Aftermarket Glock magazines

[Buzznrose]

I’m a hard core Glock guy, and I trust my life to proven (by me) Glock, Magpul, and ETS mags.

Yes, OEM mags are outstanding and reasonably priced. And I’ve found them to be almost flawless after many thousands of rounds.

But after a few years of Glock PMAGS and many more years of AR PMAGS, I absolutely trust them too (after a couple range sessions).

And since ETS came out with G20/21 mags, I’ve bought some and they are flawless this far.

https://www.etsgroup.us/ETS-10mm-magazines-for-Glock-s/1850.htm

https://www.etsgroup.us/ETS-45-cal-magazines-for-Glock-s/1849.htm

I carry my G26 with the PMAG 12 round mag because it’s become my favorite G26 mag, even over the 12 round OEM.

A 21 round PMAG sits in the G17 in my nightstand...the first gun I’ll grab if I hear a bump in the night...



And PMAGS are sitting loaded in my AR’s.

And when I buy new mags, including Glock OEM, they see some range time prior to becoming a trusted mag for SD/HD

YMMV

 

[FL-NC]

Metal Glock mags will wear out your mag release from the vibration when firing. I got 2 Glock PMAGS as a door prize, and they are unreliable. Great for the range to practice malfunction drills. I just stick to factory mags.

 

[Buzznrose]

Metal Glock mags will wear out your mag release from the vibration when firing. I got 2 Glock PMAGS as a door prize, and they are unreliable. Great for the range to practice malfunction drills. I just stick to factory mags.

Are you shooting steel case ammo? I have heard PMAGS suck with steel case. Guess I should have mentioned that...but forget.

 

[Speedo66]

I look at a pistol as a system, gun and mags working together. Glocks are so darned reliable for a reason, they have great mags.

I see mixed reviews here on aftermarket mags, not worth having a problem with a SD gun for a few dollars.

 

[rskent]

No and NO

I’m fairly sure the mags are the reason Glock work so dam good.

 

[Buzznrose]

I think this is a pretty good article on a few companies:

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-aftermarket-glock-magazines/

Every pistol match I go to, there are a LOT of ETS mags in use by the guys wearing the high speed shooting gear (I am a low speed, jeans and a fishing shirt kinda guy...). And these mags never seem to have any issues. I know mine run very well...

Again, the standard is the OEM mag for Glock...no question. But if you are a Glock shooter, you should really buy some PMAGs or ETS mags for your range work...if for no other reason than to extend the life of your OEM mags. I think over time you’ll be glad you did.

 

[Alex Clayton]

I think this is a pretty good article on a few companies:

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-aftermarket-glock-magazines/

Every pistol match I go to, there are a LOT of ETS mags in use by the guys wearing the high speed shooting gear (I am a low speed, jeans and a fishing shirt kinda guy...). And these mags never seem to have any issues. I know mine run very well...

Again, the standard is the OEM mag for Glock...no question. But if you are a Glock shooter, you should really buy some PMAGs or ETS mags for your range work...if for no other reason than to extend the life of your OEM mags. I think over time you’ll be glad you did.

Does anyone actually see Glock OEM mags "wear out"? My oldest ones are a couple decades old now. Bought them when I bought one of my PCC's that use them. It has burned through untold cases of ammo by now to where I could not even count. I just do not ever see one of these mags actually stop working. Only time I have ever seen any mag from any maker "die" it was easy to see the spring was bad from the beginning. That is assuming no one stepped on the thing or ran it over and such.
Now I understand at times when there is panic shortage people grab what they can find but, am I the odd man out here that my Glock mags just do not stop working after time and hard use??

 

[mokin]

View attachment 929175 I’m a hard core Glock guy, and I trust my life to proven (by me) Glock, Magpul, and ETS mags.

Yes, OEM mags are outstanding and reasonably priced. And I’ve found them to be almost flawless after many thousands of rounds.

But after a few years of Glock PMAGS and many more years of AR PMAGS, I absolutely trust them too (after a couple range sessions).

And since ETS came out with G20/21 mags, I’ve bought some and they are flawless this far.

https://www.etsgroup.us/ETS-10mm-magazines-for-Glock-s/1850.htm

https://www.etsgroup.us/ETS-45-cal-magazines-for-Glock-s/1849.htm

I carry my G26 with the PMAG 12 round mag because it’s become my favorite G26 mag, even over the 12 round OEM.

A 21 round PMAG sits in the G17 in my nightstand...the first gun I’ll grab if I hear a bump in the night...



And PMAGS are sitting loaded in my AR’s.

And when I buy new mags, including Glock OEM, they see some range time prior to becoming a trusted mag for SD/HD

YMMV

Thanks for the link. Those are the first aftermarket magazines I've seen for a Glock 29.

 

[AK103K]

My Glock mags have always worked fine (excluding the 33 rounders). I use/abuse the Korean mags for practice, saving the factory mags for serious use.

That said, the Korean mags seem to hold up to the use/abuse just fine, and as well as the factory mags.

