AR Mags:USGI vs. Magpul PMAG

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Grey Morel, you're either getting a steal on L5's or overpaying for Pmags. Lately I'm seeing L5's at $19 and Pmags at $14.20 or so.

The Lancer body feels cheap, but it isn't. They hold up well and are well thought of by experienced instructors I know, both in person and online.

The C-Products SS mags... I have several and while they're a cool idea, I don't think they're well executed. The SS metal is very thin and as a result the mags aren't especially strong. I find that their dimensions don't work with all rifles. I thought they were cool until better things came along, like Pmags and L5s. Personally I would take a quality GI aluminum mag over SS mags from CP.
 
They are nice, but I think the USGI ones still work fine.
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I agree, although I put new springs in surplus USGI mags.

I got a few PMags to try, but there for a while (when I had money) USGI mags could be had for about $10 and PMags were about $15. So, for $50 I could get four USGIs delivered, or two PMags. I got the USGIs more often.
 
I am at a toss up.
I use a dump pouch and try not to drop my magazines.
If one gets run over by a truck, it is because I left that area in a hurry and I ain't coming back for the magazine anyway.

I have been using Brownells aluminum magazines and P-Mags, both to complete satisfaction.
I prefer the Brownells straight aluminum 20 shot magazines to 20 shot P-mags but the 30 shot magazines I can go with either or and be happy.
 
How do the HK AR15 mags rank ? Even if cost wasn't an issue ?
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I have one, but at what it cost I don't plan to test it or use it for anything but mag-sculpture.

What I've read is that they have their own failure issues, mostly with wear. I don't think many people regularly use them in civilian life or torture test them because of the extremely high price.

Magazines should be viewed as a wear item, or even semi-disposable in combat. GI, Pmags, and Lancers all do fine viewed this way.
 
I like GI 20rd mags the best, followed by GI 30rd mags.
P-mags are great, unless you have an out of battery event...while a GI mag will blow off the floorplate, and the body will swell, P-mags shatter and spray shrapnel
 
P-mags are great, unless you have an out of battery event...while a GI mag will blow off the floorplate, and the body will swell, P-mags shatter and spray shrapnel
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really that is funny, i have never seen or even heard of a pmag shattering, as a matter of fact i have seen one shot and still functioning just fine.
 
How do the HK AR15 mags rank ? Even if cost wasn't an issue ?
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When we got them issued, within about six months a lot of guys had switched back to scrounged up or personally purchased USGI aluminum mags.

Complaints were a combination of:

  1. Feed lips bend easily when loading with stripper clips. (Most significant issue, and not one HK has done anything to fix)
  2. Anti-tilt followers tilted and bound up inside the mags (issue with early productions, later fixed)
  3. HKs are heavier than USGI mags (no real fix for this)
  4. Slightly longer HK mags don't go well with all mag pouches and such out there (pretty minor problem, admittedly)

The deal with the feed lips bending was the primary show stopper that soured a lot of people on the HK mags. General consensus in my former little corner of the army was that government money would have been better spent buying USGI mag components from MagPul.

For a civilian shooter who's looking at paying $60 a piece or whatever for them, I would have to say they are utterly and completely not worth it when you can get four PMags or USGI mags for the same kind of money.
 
pmags in my opinion are far superior to usgi mags. usgi mags when they where first developed were designed to be disposable where as the pmags are not made with that type of mindset. Check the videos of pmags being run over with trucks and then tell me if the usgi can do the same (they do bust because ive tried it myself ;) pmags only cost about 15-18 bucks where decent gi mags are at least 20 everywhere i check. Superior product at a superior price
 
P-mags are great, unless you have an out of battery event...while a GI mag will blow off the floorplate, and the body will swell, P-mags shatter and spray shrapnel
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Well, since an OOB is likely to grenade the receiver, bolt, and bolt carrier my magazine is pretty low on my list of things to worry about when my rifle explodes in my face. BSW
 
I'm seeing so many price claims, I'd like to note what I can currently find various mags for:

USGI of various brands: $10-12 (usually with upgraded followers)
Pmags, 30rd: $14.20~
Pmags, 20rd: $13.50~
Lancer L5: $18-19
HK "high reliability" (cough, cough) mag: $50~

So, no one has yet mentioned the Fusil USA all-steel mags, or the new TangoDown ARC mag...
 
Pmags feel better in the hand, are more reliable, less noise in use, are less probable to slip out of your hand, fit the mag well easier and slicker, are 100 times tougher, hold 31 rds if you dont use the dust cover, come in multiple molded in colors, and many other reasons.
Keep in mind though good USGI mags are great and if taken care of last for many years.
I noticed right away when I got my first pmags that they have less spring pressure than the USGI mag and work smoother.
 
There was a thread on arfcom, I think...OOB detonation or case failure, Pmag shattered and shooter got hit by plastic shrapnel.
 
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How do the HK AR15 mags rank ? Even if cost wasn't an issue ?
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March 2008 - TACOM terminates its April 2007 contract with HK for 10,020 thirty round magazines. As a result, TACOM deallocates $288,080. Source

TACOM goes on to buy over 1,000,000 magazines from Center, Brownells and Okay that same year. Source

If you'll look at the solicitations for 2009, you'll see Naval Special Warfare doing something similar - HK mags get dumped and Magpul picks up a contract for PMAGs.
 
Found the thread:
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Really off topic...and not meaning to thread-jack, but what was the source of the ammo problem...I have some 300WM match that they made and definitely do not want any problems. Thanks in advance. :)
 
Yes that is a pretty convincing torture test especially when they break most of the feed lips off. Pmags are great, sure USGI mags work fine but if you are starting from scratch or buying some new mags you would be crazy not to go with pmags.
 
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