christcorp
Member
Just some information for anyone who cares. I probably keep around 30 AR magazines on stock at all times. Half of them are USGI military surplus 30 round magazines, which I have gotten for $5-$6. I spend $1.50 more and replace the followers with Magpul Generation III followers. This is so I don't risk ammo tilting and having a feed problem. FWIW: I am not a fan of Magpul plastic magazines. I have a few, but I never use them. For 30 round magazines, I prefer USGI Military Surplus and the Magpul Gen III followers. For 30 round magazines, I just don't care for plastic.
HOWEVER: For 20 round magazines, which I like a lot; especially for at the range, laying prone, and home defense; I have no problem with plastic, and per the title of this thread, I have had no issues with thermolds. Plastic in 20 rounders is fine, because they are straight magazines, and therefor, I don't have issues with rounds tilting, and therefor don't need anti-tilt followers. So for me, the thermold 20 round magazines work great. I have been using them for more than 10 years, and have yet to have any problems with them at all. Again; I am speaking ONLY of 20 round magazines. For 30 round magazines, I only shoot USGI surplus with a Magpul Generation III follower.
The "Master Mold - LE/Govt use only - Made in USA (North Carolina)" 20 round magazines can be found for between $4-$5 each at places like CDNN or Centerfire Systems. Be careful, because there are still a lot of places that sell them for between $9-$13 a piece. Some argue that they are $4-$5 for a reason. Sorry; but it's not because they are crap, but because they are surplus and there are a lot of them available. Again; I have used them extensively for more than 10 years, and have never had any problems with them in 3 AR's and 1 Saiga .223 (Which I have an AR/M16 magazine adapter). Now; even if you bought some of these simply for range use, because 30 round magazines can be inconvenient at times, and you don't trust them for self defense purposes, that would still be worth $4-$5. I just bought some more from CDNN when they were running a sale; buy 2 get 1 free. (It was on a LOT of magazines, not just these). So I got 6 total for the price of $16. That's $2.66 each. (I was buying other stuff, so there was no additional shipping charges. Their sale included a $6.99 flat rate shipping per order).
In all fairness, there have been 2 issues in the past with Thermolds, and these are the ONLY 2 issues I've ever heard of. 1) The canadian military started using them. HOWEVER; they insisted on buying the "RIGHT" to produce the magazines themselves. They did NOT use the Zytel nylon material that "Master Mold" originally uses. They used apparently a cheaper plastic, which more easily cracked/broke. I've never heard of the USA made ones having this issue. 2) The other issue that "SOME" have mentioned, was that the magazine feed lips actually melted a little. But the ONLY TIME I've ever heard or read of this, was when the weapon was shot if FULL AUTOMATIC for extended periods of time. So; for the 99.9583% of you who don't own/shoot a fully automatic AR, this probably isn't an issue for you.
I don't buy magazines often. I've had 20 of these at one time. I've sold one AR and a Kel-tec that used AR magazines, and I gave 5 of the thermolds to each person. They were just starting out with rifles, and I gave them as part of the sale. They still use these magazines and don't have any problems. I also lost a couple in my numerous moves throughout the military. I currently have about 13 Thermolds. 11 each of the 20 rounders which I use often. A Couple 30 rounders, which I'll NEVER use. (I explained my preference for 30 rounders). I also have about 3 Magpuls that I'll hold only for "Trading material" for someone who's got something I need. Anyway; this is just an individual review of the Thermolds. I don't work for them and have never met them. But for those looking for good 20 round magazines, the $4-$5 each for these is great. They are great magazines. Of course, if you want to pay $10-$15 for other 20 round magazines, I don't care at all. I didn't start this thread for a debate. Simply my opinion. Just because I trust the 20 round thermold for home defense, and definitely at the range, doesn't mean you have to. Matter of fact; you could order 5 of these simply for range use, and make your own mind up whether or not you like them. Then you can either decide they actually are decent, or throw them in the garbage. Again; it doesn't affect me either way.
