How good ( or bad) are those Korean Glock mags ?

[MIL-DOT]

I thought that I may have asked this before, but I couldn't find it. I also tried a search, but got nothing there,either, so.........
What is the verdict on the Korean manufactured Glock mags we're seeing all over ? Belive it or not, I'm considering a couple of the 33-rounders as gifts this holliday season, (and maybe one more for myself ) and the Korean mags are less than 1/2 the price right now.
Here's a link to some sold by Wideners....
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8832&dir=625|709
Any experience-based input is much appreciated..........

 

[trekgod3]

I have two of the KCI Glock 17 mags. Got them for $10 each I think.
I use them at the range and can't tell any difference between them and the factory mags. They were 100% reliable.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

They work pretty well, but the springs are too light. Glocks rely upon mag spring pressure to eject the spent brass. With the 17 rounders I was getting a stove pipe every couple hundred rounds. I don't recall having a problem with the 15 rounders but I may have. I have never used a 33 round mag. I wouldn't use them for SD, but they are fine for range practice especially if you want to practice failure drills.

 

[chhodge69]

how do you identify the Korean ones vs the "real" ones? are they stamped KCI?

 

[beatledog7]

Dunno, all my Glock mags are factory Glock mags. I've read good and bad, and I suspect as long as you monitor your springs they work alright. Of course, buying stronger springs---well, just buy real Glock mags

 

[Quiet]

Korean Glock magazines...

Korean Glock magazines are marked "KCI" or "KHAN".

As part of a deal with Glock to supply the ROK military & police with Glock 19s, Glock set up KCI to make Gen3 9x19mm 15 round Glock 19 magazines.

After they were set up, the Koreans reversed engineered the Glock 19 magazine and used it to make Glock magazines for other calibers/models.

The KCI marked magazines tend to be more reliable than the KHAN marked magazines. This is due to KCI making magazines for use by the ROK military/police and KHAN for use by the civilian market.
KCI makes 9x19mm Glock magazines.
KHAN makes 9x19mm, .40S&W and .45ACP Glock magazines.

Problems with the Korean made Glock magazines are usually associated with the magazine springs. Replacement of the magazine springs with factory Glock or Wolf power springs is recommened.

IMO...
The only Korean made Glock magazine I would rely on for self defense usage is the KCI Glock 19 magazine, all the other Korean made Glock magazines would be for range/training use only.

 

[ku4hx]

I have two; got 'em for $5 each and got a mag pouch in the deal. Each has fed approximately 300 total rounds without a problem in my models 17, 19, 26 and 27 with its 40-9 LWD conversion barrel.

I bought them strictly out of curiosity and as such they're basically new load testing magazines.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I've used 10 of the KCI 15rd/G19 sized mags in my G19 and G26 with zero problems. I would still carry factory mags for defense but as range mags, they are perfect. I picked them up for $6 when CDNN had them on sale. If you do buy some ,make sure you take them apart to inspect them inside and out for plastic flashing. I think this is why some have had a hard time fully loading them to capacity. Just take an exacto knife and slowly trim off/out any unnecessary flashing inside and around the feed lips. I did this as soon as I got them after reading of other people's experiences and have come to the conclusion that this was why some had issues with them. Nice thing is, even if you bought the mags (at $6) and replaced all of the internals and floor plates with Glock parts, it would still be cheaper than buying a factory magazine.

 

[dusty14u]

I use the 33rd mags for my KT Sub2000 and they have been as reliable as m factory Glock ones.

 

[trex1310]

Do they bury the mags in the ground to age them (like Kimchi). If so
the mags should have dirt on them.

 

[DougW]

I have 2 KCI Glock 17 mags that work fine. I gave 2 KCI Glock 19 mags to my son, an dthey are working fine also with no issues at all.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

don't buy korean glock mags.

shoot the lock off your wallet and spend a couple extra bucks on factory mags that won't jam.

 

[rudeguy]

I just threw away 2 Korean mags. They failed nearly half the time. I suppose they would be ok for the range. Nothing I would depend on in a life or death situation.

 

[Vonderek]

I have a bunch of the KCI mags and they have all performed without problems. That said, I use them for the range and use factory mags for SD/HD

 

[todd_g]

I bought 12 of the G19 mags , had trouble with 1 mag at first, I marked it and put it aside. Later I loaded it back up and it working perfectly. I used them all summer on some local competition shoots with no issues what so ever. The only thing I notice different from GCI and Glock are springs, the KCI springs are thinner but replacement springs are cheap, I give them a big thumbs up.

