Difference in Glock Mags?

[Bobson]

My G19 came with two mags. I bought two extras (standard Glock packaging) the same day.

Two of my mags look like the one on the left, and two look like the one on the right. Note: on the unloaded mag, you see metal in the mag release groove and on the front of the mag, versus no metal apparent in those areas on the loaded mag.

Also when looking at the back of the mags, the marking at the bottom is different. The mags marked "Austria" is the one with the metal showing in those two areas.

What gives with the change? Which ones shipped with my Glock (guess I wasn't paying close enough attention at first haha)? Has anyone noticed a difference over time? I've only used two of the four mags so far, with about 200 rounds each going through each style. Haven't noticed any difference yet. Just curious about the difference between them.

Thanks.

EDIT: Sorry that the pics are sideways... idk why. They aren't that way on my PC.

 

[FL-NC]

The most important "differences" I've noticed in Glock factory mags is that earlier ones didn't "drop free" when empty, at least sometimes. It seems like these have a more "rounded" shape at the top rear of the mag- the area where the rim of the top round seats. The second difference is that mags made after Gen 4 have the release cutouts on both sides- older ones have a single cutout on the shooter's right. Older mags will work in a Gen 4 as long as its set up for a right hand shooter. Newer ones work in everything. I've been told that there have been differences in the metal liners and such, but I don't know for sure. There may be other variations, such as LE markings, etc. but these are the only ones I've ever noticed that may effect performance.

 

[F-111 John]

The magazine with no exposed metal cutout on the front but with cutouts on both sides for ambi mag release is the newest generation of Glock magazine.

The one on the left is a Gen 4 magazine. The one on the right is the "new" Gen 4 magazine.

 

[Bobson]

Interesting. So I have two "old" Gen4, and two "new" Gen4.

Anyone know why the change was made?

 

[9mmepiphany]

When I first read the OP, I thought you were asking about the differences between the 9, now 10, generations of Glock magazines.

Glock doesn't usually announce changes, just as they don't usually acknowledge issues that crop up with in-service guns