AR-15 mag question

[Lars]

How many rounds should I be able to put in a 30 round mag and still have the bolt close. I have an Armalite Carbine that wont strip the top round off a full mag. I have heard of down loading the mags, but have wondered if there might be a problem with the mags or recoil spring.

Thanks
Lars

 

[444]

My guns work fine with 30 rounds in a 30 round mag.
At Gunsite, we were told to load 27 rounds in a 30 round mag, mainly because it is easier and more reliable to have the magazine lock in.

 

[BDM]

I load to 29 just to have it seat easier and these are the brit mags that I left 6 loaded for the last 4 months,they worked fine and now the followers are worn in good,the green ones I replaced the blue ones with,ive loaded them to 30 my bushy strips the first round no problem.

 

[AR-10]

I load my thirties two rounds short. Makes it easier to lock them into the mag well. The bolt will strip the first round on a fully loaded mag, but it has become a habit to only load twenty eight.

What brand of mag are you using and is it new or used?

 

[hksw]

Are there any burrs under the feed lips? Could try rounding off the corners of the bottom of the lips with some sandpaper or a file. A couple of times my DPMS carbine has trouble with stripping the top round of a full mag. But after awhile, the new mag loosened up a bit do eliminate this problem.

 

[Stripling Warrior]

I had the same problem!

The fix was simple. A Wolff + 10% recoil spring!

Brownells -
Part number 969-165-010
CAR-15 XP Recoil Spring $14.99

Stripling

 

[Lars]

I found 1 mag with the lips messed up. I'll probably try sanding it down. I just purchased the rifle and didn't clean it to good before I tried it out. It seems to be having no problems now that I have gone through it real well.

 

[Badger Arms]

http://www.cmmginc.com/inventory_a/Magazine_tbl.html

Why not just buy a replacement magazine body?