 

[WinThePennant]

I can't understand for the life of me why people would buy non-Glock mags for their Glocks. Glock has done a great job of making their WONDERFUL magazines very affordable.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

They work pretty well, but the springs are too light. Glocks rely upon mag spring pressure to eject the spent brass.

Hmmm. If the Glock mag spring is used to help eject rounds, how does the gun manage to eject a round (last round in chamber) when the mag is empty? (It will also eject a final round if the mag is removed prior to the last shot.)



.

 

[Jenrick]

The full size KCI's I picked up from CDNN for $5 a piece run great. Zero problems in several thousand rounds. I've considered using them as carry, but for the moment they are just range mags. The springs in them are probably stiffer then stock Glock mags to be honest, not sure if that has changed since they were initially released.

-Jenrick

 

[wally]

The only Korean made Glock magazine I would rely on for self defense usage is the KCI Glock 19 magazine, all the other Korean made Glock magazines would be for range/training use only.

I'll always rely first on a magazine that I have been using that works 100% than *any* brand magazine fresh out of the wrapper.

Mags are pretty much binary in function -- either they feed or not, although tolerance stack-up sometimes has a mag will work fine in gun A but not gun B, but in my experience its petty rare. Any mag that fails in two guns quickly goes in the trash, if it fails in one I trash it if it spring/follower swap doesn't fix it, just not worth having a potentially bad magazine in the mix.

I've had zero issues with the KCI or Kahn mags so far, I've got lots for the Glock 17 (found them for $5 each at a gun show) and a few of Glock 22 mags. The model 22 mags have worked, but I don't shoot the 22 much, the model 17 mags get a workout shooing suppressed in my 17L

I've also got 31 round .40S&W and 33 round 9mm. The 31 round .40S&W have seen by far the most use as they work great in my .40S&W Olympic AR carbine that takes modified Glock mags.

 

[trex1310]

I can't understand for the life of me why people would buy non-Glock mags for their Glocks.

The same reason people buy a $1,000 Sig and shoot the cheapest
crap they can find in it.

 

[wally]

I can't understand for the life of me why people would buy non-Glock mags for their Glocks.

Because I want to spend my time at the range shooting, not stuffing mags, I want enough mags to hold at least 200 rounds for any gun I shoot regularly.

I fail to understand why people waste their money on "brand names". Some brand names are good to avoid, like "Pro-Mag", but mags are pretty much binary in function. Once I learned the Korean mags worked in my guns, I stocked up and spent the savings on ammo. I'd have sprung for Glock mags if I had to, but thankfully it wasn't necessary.

The same reason people buy a $1,000 Sig and shoot the cheapest
crap they can find in it.

And I can't understand why people will throw their money away punching holes in paper 7-10 yards with expensive ammo. I shoot mostly steel plates, which means volume, the targets are trivial if you spend 2-3 seconds per shot so "better ammo" buys you basically nada. The goal is to knock down six plates in 2-3 seconds.

 

[WinThePennant]

To each his own, I guess. As for me, I don't have time to shoot thousands of round through different mags.

A Glock mag is around $15 more than an el-cheapo knock-off. I can afford $15 for the peace of mind that comes with owning a Glock mag.

 

[glenns]

I have a couple Korean magazines for my G17. Only problem is that they don't pop out when I press the mag release. I don't have a problem with Glock mags.

 

[Deaf Smith]

As a training mag (or IDPA) I can see the Korean magazines.

Buy a bunch and shoot them often. Then use factory Glock mags for serious carry.

I'm sure many people get cheap 1911 mags for the range and Wilson mags for carry. Same concept.

Deaf

 

[mes228]

Korean

I purchased a couple of the "off brand" (Korean I think?) high capacity 9mm mags for Glock 19's. Worked great at the range. BUT WHEN I STORED IT LOADED FOR MONTHS I HAD AN OCCASIONAL FAILURE TO FEED ISSUE. I have Glock manufactured high capacity mags that have been fully loaded for years. About once a year I'll fire them. They have been flawless. I discarded the non-Glock mags immediately. That Korean mag has been the only FTF I've ever experienced in my "keeper" Glock's. I suspect I'm well over 10K rounds in the three Gen 3 Glock's I keep around. I simply do not trust anything made by other manufactures. Real Glock mags are a bargain anyway. Just my opinion.