[partagas]

I've got a Bushmaster 20" A3 on the way from AIM. I would like to order some extra magazines. What are some good 10, 20 & 30 round replacement magazine brands and sources? Thanks in advance.

[dbshabo]

The best mags you can get are USGI issue mags. Many different manufactures made mags for the US gov. thru the years. The only ones to avoid are the Cooper mags. The american made Thermold mags are very good. I have read that the steel British SA-80(?) mags work well, I have not tried these. Go to http://magfaq.tripod.com/ you will find more info than you ever wanted to know about AR mags.

Shabo

[KW]

Also check out the mag forum in the equipment exchange on AR-15.com. It's a great source for good deals on mags.

[treeprof]

Stick to USGI mags - NOTHING aftermarket. NEVER. EVER. The imported British SA-80 mags also usually work well - I've had good luck w/the black teflon ones. Look on the Equipment Exchange on AR15.com for good deals, and check out the magazine FAQ there as well. Online sources like Dillon Precision, Tapco, CDNN, CheaperThanDirt, Ammoman and lots of others sell USGI and/or SA-80 mags.

[Engineer]

Try to stick with USGI or else Royal Ordnance/Imperial Defense SA-80 mags. The Equipment Exchange on AR15.com is the best place to look for deals on mags.

[jzimm9mm]

I would second the Thermolds. I've got 5 that have always run perfectly in my Bushmaster. I've had used USGI mags that I paid more for and they occationally had feeding problems. You used to be able to get Thermolds from Bushmaster, but I don't see them on their site anymore.

Jer..

[cslinger]

Has anybody mentioned that USGI or Royal Ord steel SA80 mags work?? :D

Stick to those and you will be happy. Buy aftermarket and you won't. Simple ain't it.

I have had good luck with both of my Bushmaster 10 rounders so they appear to be pretty solid.

I have never used or seen for that matter a 5 rounder. I know they exist but I know nothing about them.

Chris

[Peetmoss]

Ar15.com's Equipment Exchange or Ammoman.com Ammoman has good prices on the SA-80 mags.

[Silent Bob]

As I understand it (no experience personally), the Israeli-made Orlite polymer magazines are good only as range mags and will usually come with the sands of the Negev desert still in them. Avoid USA-brand magazines like the plague, though maybe having one purely to practice malfunction-clearance drills might not be a bad idea! But that's all it would be good for!

[RustyHammer]

http://www.ammoman.com

[ARperson]

I know I'll probably catch some flak for this, but here goes anyway.

Save your money on the 30-rounders. They get in the way of bench shooting since they're longer than the pistol grip. I've had some feeding/ejecting issues because the mag was being pushed up just far enough because the weight of the firearm was sitting on it.

Besides, if the AWB sunsets, high-cap mags like the 30s will drop in price and be a better deal.

[aerod1]

I have been using Thermold mags in my Bushy 20in. A3, with no problems at all.

Jim Hall

[444]

Ah, right up my alley.

I own, various USGI 30 and 20 rounders, two dozen British steel SA80 mags, Orolites, Thermolds, and a few Bushmaster factory mags. I also have three USA brand 40 rounders. Somewhere over 60 magazines.
I also own a number of Bushmaster AR15s and have shot them a lot, or it seems like a lot to me, maybe 20k rounds through all of them together.

The only magazines I have ever had a problem with were the USA brand, and one of the SA80 magazines, although none of the SA80 magazines I own hold the bolt open after the last round (other than that, they work fine).
If you want my opinion, I would buy at least a dozen USGI magazines for serious and semi-serious use. Defense, formal training, competition. I woudl also buy at least a dozen SA80 magazines for practice. I personally wouldn't buy magazines of less than 30 round capacity. I have fired an AR15 off a bench maybe once or twice and I used the Bushmater factory magazine. And that was with my 24" barreled V-Match with a big scope.

I bought almost all of the mags I own from CDNN. The 20 rounders I own were off the AR15.com equipment exchange.

[BillL223]

I use Thermolds in two B-M lowers and never had a failure. I also have a USA 40 which works even stuffed with 43 rds. I have seen enough Orlite failures to avoid them. My GI Aluminum 20 rd consistently fails to feed the last round. My guess is that it needs a new spring, Any ideas?

[yayarx7]

Try a new spring. They are cheap.

I have USGI colt marked 20 rounders for sale.

[Jon Coppenbarger]

I do like the usgi mags as they are a proven mag.

The prices on mags will not really drop from where they are right now if the ban sunsets for this reason.

If you are thinking that new GI type aluminum mags from colt or another sub contractor will flood the market well maybe but I kinda doubt it.

You need to look at the cost of the mags they sell to the law enforcement folks at this time and unless you are a dealer you are still going to pay close to $20 or more for a new mag.

But thats just my opinion now as far as that 20 round mag you might try to add a small block under the spring to get it back to full strength but by doing this you also more than likely will decrease the capacity of the mag, best bet is just get a new spring.

[standingbear]

theres a surplus store over in shelby..they sell used ones around 15 bucks.lots of used goodies there at that store.adventure line works well..got a colt made mag that fits tight and almost doesnt want to snap in.

[mdsteele]

I have never had a problem with the thermolds but have with the USGI's.

I just have today, took out my rifle(Bushmaster pre-ban 16"), with usgi's after replacing the black cartridge carrier with the newer green ones.

Fired 100 rounds thru 5 mags and no problems. Had nose dives before.

Some say that they have had no problems with the black one's.

Maybe it's my rifle, but you don't know until you try it.