AR-15 20 Rounders

[Michael the Disciple]

Hi all,

I may buy an AR this year. I prefer 20 round mags. Are these as good as the 30's? What are good brands and what is the going price? Are there current issue 20's being made that were LE only available that we can get? Or do we get just old mags?

 

[762x51]

Don't know about current production mags since I'm in NY and can't own them, but new preban Colt and Universal 20's are in the 20-30 dollar area now and generally considered the best. Used ones can be had for 10-15. Best place to find them is the Equipment Exchange on AR15.com and the various vendors that advertise there.

I prefer them to 30's too. Just as, if not more reliable and stick out significantly less.

 

[g56]

From what I understand, the 20 round military magazines are the best one's you can get, they are supposed to be more reliable than the 30's, I have both but haven't had any problems with either one.

I'm not sure of the going prices right now, but Chris at Eagle Firearms has new Okay Industries 20 rd magazines for $17 each, Okay's are good mags and Chris is a good guy to do business with, I just got another Stag Arms stripped lower receiver last week from Chris.

Eagle Firearms Magazines

 

[Steve Smith]

Thousands of HP shooters use the 20's all the time. We love them. The USGI 20s should be VERY reliable.

 

[bama1911]

In shotgun news a company called R Guns sell new colt 20rd mags 10 for $150. The have fast service too. I would rather use the 20rd mags also.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Advantage of the 20 rounder is that you can get low for the prone position. The higher you are, and you will be higher off the ground because of the additional length of the 30 rounder, the less stable you are. That's why high power shooters like the 20s.

 

[Zach S]

Colt and NHMTG 20s (same mags?) dont drop free from my Bushmaster lower (its an easy fix), but otherwise I like them.

 

[8830]

I too prefer 20s to 30s and just bought 10 used for $100 from a guy on AR15.com. They are all Colts and it's hard to find a better deal. I also have a couple of the new Colt 20s that came with my M4 and you can tell that the used ones I got are older but just as reliable.

 

[Roadkill]

I use my Colt Target SP2 for coyote hunting, 30 round mag is just too much. The 20s are perfect and I rarely put more than seven rounds in it. I think I have twenty or so Colt twenty round mags and they are all 100% reliable. Some folks don't realize that any mag needs maintenance. Couple of times a year I disassemble, wipe out, lube, and reassemble all of them.

rk

 

[762x51]

Speaking of maintenance....is there an easy way to disassemble the 20 round Colt mags? I took one apart the other day and the tab that keeps the floorplate in place is in the way when you try to remove the follower and spring. I didn't want to bend it back knowing how brittle aluminum can be.

 

[MrMurphy]

The "lower in prone" stuff is BS. Prone with a 30 rounder, you're on your elbows.

Unless you're kissing dirt, you're not getting any lower with the 20 rounder.


As to "new" they're all non-military, LEO type. The military went to 30 rounders in the mid 60s and never looked back.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

They still make 20's and were sold mainly with colt prebans but after that ban went into effect you had to be a LE or military to get them. I do understand they are easier to find now that the restriction is gone. The only real difference I see betwen the late 60's mags and the one's that were sold since are the adaptation of the plastic follower.

I used both during the highpower season but did it this way and it was just a easy thing for me as I had plenty of both new and old type.
I used the ones with the plastic follower for my 2 round mags and the aluminum for the 8 round and slow fir stages. Never had a problem with any of the plastic followers with the bolt staying open for my mag change but it always helped me keep track of which where which . I know I could of marked them but it is my way of doing it.

I use both 30's and 20's in matches but its this way.
For a regular match I along with every other highpower shooter and that includes the AMU and Marine teams use 20's.
You can get a lower position with a 20 as mine is pretty low as to the point a 20 will lay on my shooting jacket and be within the color of the rules as if I use my normal position in prone a 30 would compress my sleeve to the point of being a illegal rest.

I do use a 30 in my rattle battle match at the nationals but its kinda hard to get 25 rounds in a 20 round mag so I am forced to do this but then again I use a slightly raised position and I mean as only as much as to keep my position legal with the mag.
I am the only person on either one of my teams to use two 30's and one 20 in the match and load them this way 25 rounds in the two 30's and 14 in the 20. The only problem with this that could come up is IF we had a rifle malfunction and had to pass out the ammo to fire among the others I could only hold another 6 rounds but between the other 5 shooters if that would happen I can not see having to hold more than 6 rounds and if I neded more I would hve time toload the 30 before I went to the line at 300 yards for the sitting. I like the way the 20 fits in my sitting as its more natural to me as far as what I use normally.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I have ordered several mags from RGUNS and have been happy with them. Here is the link to the 20 rounders...

http://www.rguns.net/005_2.html

The pic looks like hell, but the mags are new. If you are a collector or potential collector, the Colt stamped mags seem to command another buck or two to collectors. Otherwise, I find they shoot just fine, drop free, and are good to go.

You can get the 30 round Colts for the same price...

http://www.rguns.net/005_1.html