I bought a couple of PMAGs from a gun store back in April and they were mostly the same. A few markings were different. Both of them came in a plastic Magpul marked bag.
Just the other day I ordered a couple of D&H mags and a PMAG from Palmetto State Armory (I bought the metal mags as a novelty and after just handling them, do not like them at all).
The mags from Palmetto State, just like EVERYTHING I have bought from PSA, came unpackaged and merely wrapped in brown packing paper.
On the left (mag catch) side of all the magazines right under the cutout for the mag catch, there are three markings. On the two I bought from the gun store.
The top markings are either "M7" or "M8". On the one from PSA it is "X1".
The next marking down is an indented circle with raised numbers...on the gun store magazines the number is "10" on the PSA magazine the number is "11"
The next marking down appears to be a date manufactured mark. It is an indented circle with raised small numbers in a ring going from 1-12 and an arrow pointing to one of these numbers, the arrow sits between a bigger raised number.
Assuming it is date manufactured, the gun store mags say "9/11 and 10/11" the PSA mag say s"4/12"
On the gunstore mags the "PMAG 30" marking is at the bottom, right above the baseplate. On the PSA mag it is above the cutout for the mag catch.
On the gunstore mags the cartridge shape with "5.56x45" is fully indented, with the cartridge designation raised.
On the PSA mag, the cartridge shame is just an indented outline, with the "5.56x45" indentded inside the outline.
Both of the gun store magazines have the same exact 3 panel reinforcing rib pattern. The PSA mag has 3 panels as well, but each panel is smaller and the open space above the base plate where the "PMAG 30" would be on the others is wider, as if for a label.
All 3 mags have an "M" on the follower.
All 3 mags have an "M" and an "02" on the bottom of the base plate
On the right (mag release) side, the older gun store magazines have "PMAG 30 M PAT. PENDING, MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP. CAGE 1LX50 MADE IN USA" "NSN 1005-01-576-5159" They also have the identical "5.56x45" and PMAG 30 markings from the opposite side
The PSA Mag has "PMAG 30 OE PAT. PENDING, MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP., CAGE 1LX50 MADE IN USA"
I wonder if the OE might mean this is one they sell to OEM manufacturers to sell with their prebuilt guns.
The springs inside the older gun store mags are brass colored, the spring inside the newer PSA mag is black.
I've fired about 230 rounds between the two older gun store mags. I took them apart and they were still spotless inside.
I took the PSA mag apart as soon as I unpacked if from the box and it was FILTHY on the inside. My hands were black after touching the baseplate catch and spring. I would almost think this was powder residue, but I guess could be something from the manufacturing of the magazine.
Just the other day I ordered a couple of D&H mags and a PMAG from Palmetto State Armory (I bought the metal mags as a novelty and after just handling them, do not like them at all).
The mags from Palmetto State, just like EVERYTHING I have bought from PSA, came unpackaged and merely wrapped in brown packing paper.
On the left (mag catch) side of all the magazines right under the cutout for the mag catch, there are three markings. On the two I bought from the gun store.
The top markings are either "M7" or "M8". On the one from PSA it is "X1".
The next marking down is an indented circle with raised numbers...on the gun store magazines the number is "10" on the PSA magazine the number is "11"
The next marking down appears to be a date manufactured mark. It is an indented circle with raised small numbers in a ring going from 1-12 and an arrow pointing to one of these numbers, the arrow sits between a bigger raised number.
Assuming it is date manufactured, the gun store mags say "9/11 and 10/11" the PSA mag say s"4/12"
On the gunstore mags the "PMAG 30" marking is at the bottom, right above the baseplate. On the PSA mag it is above the cutout for the mag catch.
On the gunstore mags the cartridge shape with "5.56x45" is fully indented, with the cartridge designation raised.
On the PSA mag, the cartridge shame is just an indented outline, with the "5.56x45" indentded inside the outline.
Both of the gun store magazines have the same exact 3 panel reinforcing rib pattern. The PSA mag has 3 panels as well, but each panel is smaller and the open space above the base plate where the "PMAG 30" would be on the others is wider, as if for a label.
All 3 mags have an "M" on the follower.
All 3 mags have an "M" and an "02" on the bottom of the base plate
On the right (mag release) side, the older gun store magazines have "PMAG 30 M PAT. PENDING, MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP. CAGE 1LX50 MADE IN USA" "NSN 1005-01-576-5159" They also have the identical "5.56x45" and PMAG 30 markings from the opposite side
The PSA Mag has "PMAG 30 OE PAT. PENDING, MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP., CAGE 1LX50 MADE IN USA"
I wonder if the OE might mean this is one they sell to OEM manufacturers to sell with their prebuilt guns.
The springs inside the older gun store mags are brass colored, the spring inside the newer PSA mag is black.
I've fired about 230 rounds between the two older gun store mags. I took them apart and they were still spotless inside.
I took the PSA mag apart as soon as I unpacked if from the box and it was FILTHY on the inside. My hands were black after touching the baseplate catch and spring. I would almost think this was powder residue, but I guess could be something from the manufacturing of the magazine.
