So I notice stainless mags seem to be the hot thing on ar15, but as a new ar owner I have to ask if the aluminum mags have really posed that much of a problem to people to justify them over time? I like the idea of a more durable magazine but the cproducts mag have a specially made follower so in the long term I could see replacement parts for the mags as being a pain to find.
Do AR15's need stainless steel mags?
- Thread starter Soybomb
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jrumsey
Member
The cproducts ss mags offer another advantage in that they allow more internal overall length. Most AL mags allow an overall cartridge length of 2.260" the cproducts SS mags are around 2.295" COAL.
This can come in handy if you have a bullet that won't allow you to seat it to mag length because of it's ogive position. Maybe you just want to seat a bullet out farther to get closer to the lands in search of better accuracy. So as you can see there are some more good things about these mags than just being stainless.
Joe
This can come in handy if you have a bullet that won't allow you to seat it to mag length because of it's ogive position. Maybe you just want to seat a bullet out farther to get closer to the lands in search of better accuracy. So as you can see there are some more good things about these mags than just being stainless.
Joe
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Most of my mags are still USGI aluminium mags with black followers. I think other than improving the follower, the design is pretty solid. It certainly won't hold up to use like a steel AK mag; but mags are cheap enough now that they can be treated the way they were intended - as disposable items that get discarded when they reach the end of their useful life.
I think the stainless steel mags are getting a lot of attention now because H&Ks high-reliability mags used stainless steel with the rationale that steel would resist damage better than aluminium. However, the H&K mags have had issues with corrosion of the followers and lately there have been reports of cracking of the spine on those mags. The C Products are a different design that aren't as heavy and may not have the same issues; but I just don't see enough of an advanatge to switch from a proven product yet. Still I hear good things about them... only time will tell though.
I think the stainless steel mags are getting a lot of attention now because H&Ks high-reliability mags used stainless steel with the rationale that steel would resist damage better than aluminium. However, the H&K mags have had issues with corrosion of the followers and lately there have been reports of cracking of the spine on those mags. The C Products are a different design that aren't as heavy and may not have the same issues; but I just don't see enough of an advanatge to switch from a proven product yet. Still I hear good things about them... only time will tell though.
possum
Member
I use the usgi mags, with black followers, and the new ones i have have the green followers and they have worked extremely well for me.; I carried the aluminium mags 14 of them for 12 months in iraq without a single issue!
DMK
Member
If folks wanna switch to SS magazines and sell their used aluminum ones cheap, I'm all for 'em. 
I miss the days when you could find aluminum FAL mags all over for $4.50 because everyone thought they weren't as good as steel ones.
I miss the days when you could find aluminum FAL mags all over for $4.50 because everyone thought they weren't as good as steel ones.
SnakeEater
Member
I don't know, I don't even own an AR. However I do prefer steel HK91 mags over aluminum. Same reason I prefer steel hammers. Strangley aluminum mags remind me of soda cans.
Ohen Cepel
Member
Except for the long bullet issue mentioned above I see no reason for them.
Spend your money on more ammo
Spend your money on more ammo
Gary G23
Member
The internal width is also greater in the SS mags due to the fact that the stainless metal can be thinner than the aluminum. This will allow the mag to seat easier when loaded with 30 rounds because there is more room inside.
"Do AR15s need stainless steel magazines?"
No, Aluminum magazines work just fine. I have been using Brownells magazines with great success here of late.
The rifles do apparently need a four rail forend with a powerful flashlight, laser designator, forward vertical handgrip, several rubber covers for the parts of the rail forend that the shooter isn't using,,,
They also seem to now require a fold down front sight, a flat top receiver with a super duper dot optic of the most expensive kind, a fold down rear sight just in case the super duper dot optic of the most expensive kind fails,,,
A huge flash suppressor or muzzle brake capable of reducing or creating the flash and blast pattern of a 155 howitzer is always appreciated and admired on the modern AR15,,,,
They also must have a sliding stock of the most recent and outrageous design AND that stock MUST be capable of storing spare batteries for the super duper most expensive dot optic and the powerful flashlight,,,,
Am I forgetting anything?? Oh yeah, the rifle must also wear a "Tactical" over the neck sling of the most complicated design that is nearly impossible to actually install on the rifle and once installed is guaranteed to hang up on any and all extra gear you may have attached to your person along with the spiffy, most modern design rifle....
No, Aluminum magazines work just fine. I have been using Brownells magazines with great success here of late.
The rifles do apparently need a four rail forend with a powerful flashlight, laser designator, forward vertical handgrip, several rubber covers for the parts of the rail forend that the shooter isn't using,,,
They also seem to now require a fold down front sight, a flat top receiver with a super duper dot optic of the most expensive kind, a fold down rear sight just in case the super duper dot optic of the most expensive kind fails,,,
A huge flash suppressor or muzzle brake capable of reducing or creating the flash and blast pattern of a 155 howitzer is always appreciated and admired on the modern AR15,,,,
They also must have a sliding stock of the most recent and outrageous design AND that stock MUST be capable of storing spare batteries for the super duper most expensive dot optic and the powerful flashlight,,,,
Am I forgetting anything?? Oh yeah, the rifle must also wear a "Tactical" over the neck sling of the most complicated design that is nearly impossible to actually install on the rifle and once installed is guaranteed to hang up on any and all extra gear you may have attached to your person along with the spiffy, most modern design rifle....
Why does it always have to be one or the other?