So; just my review and opinion. Whether you don't trust them for defense, but want a source of inexpensive range magazines, or you trust them for defense. $4-$5 each is a good price. Of course I'm sure there are those that hate them, and say they use them only to practice "Clearing Jams". They can write their own review. Maybe they have an expensive crappy rifle that's picky with magazines. My M&P, Frankenstein, and RockRiver as well as my Saiga, has never had an issue with the 20 round LE thermolds. Anyway; if you're interested, this was my review. later....
HOWEVER: For 20 round magazines, which I like a lot; especially for at the range, laying prone, and home defense; I have no problem with plastic, and per the title of this thread, I have had no issues with thermolds. Plastic in 20 rounders is fine, because they are straight magazines, and therefor, I don't have issues with rounds tilting, and therefor don't need anti-tilt followers. So for me, the thermold 20 round magazines work great. I have been using them for more than 10 years, and have yet to have any problems with them at all. Again; I am speaking ONLY of 20 round magazines. For 30 round magazines, I only shoot USGI surplus with a Magpul Generation III follower.
The "Master Mold - LE/Govt use only - Made in USA (North Carolina)" 20 round magazines can be found for between $4-$5 each at places like CDNN or Centerfire Systems. Be careful, because there are still a lot of places that sell them for between $9-$13 a piece. Some argue that they are $4-$5 for a reason. Sorry; but it's not because they are crap, but because they are surplus and there are a lot of them available. Again; I have used them extensively for more than 10 years, and have never had any problems with them in 3 AR's and 1 Saiga .223 (Which I have an AR/M16 magazine adapter). Now; even if you bought some of these simply for range use, because 30 round magazines can be inconvenient at times, and you don't trust them for self defense purposes, that would still be worth $4-$5. I just bought some more from CDNN when they were running a sale; buy 2 get 1 free. (It was on a LOT of magazines, not just these). So I got 6 total for the price of $16. That's $2.66 each. (I was buying other stuff, so there was no additional shipping charges. Their sale included a $6.99 flat rate shipping per order).
In all fairness, there have been 2 issues in the past with Thermolds, and these are the ONLY 2 issues I've ever heard of. 1) The canadian military started using them. HOWEVER; they insisted on buying the "RIGHT" to produce the magazines themselves. They did NOT use the Zytel nylon material that "Master Mold" originally uses. They used apparently a cheaper plastic, which more easily cracked/broke. I've never heard of the USA made ones having this issue. 2) The other issue that "SOME" have mentioned, was that the magazine feed lips actually melted a little. But the ONLY TIME I've ever heard or read of this, was when the weapon was shot if FULL AUTOMATIC for extended periods of time. So; for the 99.9583% of you who don't own/shoot a fully automatic AR, this probably isn't an issue for you.
I don't buy magazines often. I've had 20 of these at one time. I've sold one AR and a Kel-tec that used AR magazines, and I gave 5 of the thermolds to each person. They were just starting out with rifles, and I gave them as part of the sale. They still use these magazines and don't have any problems. I also lost a couple in my numerous moves throughout the military. I currently have about 13 Thermolds. 11 each of the 20 rounders which I use often. A Couple 30 rounders, which I'll NEVER use. (I explained my preference for 30 rounders). I also have about 3 Magpuls that I'll hold only for "Trading material" for someone who's got something I need. Anyway; this is just an individual review of the Thermolds. I don't work for them and have never met them. But for those looking for good 20 round magazines, the $4-$5 each for these is great. They are great magazines. Of course, if you want to pay $10-$15 for other 20 round magazines, I don't care at all. I didn't start this thread for a debate. Simply my opinion. Just because I trust the 20 round thermold for home defense, and definitely at the range, doesn't mean you have to. Matter of fact; you could order 5 of these simply for range use, and make your own mind up whether or not you like them. Then you can either decide they actually are decent, or throw them in the garbage. Again; it doesn't affect me either way.
So; just my review and opinion. Whether you don't trust them for defense, but want a source of inexpensive range magazines, or you trust them for defense. $4-$5 each is a good price. Of course I'm sure there are those that hate them, and say they use them only to practice "Clearing Jams". They can write their own review. Maybe they have an expensive crappy rifle that's picky with magazines. My M&P, Frankenstein, and RockRiver as well as my Saiga, has never had an issue with the 20 round LE thermolds. Anyway; if you're interested, this was my review. later....