still have a bad tendency to keep old mags and try to keep them running with new followers and springs instead of just chucking them. Once that preservation mode becomes habit it is tough to adapt :)

[beemerphile]

My CProducts mags are still running great. I have 30 of them and numbered them so I could keep track of failures, but I haven't had any (running XM855 MilSurp ammo). - Lee

[IronSightRot671]

BravoCompanyUSA also 44Mag.com have good deals on the D&H 30rd mags. I get most of them by this two companys. Customer service is top notch. These are my top choices..:)

[Frog48]

I've had good luck with these mags from CheaperThanDirt, and have accumulated about a dozen of them. They're made by a military contractor by the name of "Defense Solutions". I havent had a single malfunction while using them.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MAG065-1537-1885.html

[MudPuppy]

I don't have the link handy, but I'll try and dig it up (computer is flaky right now...grrr...), but I just saw a video last week of the "Easymag". They stuff it with sand, shoot it with a shotgun, etc. It's an awesome video, enough to sell me on trying one or two of those (but they still look "gimicky"--but I'm sure a lot of innovation does when introduced...).

[clemsonu0219]

I bought One HK mag and other than that just use cheap mags for shooting. I have had one double-feed that caused some problems with the lower priced mags. I would buy one HK mag for yourself and then get pmags.

[El Tejon]

Whatever the mag I always put the Magpul followers in them and have had success.

The PMags worked well at gun school recently (I lent them to another student).

[Coronach]

Yes, taliv has a good point though after doing the 1994 ban I still have a bad tendency to keep old mags and try to keep them running with new followers and springs instead of just chucking them. Once that preservation mode becomes habit it is tough to adaptI would say it's a good trait. Just differentiate between "real deal" mags and range mags and you're G2G. I have a bunch of british steel mags that I have function tested and then oiled and put back in an ammo can. Those are for when I need stuff to work. Range trips keep seeing the same bunch of ratty old mags that still function but look like they were dragged behind a hummer from Baghdad to Fallujah.

Mike

[ClarkEMyers]

There is no best - Patrick Sweeney did a great piece for Michael Bane on best in the gun industry.

John Farnam who is as well connected as anybody I know says as I understand it without meaning to put words in his mouth that most plastic magazines split at the back (near the notch for the bolt hold-open) within five-thousand rounds. I should be so lucky. Moreover I gather that aluminum magazines flair out at the top when used in test firings for hundreds of thousands of shots.

Myself I buy Brownell's labeled magazines with a good follower, floorplate and spring and expect to use them up so I stock a reserve same as for the 1911.

Might as well argue over best color as over best brand.

[zulu6]

NHMTG makes a fantastic metal mag if you must have USGI. But without question Magpul Pmags are the best AR magazines on the market. Easily 10 times stronger than a USGI. Add that to a consideration of smooth feeding, overall reliability, long term durability, quality of the spring and follower, and low cost there is just no equal. If you don't mind the look of the Pmag, you would do well buying those over anything else.

[benEzra]

John Farnam posted this in his blog a few days ago:

http://www.defense-training.com/quips/25Jan08.html

M-16 Magazines

25 Jan 08

M-16 magazines, a perennial issue... This from a friend in the rifle manufacturing business:

"Here at the factory test-range, we shoot hundreds of thousands of rounds every year. Even well-made aluminum magazines eventually flair-out at the top. At that point, they become scrap metal!

Our preference is stainless-steel magazines! Our favorite manufacturer is C-Products (_www.cproductsllc.com_ (http://www.cproductsllc.com) ). A steel magazine will last many times longer than those made of aluminum or plastic. Indeed, most plastic magazines split at the back (near the notch for the bolt hold-open) within five-thousand rounds.

Magpul claims their new plastic magazine adequately addresses all these issues. I sincerely hope they're right!

6.8SPC magazines from C-Products are also stainless-steel, and will outlast most rifles they're used in."

Comment: Based on my friend's sage advice, and in view of the fact that it is an election year, I've laid in a good supply!

/John

[Onmilo]

I like Brownell AR magazines and I am growing fond of the MagPul P-Mags.
Both can be bought from here.
http://www.brownells.com

[Dark Tranquility]

I bought a case of 100 Okay Industries mags about 6 months ago and have no regrets. These mags are tried and true so you cant go wrong. However I think the Pmag is the best out there currently. We just don’t know how they will hold up long term. Having said that I don’t foresee any problems.

One of the biggest thing I like about the Pmag is that if it breaks it will be cracked. An aluminum mag could get dropped and bend just enough to cause an occasional jam. Problem is that you wouldn’t even know it form a visual inspection. However a Pmag is either obviously broken (big crack) or its 100%. Even when its broken it seems to hold up pretty good.

http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312

I’d say do ½ USGI aluminum mags for your long term storage incase of a future AWB and the other ½ in the superior yet not yet long term proven Pmag for your regular use.

I really can’t speak highly enough of the Pmag.

Dan

[Dionysusigma]

I have five mags: four are well-worn USGI 30rd, and one's a Wilson Master Molder 20rd. Only one of the USGI mags doesn't work reliably.

Maybe I should get some new ones... :uhoh:

[Onmilo]

Five magazines are not enough,,,,,,
http://www.fototime.com/173C69893CD71F5/standard.jpg

[trigga]

holly $h!t, that is a lot of magazines.