If you want to pay the extra money for the factory mags, its not hurting anything but your wallet.

I just dont see the point in doing it, for something thats going to get constantly used and abused, when I can get mags that seem to be just as good, for half the price or better.

Only way to know if they will work for you, is buy some and try and wear them out.

 

[Buzznrose]

Thanks for the link. Those are the first aftermarket magazines I've seen for a Glock 29.

No worries. I can only speak to the pair of 20 round 10MM mags I purchased, and only ran a hundred rounds through each thus far, but they have both fed the gun flawlessly and locked back every time.

 

[Alex Clayton]

My Glock mags have always worked fine (excluding the 33 rounders). I use/abuse the Korean mags for practice, saving the factory mags for serious use.

That said, the Korean mags seem to hold up to the use/abuse just fine, and as well as the factory mags.

If you want to pay the extra money for the factory mags, its not hurting anything but your wallet.

I just dont see the point in doing it, for something thats going to get constantly used and abused, when I can get mags that seem to be just as good, for half the price or better.

Only way to know if they will work for you, is buy some and try and wear them out.

I hear that. I would have zero problems with other mags if they worked. All the after market I had did kind of work. They were not dumpster fires in my guns. Just enough hang ups to annoy me. One thing about ETS I have to give 5 stars on is service. I ordered 2 of his extended mags to try on the recommendation of another shooter. The package came USPS, showed delivered, was not at my house. I emailed them, got no response. So after a couple tries I just had the bank reverse the charge. 2 days later 2 more mags show up. Turns out they had sent the order again, just did not seem to respond to tell me. So then a couple days later another package shows delivered, not at our house. Wife tells me she had found some stuff of ours on the next street over so she goes over there and there sits the box. Guy who lives there comes to the door, hands her another package of ours he has had all this time, the first 2 mags from ETS. Why this guy was holding the damn thing and doing nothing who the hell knows. So now I e-mail ETS, tell them what happened. Tell them feel free to charge my card for all 4 mags. This time I get a response, saying thanks for being honest and just keep the mags free. Sadly they would not really work 100%. Just enough hang ups in 3 PCC's to annoy me so I gave them away but, that was some great damn customer service.

 

[S&W620]

Ive heard the Magpul ones are decent and ETS are hit or miss.

With OEM mags being as good as they are, and as cheap as they are, I’ve never felt the need to try any other brand. If it ain’t broke...

 

[FL-NC]

Are you shooting steel case ammo? I have heard PMAGS suck with steel case. Guess I should have mentioned that...but forget.

I have tried them with both steel cases as well as brass S&B and Winchester 9mm NATO.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I have a few ETS mags for my G42 and they work great.

I would like to buy some of the hi-cap ETS 10mm mags though!!

 

[Prince Yamato]

I think “range only mag,” is code for “I made a bad purchase and I can’t admit it to myself.”

Glock OEM is all I currently purchase.

A general rule with Glocks: the more aftermarket parts you add to it, the more problems you will have. This includes aftermarket mags.

I’ve never had a factory stock Glock jam or otherwise fail on me.

years ago, I purchased 20 Korean mags for my Glock. Only one of them loaded fully or fed. I returned all of them to CDNN or wherever I bought them. They can be someone else’s “range mags.”

 

[AK103K]

I think “range only mag,” is code for “I made a bad purchase and I can’t admit it to myself.”

Glock OEM is all I currently purchase.

A general rule with Glocks: the more aftermarket parts you add to it, the more problems you will have. This includes aftermarket mags.

I’ve never had a factory stock Glock jam or otherwise fail on me.

years ago, I purchased 20 Korean mags for my Glock. Only one of them loaded fully or fed. I returned all of them to CDNN or wherever I bought them. They can be someone else’s “range mags.”

Do you remember what brand they were?

Ive lost count at this point of how many I actually have, but Ive been shooting the same lot of 20 or so KCI/KAHN mags, on a weekly plus basis, for the past decade or so, and they have worked just as well as the factory mags I have.

They are my "range mags", but thats simply because I use them for that purpose and save my factory mags for serious use. There was no "bad purchase about them, and in fact, I buy them on a pretty regular basis, especially when I see them on sale for even cheaper.

I also have a bunch of Korean M1 Carbine, and AR mags, and they work great as well. The Carbine mags are a lot more reliable than the GI mags I have, or have had in the past. The AR mags work great too. All in all, they have all been a great value for the little money they cost.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I think “range only mag,” is code for “I made a bad purchase and I can’t admit it to myself.”

Glock OEM is all I currently purchase.

A general rule with Glocks: the more aftermarket parts you add to it, the more problems you will have. This includes aftermarket mags.

I’ve said it before, and will say it again. “ Some people tend to know a lot about things they don’t know much about. “
Tell us what aftermarket parts have you had trouble with, other then magazines?
There are some cheap aftermarket parts, but most are better then factory parts.

I’ve never had a factory stock Glock jam or otherwise fail on me.

