AR Magazine questions...

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Balrog

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Are Magpul P-mags any good?

What is the best AR mags out there right now?
 
what is a good price for pmags? Aimsurplus has them for about $17.
 
12 bucks is a good price 15 seems to be the usual. I am interested in seeing if the Troy mags are better than the Pmags. I will just have to wait for my Troy's to arrive and then I will compare the two.
 
PMAGs are very nice.

IMO the best AR mags are NHMTG 20 rounders and PMAGS.

44mag.com usually has excellent prices, has them in stock, and ships very quick.
 
what is a good price for pmags?
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Which PMAG?
I got my last 2 orders from Shooters Connection, but they were the standard 30-rd WITHOUT window. I just don't trust the window-not so much for possible breakage, but I've had a LOT of clear plastic stuff yellow over the years. Don't know that the clear PMAG window would do so, but I ain't chancing it.
Price was $11.90/ea if you order the 10-pack. Shipping is reasonable, adding 'bout $1 per mag to the price.
Make SURE you're getting the lastest-version "M"!
He also has good prices on boxed rolls of various colored target pasters.

If you want to stick with metal (and it never hurts to have a mix?), Bravo Company USA has D&H Black Teflon 30-rd with PMAG Gen III followers with Bravo Company stamped floor plates for $9.99 each. 44 Mag has the same D&H mags for $8.49, but you'll have to replace the OEM followers with PMAGs-44 Mag also has free shipping for orders of $200 and more (got any friends that can share shipping costs?).

MagPul Standard 30 round - Black -10PAK

BLACK Teflon Finish, Magpul ENHANCED Follower, 30 Round - BLACK

D&H 5.56 30rd AR15 Magazine Black Teflon

EDIT: Fergot to add-I'm sure you know PMAGs are larger than USGI metal? FWIW, I can store 18 USGI mags in the same space as 15 PMAGs (stacked, or side by side).

A couple of PDFs you might want to save?
This one's too big to upload!
 

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AFAIK, the differences between the different revisions are fairly small. I believe Rev M adds the capacity to retain the dustcover by clipping it over the base and also adds increased impact resistance in sub-zero temperatures. While I agree that those are nice to have features, I would not pass up earlier versions at good prices.

Mike
 
I keep my GI mags around, and use them only if I'd like to have malfunctions in training.
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That's funny, my USGI mags are my SHTF mags, I have to use my USA magazines to have malfunctions in training...

I've got a bunch of "closeout magazines" from 44mag that are made by LaBelle, D&H, NHMTG, that cost 8 or 9 bucks each. I only have a handful of magazines that cost more than $10, most were were bought before 2004 - the other two are PMags that haven't done anything my others haven't.

PMags may be the best, but my GI mags run 100%, so I save that $4+ a mag.
 
I choose magazines roughly in this order:

Lancer L-5 (HD/SD "has to work everytime", stays loaded in the rifle)
Magpul PMag (great all-around range magazines, but fine for serious work as well)
USGI issue (cheap and available, seldom used but still good)

*I would stick to these, as most other manufactures may be slightly cheaper, but are inferior leading to poor reliability. IMO the magazine is the biggest flaw in the design of the AR (and other STANAG compatible platforms), the most likely cause of problems (the weak link) and should therefore be chosen carefully for good reliable service. Get good ones and you're rifle will generally perform as designed and do so for a long period of time, go cheap and you'll have a heck of a time diagnosing the problem and end up spending more in the long run.

:)
 
I'm curious about the long-term durability of the Lancer mags in training. They just look flimsier than the Pmag. I'm not talking about long term use in a range gun, with gingerly mag changes and nothing getting dropped on the deck. I'm talking about training, where stuff gets dropped, stepped on, kicked, banged off the deck in a rapid prone-out, etc etc etc...

Mike
 
I'm curious about the long-term durability of the Lancer mags in training. They just look flimsier than the Pmag.
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I've had no problems with my Lancers, though I haven't had them for long (a year or so) and they don't get abused too much. They do seem a little more fragile, but I don't know that they are, and I haven't heard of any reliability/durability issues. I do know that the steel feed lips are tough on em', and that is important to me as I leave them in my carbine loaded with the bolt open for ready use (makes swapping to range mags easier without compromising speed if I should need the rifle for social work).

:)
 
Reasons why I love my Pmags:
-you can slam them in and miss, and they don't take a chunk of finish and metal out of the guns bottom, I'm a lefty so a tactical reload is tough on the rifle. The mag I remove gets dragged across the side of the Ar when I grasp both mags and slam the new one in.

-less noise, less rattle.
-most reliable mags around
-can't scratch them. No need for refinishing.
- no feed lip distortion causing chronic double feeds. My metal mags can sometimes deform from hard use. But pmags have to use the cover for loaded storage.
- easier to tactical reload a full 30rd mag on a closed bolt.
- if I cover my self with them, you can run me over with a Chevy 4x4 truck and I'll survive.
- I can let them roll around my gear bag loaded and not worry about things getting in them jamming them up. The cover keeps random bits out.
-jelly beans
- I no longer have a set of light use mags for defense, and hard use mags for training. Now I can train with my defense mags to make sure they work without worry of damageing them.
 
