AR-15 Magazines: Bigger isn't always better.

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Geno

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I have seen numerous companies offering AR-15 magazines of varying capacities. While I do favor high-capacity magazines, I have noted some real "odd duck" magazines. Take a look at the following 100-round magazine:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=655946

Are they serious? Obviously yes they are, but who would design something like this? And worse, who would buy it? Could one really use it? Has anyone seen one up close? The following 90-round magazine looks a bit better, but I suspect it might be heavy on one side, i.e. poor balance:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=541983

My question is this. which Ar-15 magazine (manufacturer and capacity) is your preference? My preference is the Stoner 30 round magazines. MidwayUSA had them on special for only $9.99 a few month back. Mine have proven 100% reliable, and they do not have the LEO restriction stamped on them.

Doc2005
 
I've always found the USGI 20 rounders to be the most practical and reliable.
 
I've always found the USGI 20 rounders to be the most practical and reliable.
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Ditto. My varmint AR doesn't sit too well on the bench with a 30 rounder sticking out the bottom ;)

I use the 30's in my CAR and they are OK but I have had a few that took a while to break in.
 
If I had more money then I knew what to do with, I would buy a ninety round mag. I would be more concerned with how boring it would be to load, but it would more than make up for itself when I am sending rounds downrange:D
 
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I prefer GI 20s. The rifle handles better, it's easier to shoot from a bench, and I'm not shooting full auto.
 
I find

that the Colt 20's are the best. In the 30's, I prefer the Adventure Line. Never had a jam with any of these.
 
I stick to 20 and 30 round USGI mags for the most part. CProducts is good too, although I own none.

Anything else out there that I know of is of no interest to me.
 
Re-direct...you have to open the link...100-round "banana clip"?

Please open the links that I provided in the opening of the thread.

The thing is a 100-round "banana clip"! 100 rounds in a curved, not coiled magazine? Who would make a 100-round "banana clip"? This thing looks just plain weird! Here is the link again. Take a look:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=655946

Have a good day,

Doc2005
 
Doc,
There are plenty of reliable 20 and 30 round magazines out there. Don't waste your money on these other things unless you just want to have a novelty item and don't expect it to function.

The Army issued a Safety of Use message on the Beta C mag a few years back forbidding it from being used in combat. To my knowledge there are no reliable AR15 magazines larger then 30 rounds.

Jeff
 
I saw it the first time, what's your point? You asked what our preference was, that 100 round banana mag does nothing to sway my preference for USGI mags.
 
The Stoner magazine Midway sells are made by Cproducts. Cproducts make a variety of magazines, are high quality and have great customer service. Stoner doesn't make magazines, they resell them.
 
My question is this. which Ar-15 magazine (manufacturer and capacity) is your preference?
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I stick with USGI aluminum 30-rounders for the most part (or clones like the Brownell's mags, which seem to be identical). I put the MagPul orange anti-tilt followers in them, too -- those are really good.

I've been interested in the steel HK "high-reliability" AR mags for a while, but I've only seen them for like $50 each. That doesn't seem worth it.

As for that 100-rd banana mag, it looks absurd and would be quite useless, IMO. The 90-round drum would be a lot better, but I agree with you about the imbalance.

Incidentally, I was thinking of getting a Beta C-Mag for a while until I saw an article in an online military magazine (I don't have it handy, sorry) where soldiers said it kept jamming.
 
ForeverArmed got my point...more than 30 is absurd!

ForeverArmed said, "...As for that 100-rd banana mag, it looks absurd and would be quite useless, IMO. The 90-round drum would be a lot better, but I agree with you about the imbalance." I agree.

I buy the Colt, Bushmaster and Stoner 30-round mags. I have 1 Beta-C. I strongly prefer the 20 or 30 rounders. I would NEVER buy that banana-shaped thing. It's just weird!

Doc2005
 
I've been interested in the steel HK "high-reliability" AR mags for a while, but I've only seen them for like $50 each. That doesn't seem worth it.
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Take a look at the CProducts SS mags. They are stronger than USGI mags, resist corrosion better than the HK mags, weigh less and are smaller than the HK mags, and they are about $15-20. Plus they come with Magpul followers.

Hard to beat that.
 
I like any USGI spec 20 rounder, to me the handle better, are easier to shoot prone and I am not trying to retake Fallujah or anything like that so they are enough for me.
 
Take a look at the CProducts SS mags. They are stronger than USGI mags, resist corrosion better than the HK mags, weigh less and are smaller than the HK mags, and they are about $15-20. Plus they come with Magpul followers.
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Cool, thanks for the tip!!
 
I will agree that 100 round mag looks to be a poor idea. If I wanted super high capacity in a AR I think that upper swap that makes it belt fed (cant remember the name of the company that makes these) would be the way to go. The 90 round snail drums do look like they would be horrible as far as weapon balance goes. If a drum is the way you plan to go then the Beta C-Mag doesnt look like it would unbalance your rifle. I would however worry about what all that weight does to your mag catch though. Also remember what the barrel was designed for. Unless you have a heavy barrel I doubt running 100 rounds through it in a hurry will do anything good. I will stick with 30 round G.I surplus in my M4gery, and 20round G.I, and 5 round hunting mags in my target rifle.
 
:what: they actually work really well. exact same magazine i use for home defense. you never know when 20+ people show up.:what: :what:
 
If I wanted super high capacity in a AR I think that upper swap that makes it belt fed (cant remember the name of the company that makes these)
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Ares Defense.
There has been quite a bit of discontent with Ares however as people ordered the uppers when offered and had a long wait if they ever received them at all, at least according to what I have read at www.ar15.com.
 
OMG:what:

If I had an AR, there would be nothing you could do to keep me from buying that 100-round banana mag. That is one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen!

I just hope that when I get my AK, I'll be able to find something equally as obnoxious for it! HA!:D
 
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