Then you haven’t used many, or been around many people that use Glocks. My department has been issuing Glocks for the last 18 years. I have seen three or four Glock mags fail over the years during training and qualifying.
The magazine is the weakest link in most magazine feed guns. And training can be pretty hard on magazines.
Now if the only training someone does is target shoot at the range, their magazines will most likely see very little to no hard use.
Aftermarket magazines are a great tool for training and the range. When moving and shooting and reloading, mags are dropped. I would rather train with my aftermarket mags then with my factory mage when using my own equipment.

Now when it comes to aftermarket mags, not all are the same. There are some that just don’t work, but there are some that work great.
One of my range bags has a bunch of high capacity Glock magazines. I call it my bag of sticks. Some are Glocks and others are aftermarket. I don’t use them in my handguns, just not practical. But they work great in this.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I’ve said it before, and will say it again. “ Some people tend to know a lot about things they don’t know much about. “
Tell us what aftermarket parts have you had trouble with, other then magazines?
There are some cheap aftermarket parts, but most are better then factory parts.


Then you haven’t used many, or been around many people that use Glocks. My department has been issuing Glocks for the last 18 years. I have seen three or four Glock mags fail over the years during training and qualifying.
The magazine is the weakest link in most magazine feed guns. And training can be pretty hard on magazines.
Now if the only training someone does is target shoot at the range, their magazines will most likely see very little to no hard use.
Aftermarket magazines are a great tool for training and the range. When moving and shooting and reloading, mags are dropped. I would rather train with my aftermarket mags then with my factory mage when using my own equipment.

Now when it comes to aftermarket mags, not all are the same. There are some that just don’t work, but there are some that work great.
One of my range bags has a bunch of high capacity Glock magazines. I call it my bag of sticks. Some are Glocks and others are aftermarket. I don’t use them in my handguns, just not practical. But they work great in this.
View attachment 929762

I need me one of those "sticks". For my …. Micro roni project i'm putting together.

 

[Robbins290]

Been using the magpul mages for a while (g17 mags). I have used and abused one mag. Goes bang every time. Liked it so much i ordered more. and some of the 22 round mags and some for g19. For around $10 a piece, They work great. Saves the wear and tear from the OEM mags that are about $25-30 each. I got sick of replacing the springs in the factory mags so i gave the magpuls a shot. WELL WORTH IT. I would even use them for CCW.

 

[Elkins45]

I have had nothing but good luck with the Magpul magazines in both 15 and 17 round variations, but then again I don’t carry a Glock as a defensive weapon. If I did I would probably carry factory mags.

I bought a whole bunch of the G17 Magpuls when they were on sale. I figured I could use them as barter when the boogaloo drops

 

[drobs]

Factory Glock and Magpul for me.
I may have to try some ETS mags. Looks like they worked just fine in this video:

 

[amd6547]

While Glock mags are cheap and ubiquitous, I agree with the post above about the Magpul G26 magazine. I really like how it feels in the hand. The two I have work with zero issues. When I ordered those, I also got a 20rd 9mm Pmag, just because. I haven’t shot it a lot, but it hasn’t had a problem.
When I got my surplus G22, I picked up a couple ETS mags. No problems.

 

[Gordon]

I bought a G17 in 1989 and shot bazillion rounds thru it in 10 years with factory mags. In Police reserves in the next 10 years used their G17 and my G26 off duty with factory mags , again no problems. I have and use for the last 10 years a G20 , with factory mags, no problems. That said when I bought a Ruger PC 9mm Charger a few months ago I had two old G17 mags I found, and one 20 year old 33 round mag. The dealer I bought the gun from gave me for an extra $20 2 Magpul 17 round Mags which feel thinner and lighter but work well and I bought a new Glock gen 4&5 type 33 round mag , all he had in his store at the time. I just bought 5 Korean 30 round mags I haven't tried yet. I will say this : The new Glock 33 round stick with the extra lock up of metal for gen 4 &5 guns do fit tighter with no wiggle in the wiggly Charger Glock magwell. Maybe thats what the Ruger is designed for. But so far they all shot 100%.My opinion is the Glock design is pretty good as far as magazines go. Amazing to me being they are polymer !

 

[JohnKSa]

I bought aftermarket mags during the AWB when factory mags became prohibitively expensive. When the AWB ended, I got rid of all of those mags--the ones I hadn't already thrown away. I no longer buy aftermarket mags. The only exception is that I will buy MecGar mags IF MecGar is an OEM supplier for the firearm in question.

So, for example, if MecGar made aftermarket Glock mags, I wouldn't buy them because MecGar isn't an OEM supplier for Glock. But I will buy MecGar magazines for my CZ75 since MecGar is an OEM supplier for CZ.

I'm not saying that all aftermarket mags are garbage. I'm just saying that I've had more trouble with aftermarket mags than factory mags--and by a large margin. Now that I can get factory mags easily and inexpensively, I see no reason to buy aftermarket mags.

 

[JDR]

Every Glock OEM and Glock Magpul magazine I have either gotten with a gun or bought separately, over the last 11 years is still functional and most are in regular rotational use. The only malfs I’ve ever had were ammo related.