AR-15 wont seat mags when loaded?

[gadegaard]

Ok, well I'm using 30 round GI Steel mags and they will seat fine if empty. But once loaded they need an extra tap to get seated. Does anyone else have this problem?

 

[taliv]

fully-loaded mags will usually need more than a tap to seat when the bolt carrier is forward, which is why most folks recommend only putting 28 or so rounds in the mag.

 

[gadegaard]

Yea...but I only load mine to 28, it wont even seat if it has more then 10 rounds.

 

[Confucius]

If the bolt is closed, loaded mags require that extra tap. I don't really see it as a problem, it's just part of the loading procedure. Ram that thing in there good and tight, tap to be sure. If the bolt is open as if you were doing a functional reload, it shouldn't be a problem.

I wondered about it at first as well, but has occurred for every mag (pmag, lancer, usgi etc) and across multiple AR platforms in my experience.

 

[gadegaard]

thnks

 

[taliv]

so... that's a problem.

i just realized you said "GI Steel" mags. Has our military ever generally issued steel mags? I thought they were all aluminum. Maybe the mags are the problem, maybe it's your lower. I'd try some regular GI aluminum mags (try a pmag or D&H from bravoco). If that doesn't work, then contact the rifle mfg

 

[Z-Michigan]

USA has never issued steel mags for the M16/M4. You either have aluminum mags or non-USGI mags. There are both quality and junk steel AR mags on the market.

Most likely, though, you just need to push harder. Even a couple rounds in the mag will require more effort to latch it into place than when it's completely empty. Or you can just load with the bolt locked back.

 

[iiibdsiil]

They are probably aluminum. Steel is a common assumed material for all metals when unknown or not thought about. Just because we realize the difference doesn't mean everyone else does.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

The top cartridge in the magazine makes contact with the bottom of the bolt carrier when it's in battery. When you fully seat the magazine the top cartridge is pushed farther into the magazine. The resistance you feel is the resistance of the magazine spring. This is why more effort is required to seat a loaded magazine when the bolt is in battery than when it's locked open.

Cheers!

 

[tju1973]

Like some have said-- only put 28 in a 30 rounder..kind of crappy, but it works. I never put a full 30 (probably out of superstition) in my A2 my time in the Corps...

Never had an issue with beat up used or new mags...

YMMV

 

[tju1973]

If the bolt is closed, loaded mags require that extra tap. I don't really see it as a problem, it's just part of the loading procedure. Ram that thing in there good and tight, tap to be sure. If the bolt is open as if you were doing a functional reload, it shouldn't be a problem.

I wondered about it at first as well, but has occurred for every mag (pmag, lancer, usgi etc) and across multiple AR platforms in my experience.

Yep-- always practice "Tap, Rack, Bang.."

 

[Maverick223]

Try it with an open bolt and go from there. If it locks in with ease...try again with a closed bolt, you are probably just not exerting enough pressure...Toughen up cupcake.

 

[possum]

that is a common problem, i have my soliders put 28rds instead of 30 in a standard usgi mag. Personally i carry pmags at work so there is no issue with 30 rounds in the mags.

 

[AR-15 Rep]

Try a different mag and see if you can get more than ten rounds without slamming it in. If you run into the same problem, check the mag against another AR. The receiver could be machined wrong or the catch too high and cause problems. Sometimes the mag is stamped wrong and sits too high in the receiver and could cause problems as well.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Personally i carry pmags at work so there is no issue with 30 rounds in the mags.

As you're mixing apples & oranges when you mention "my soldiers" and "at work", can you clarify? Are you military, contractor or LEO?

I'm not familiar with the nuances of the pmag. Are you saying you don't encounter resistance when you seat a fully loaded 30 rd pmag? If the answer is "yes" then it seems to me that you're conditioning yourself for failure in the event you must use a common USGI aluminum magazine in combat (not conditioned to the extra effort required to seat it even when its loaded with 28 rds). The same actions you perform to seat a pmag may not work to reliably seat a USGI mag?

(I digress - When I was a grunt I was careful about the non-USGI equipment I humped, keeping in mind that if I were forced to use a replacement in the field, it'd be stock USGI gear that I wasn't as familiar, and efficient, with.)

Cheers!

 

[[Pb]]

I have learned to smack all my mags in, be they USGI, PMags, or whatever. It's pretty normal.