6.8 SPC vs. 6.5 Grendel
Tacti-cool railed forend vs. traditional handguards
Flat-top vs. carry handle...
My GOSH man... cain't we all just... get along?
If you've got twenty or thirty aluminum USGI mags you've been collecting since your first tour, but you STILL feel like you wanna buy more, then why NOT stainless steel? They only cost $5 or $10 more than a BRAND NEW aluminum magazine. And if you're buying your first mags, why not have one or two of the SS ones for the range?
I see no reason to "switch", or to dump your aluminum ones and replace them all with SS, and NO, I don't own and CProducts magazines (although I need some for my new 6.8
) .
I have a mall-ninja wannabe rifle with folding sights and an uber red-dot (not a Tasco, those go on Mini-14's) that I just NEEDED for hunting the coyotes that I don't ever hunt, but I have also restored my original, very first AR15 back to it's original configuration (almost) including the A1 upper, 4 position CAR stock, NO rails, and a superlight barrel with a fake slip-over flash suppressor. (The original was 11.5" with 5.5" suppressor, but I didn't want to go back to that).
It's all about choice. Selection plus competition in a free market equals higher quality products at better prices!!! Don't believe me, check out the PRI 6.8 mags at $50 each, and then compare them with CProducts mags at $25 that feed just as well.
And to be honest, stainless steel is what CProducts makes ALL their mags out of. If you've got all that SS sheeting laying around, why change just to make AR mags?
Peace!
6.8 SPC vs. 6.5 Grendel
Tacti-cool railed forend vs. traditional handguards
Flat-top vs. carry handle...
My GOSH man... cain't we all just... get along?
If you've got twenty or thirty aluminum USGI mags you've been collecting since your first tour, but you STILL feel like you wanna buy more, then why NOT stainless steel? They only cost $5 or $10 more than a BRAND NEW aluminum magazine. And if you're buying your first mags, why not have one or two of the SS ones for the range?
I see no reason to "switch", or to dump your aluminum ones and replace them all with SS, and NO, I don't own and CProducts magazines (although I need some for my new 6.8
) .I have a mall-ninja wannabe rifle with folding sights and an uber red-dot (not a Tasco, those go on Mini-14's) that I just NEEDED for hunting the coyotes that I don't ever hunt, but I have also restored my original, very first AR15 back to it's original configuration (almost) including the A1 upper, 4 position CAR stock, NO rails, and a superlight barrel with a fake slip-over flash suppressor. (The original was 11.5" with 5.5" suppressor, but I didn't want to go back to that).
It's all about choice. Selection plus competition in a free market equals higher quality products at better prices!!! Don't believe me, check out the PRI 6.8 mags at $50 each, and then compare them with CProducts mags at $25 that feed just as well.
And to be honest, stainless steel is what CProducts makes ALL their mags out of. If you've got all that SS sheeting laying around, why change just to make AR mags?
Peace!
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I have two 1970ish aluminum mags, plenty from the 1980s. They last just fine. The 1970 mags are military surplus purchases. In other words, they had been through a lot of crap before making it to my range bag and they work fine. They look like crap, but function like new.
Gary G23
Member
Oops, MY mistake...
At a going price of $17.95 each from Magpul, they are about $3 more than a brand new, name brand magazine from a discount place like 44mag.com.
But heck, even cooler than these, how 'bout the MagPul "MagLevel Enhanced" magazines? (Pro'lly still made by CProducts)
It's got a "window"
SnakeEater
Member
Now sand and dirt can find their way in even easier!
possum
Member
Window or not, No thanks.just more room for dust, dirt, sand and grim! I understand the concept, but hey if you really want to keep up with the rounds you have, load tracers in there. it is simple the last three rds or so and you will know it is time to reload. The big problem is that they are trying to make everything and i mean everything way to highspeed, and even worse there are people out there that will buy them and probally trust thier lives to them, because they look cool, or like something some highspeed swat team would use.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
I've used enough Magpul products that I feel confident that they have addressed any possible reliability issues presented by the window. I've yet to see them release a questionable product to the market place and they definitely see real world use before being released onto consumers.
At the same time, I still don't have much use for a Multicam magazine with window until I run out of working black follower mags, I probably won't be upgrading anytime soon.
Like the old joke says, tracers work both ways.
At the same time, I still don't have much use for a Multicam magazine with window until I run out of working black follower mags, I probably won't be upgrading anytime soon.
Like the old joke says, tracers work both ways.
possum
Member
Maybe so but superior firepower and ending the fight quickly through violence of action will null any issue, and the tracers won't be an issue. plus it makes for a good show!
I really want to slap the guy that put a window in to the M16 mag... I guess it's a nice thing for the everyday Joe, plinking on the range with his AR that has fuzzy dice and lazer beams flashing :banghead:
Some times high speed isn't so high speed... ever been on patrol with a 2nd Lt and a GPS... guess what happened to the GPS when we "hit the deck"
Some times high speed isn't so high speed... ever been on patrol with a 2nd Lt and a GPS... guess what happened to the GPS when we "hit the deck"
MisterPX
Member
Those magpul mags have a window over the view slot, so no more dirt entry than a regular mag. Anyhow, unless you wanna buy SS for the heck of it, AL is much cheaper, and last longer than most people give them credit for. You can get new AL mags for <$10 a pop.
possum
Member
Trust me i know exactly what you mean, which normally occurs after the 2lt kicks the heck out of a possible IED on the side of the road.
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