AR-15 Mag Prices

I'm getting older, but if my memory is still intact...

Prior to 1994, I don't remember buying any magazines for less than $5. Depending upon capacity, mostly $6 or $8, maximum $15. All were steel or aluminum, 20 round and 30 round (most of the aluminum were surplus 20rd used mags, they were often considered cheapie throw-away). I don't remember 40 round magazines being common back then, but maybe I just don't remember well.

Then they came out with those Orlite polyethylene (plastic) magazines, and everyone thought they were just the best thing ever. But I couldn't afford them at $16 for a 30 round magazine.

Midway is running a AR mag sale right now, just got an e-mail about it. You can never have too many, good way to store ammo. I have about two dozen now and would like another two dozen. Number your mags and rotate them, keep a log of any malfunctions by mag number, they do wear out.

Considering midwayusa is traditionally way over priced, a sale will make just plain over priced.

I look around for USGI surplus mags. I can usually get them still for about $5. I then spend about $1.50-$2.00 each for new magpul gen III followers. Then I have basically brand new magazines that will last a very long time. I have a couple of PMags, but I don't really like them; or their price. I'm not a fan of plastic; however, I did pick up a handful of 20 round thermolds. No problem with them at all. And for $4-$5 each, I can live with that.

I can't exactly recall what AR15 mags cost prior to The Dark Days, but I want to say that they were $15-$20/each for USGI mags.

In the FWIW department - BravoCompany and Copes Distributing are selling USGI aluminum 30rd mags for $10/each or less and CProducts aluminum mags for $8/each. I really doubt that we're going to see mags any cheaper than that....

Brownells has their 20&30 rd mags on sale for under $10. The ones I have are so far without defect.

They will never be cheaper than they are right now.

These days I just add ten at <$10 each to an order from Bravo Co every now and then.

It's probably a good idea to stock up now, prices are good and won't get any better. As you know, anything can happen in the future and the supply can dry up quick.

christcorp, a couple weeks ago I also picked up some 20rd Thermolds Sportsmans Warehouse has for $4.99. Pretty impressive for the price, none of them have given me any problem so far. At the same time I also found 30rd PMAGs marked S&W M&P15 for only $9.99! Got ten of those but should have grabbed a few more. SW got them by mistake and blew them out at that price.

I saw that same price on the PMags Quentin, I bought 10 one day and came back in a week and still saw them so I bought em all, I was wondering if every store had them or just the one in Grand Junction. I'm not a fan of Thermolds but got 20 of them for me and my kids, mostly for hunting/plinking and bench work. One of my boys ran 100 rds through his without a hitch but I have lost 2 coyotes with one of mine so I went back to Brownells.

I only ever buy pmags, and they are about $14 anywhere.

For those who really do like the real USGI magazines, weaponsworld.com sells them for $6.95. Excellent company.

http://www.weaponsworld.com/shootin...inum-magazine-post-94-dated-used-surplus.html

My local gun store tries to sell pmags for $23! Man that ticks me off. I pay fifteen a pop for thirty round pmags. Never had any problems but I still keep a stockpile of usgi handy.

I was buying used Colt AR mags for $2 at the pawn shop around '91-'92ish. Still have em and they work fine.

I've always found the expensive ones to be the 10 and 5 round ones! Since some places require no more than 5 rounds at a time in the rifle, I just block a 20 round mag. I have about 50 of the USGI. Go figure I'm a Marine who has armory friends. I also have about 5 20 round mags. I pray I never need to keep them all loaded at once!

Go for it, my only recommendation is to purchase good ones (what good is a bunch of really nice...scrap metal anyway?). If you must, buy less to get the good stuff. Stick with Lancer L5s (keep a couple of these loaded & ready regardless of your choice of spares, they are the best I have had the opportunity to try), Magpul PMags, and USGI (these include NHMTG and Brownell's) and you'll be gtg.

christcorp said:

Considering midwayusa is traditionally way over priced, a sale will make just plain over priced.

I look around for USGI surplus mags. I can usually get them still for about $5. I then spend about $1.50-$2.00 each for new magpul gen III followers. Then I have basically brand new magazines that will last a very long time. I have a couple of PMags, but I don't really like them; or their price. I'm not a fan of plastic; however, I did pick up a handful of 20 round thermolds. No problem with them at all. And for $4-$5 each, I can live with that.

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You really need to setup a dealer account at Midway. Stoner and C mags are $10 for 30rd GI stainless. Why waste your money on used aluminum gi mags to save $4.

madcratebuilder said:

You really need to setup a dealer account at Midway. Stoner and C mags are $10 for 30rd GI stainless. Why waste your money on used aluminum gi mags to save $4.

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Personally, I'd rather have surplus USGI mags for $5-$6 and spend $1-$1.50 for a new Magpul Generation III follower, than to have a C-Mag. I'll be honest, I don't own any Stoner mags, so I can't comment on them. But, FWIW: I'd rather the USGI surplus with gen III follower than a PMag too.

I have had some serious problems (unreliable feeding) with the C-Products magazines in my M17...not the worst that I have seen, but I still can't recommend them (especially for the price).