Bravo Company USA has D&H Black Teflon 30-rd with PMAG Gen III followers with Bravo Company stamped floor plates for $9.99 each.
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I just bought 2 of those and 2 pmags Friday for my first AR build. Glad to hear I made a good choice. From all the reviews I've read here they seemed like a good choice. I won't know until my parts piles manifest themselves into a full rifle.
 
The Pmags are my favorite mag. From what I have heard, the GI mags were originally intended to be disposable. They aren't built to withstand much abuse, I mean come on, they are spot welded together. The Pmags are easier to load than my GI mags. You can store them loaded without worrying about the feed lip bending. You can run over them with a truck. They really don't cost much more than other mags. Plus they come in sweet tacticool colors.
 
what I have heard, the GI mags were originally intended to be disposable. They aren't built to withstand much abuse, I mean come on, they are spot welded together.
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How many times do we read these famous words "what I heard"? Where did you "hear" all this?

GI mags must meet military specs while retail magazines don't have to answer to anyone. GI mags have been issued in the tens of millions (hundreds of millions?), and some have survived from Vietnam days and are still pulling service in various armies. They may not come in tacticool colors, but they work.

If anyone wants to buy & use beefier magazines, I have no problems, but throwing out ridiculous assertions that original ones can't do the job is just advertising ignorance.
 
I am inclined to think that the best all-around AR15 mags now available are the TangoDown ARC magazines. I like them better than Pmags. Better grasping ridges, better shape to fit in mag pouches without interference, confidence inspiring design and material, and a follower that seems a step better than Pmag's. They can't be disassembled but at the price and given the design I don't think that really matters.

My personal runners-up are Fusil, Lancer, and Pmag in that order, but I have only limited testing with the first two.

I have used all of the following magazines, and recommend all except as noted:
TangoDown
Pmag
Lancer L5
USGI - D&H mfg
USGI - NHMTG mfg
Cammenga Easymag (*my experience has been great, but a friend has had problems with these)
Fusil USA (100% in very limited testing)

and the others:
ProMag polymer - total junk
Korean "maritime mag" - works OK but doesn't lock bolt back when empty
C-Products curved 30rd aluminum - very erratic quality control
C-Products curved 30rd stainless steel - mostly good but not at the level I can recommend
C-Products straight 20rd stainless steel - erratic quality control

I would happily use anything on the first list. USGI mags are fine, but do not confuse other aluminum mags (like CP) with actual USGI government issue type mags.
 
How many times do we read these famous words "what I heard"? Where did you "hear" all this?

GI mags must meet military specs while retail magazines don't have to answer to anyone. GI mags have been issued in the tens of millions (hundreds of millions?), and some have survived from Vietnam days and are still pulling service in various armies. They may not come in tacticool colors, but they work.

If anyone wants to buy & use beefier magazines, I have no problems, but throwing out ridiculous assertions that original ones can't do the job is just advertising ignorance.
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It is true, though, that the lightweight aluminum mags were originally intended to be disposable. For example, see Maj. Thomas P. Ehrhart, Increasing Small Arms Lethality in Afghanistan: Taking Back the Infantry Half-Kilometer:

The magazine is an important part of the rifle. When originally designed by Eugene Stoner, the magazine was meant to be a lightweight, disposable item. Due to this concept, the magazine was made from aluminum and not designed to be durable. Soldiers soon learned that the magazine was not disposable and that care was required to keep the weapon reliable.

There are several things that soldiers can do to ensure their magazines work. The most important thing to do is to keep them clean. Just as sand can find its way into the rifle, it will find its way into the magazines. Magazines should frequently be disassembled and brushed clean. Pulling a cleaning rag through the body several times is adequate. Inspect the back of the feed lips to ensure they are not cracked and the lips have not spread apart. Load about 15 cartridges into the magazine and while holding it in one hand, smack the base of the magazine with the other. If several rounds pop out, either the feed lips are spread and/or the magazine has a weak spring. The entire magazine should be discarded. Soldiers can identify potential problems in magazines by numbering each magazine with a paint marker and noting any malfunctions caused when the magazine is used in the weapon.
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You are correct that the USGI magazines can indeed do the job and do it well. Where they fall short is in durability, particularly impact resistance. Dropping a USGI magazine on the feed lips is a pretty good way to ruin it, and they are also susceptible to feed lip spreading over time.
 
I like PMAGs but also have a lot of GI mags too. No problems with either but you do hear of PMAGs sometimes sticking in tight magwells. I'd say try a few of each then buy more of what you like best.
 
It is true, though, that the lightweight aluminum mags were originally intended to be disposable.
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Not entirely, only the 20s were intended to be disposable, the 30s were (and still are) intended to be replaced on an as-needed basis (not disposable).

I really wish the Fusil mags would become available in 20rnd variety, I'd love to try a few, but they have been produced for several years so I doubt they will. Also wish that someone (anyone) would start producing good quality 7.62x39mm AR magazines, particularly in the 20rnd variety. :(
 
Oh, I forgot to list TAPCO AR-15 mag on my list. I've tried two. One has been definitely unreliable. The other one is good so far, but I only have about 30 rounds through it. They are not as nice as Pmags or TangoDown in any way I can see, and cost about the same.
 
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