Endomag blew up

[12Bravo20]

Did you watch the video above? Apparently it is possible to get a combination that the Endomag won't function with, he explicitly states that if a gunsmith can't get it to work they will refund the price.

I did watch the video. But to say that the Endomag is NOT compatible with AR 9mm bolts is NOT correct either. They do make one version for Glock and Colt style AR 9mm bolts.

 

[BreechFace]

Never understood the fascination with the Endomag in the first place. By the time one buys donor pmags and a few endomags one might as well have built an AR9 dedicated lower and use dirt cheap Glock pattern magazines.

 

[Atavar]

Sounds like yet another case of amateur gunsmith and gun breaks or blows up.
No surprise here.

 

[H&R Glock]

Not Compatible! There was only one version of the Endomag when I bought mine.
12Bravo20- YES- the ARStoner bolt (that I had) does not have the two grooves machined into the underside of the bolt. Just that simple. I had to replace my bolt with an FM9.
I racked one round of 9mm with the ARStoner bolt and fired. It ATE the Endomag. The brass was extremely bulged out at the base showing it failed to be backed up by the bolt.
I got my ARStoner upper from MidwayUSA. I left feedback there warning others about this problem. If you feel any interferece between the bolt and the Endomag check into it first.

 

[lysanderxiii]

Thanks for the video, I never heard of Endomag either.



It is apparent the OP is not able to describe the incident in terms other than "big, badda, boom!". And is unable to articulate any useful information about the event other than "magazine broke!".

Let me assume that there is something inside the Endomag insert that makes incidental contact with the primer. Anything having incidental contact with a primer can, and has, caused cartridge ignition, even though the round is not chambered. I have a hard time believing an out of battery slamfire, unless the cartridge is orientated such that the front of the bolt could make incidental contact with the primer.

Of course, given what we were told, that is "big badda boom!" and "magazine broke!" there could be missing information that leads to a different fault analysis.

An application of X-Ray soap would clean up the confusion.

View attachment 1046014

I am in agreement with Slamfire.

I fail to see how a magazine can present the primer to something that can set it off.

A much better explanation is in order . . .

 

[TacticalSpeed]

Thanks for the video, I never heard of Endomag either.



It is apparent the OP is not able to describe the incident in terms other than "big, badda, boom!". And is unable to articulate any useful information about the event other than "magazine broke!".

Let me assume that there is something inside the Endomag insert that makes incidental contact with the primer. Anything having incidental contact with a primer can, and has, caused cartridge ignition, even though the round is not chambered. I have a hard time believing an out of battery slamfire, unless the cartridge is orientated such that the front of the bolt could make incidental contact with the primer.

Of course, given what we were told, that is "big badda boom!" and "magazine broke!" there could be missing information that leads to a different fault analysis.

An application of X-Ray soap would clean up the confusion.

View attachment 1046014

Endomag's are not compatible with all AR/AK 9mm bolts. What brand is your 9mm upper?
If it's an ARStoner you are in trouble. BTDT! I also had an out of battery fire.

not stoner

 

[Barbaroja]

I’m interested in the whole story here. I feel like there are a lot (almost any pertinent info) of things being left out. Why create this thread and give no valuable information.

 

[greyling22]

Never understood the fascination with the Endomag in the first place. By the time one buys donor pmags and a few endomags one might as well have built an AR9 dedicated lower and use dirt cheap Glock pattern magazines.

My fascination came from getting to run a 9mm upper on my sbr lower without anything but a magazine and upper change. For under $500 I got a radially delayed 9mm sbr. I sold my ar9 and cz scorpion and have never looked back.

 

[jmorris]

So, the gun is firing out of battery? Is the bolt hanging up on the mag somehow?

They can, if they do then they require modification. Likely how the OP has used them in other firearms without issue, until the last one.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Yes, the bolt can hang up on the magazine insert. The Endomag instructions are quite clear on how to trim/modify it if it does.

The lure of an Endomag is what greyling22 stated; ability to use a regular AR lower and a 9mm upper and then 10 minutes later use the same lower with a 223 upper. Or whatever your flavor is.

I learned about Endomags from a post by Gunny about a year back.

 

[danez71]

The lure of an Endomag is what greyling22 stated; ability to use a regular AR lower and a 9mm upper and then 10 minutes later use the same lower with a 223 upper. Or whatever your flavor is.

I could be imagining this...

Isn't there a magwell insert that fits into a normal lower and allows the use of Glock mags?

If there isn't, I'm claiming it as a new invention.

 

[BreechFace]

I could be imagining this...

Isn't there a magwell insert that fits into a normal lower and allows the use of Glock mags?

If there isn't, I'm claiming it as a new invention.

Yes, there is; another reason why I don't get the Endomags. But no big deal, it seems there are those that like them.

 

[Fite Man]

As an Endomag user I am interested in more details as to what happened...

The reasons I chose to use Endomags instead of the other 9mm options were:

· I wanted to create a 9mm carbine that has the exact controls as a normal AR. Endomags allow for a complete clone of the AR platform at the lower cost of shooting 9mm, and allows for the same gear/magazine feel.

· My understanding is that the block inserts that except other magazines change the mag release location on the gun.

· I wanted to utilize an existing AR lower for continuity sake, rather than have a dedicated 9mm lower.

· Last round bolt hold open was important to me.

· I was going to have to spend money on some type of magazine, but already have plenty of pmags which can be easily converted back into original condition. Unless they blow apart I guess….

For reference I have well over 1,000 rounds through a combination of three mags, and have fired most of those rounds using a Franklin Armory binary trigger.

 

[12Bravo20]

· My understanding is that the block inserts that except other magazines change the mag release location on the gun.

This is only true when using Glock magazines. When using Colt magazines, all controls are the same as a standard 5.56 AR.

I do see the allure of the EndoMag for those that do not want to use a dedicated lower or mag block.

As far as the OP, I am like others and feel that we are not getting all of the information.

 

[BreechFace]

Seems to me the OP should be concerned with his gun allowing the bolt to bounce (improper buffer/spring weight) and fire or allowing the hammer to engage the firing pin out of battery. This is an occurrence of blow back 9mm if they are not tuned correctly.

The endomag certainly could have contributed to this event but no way it is the cause of the rifle being able to fire out of battery. Seems the OP is conveniently being vague on the details.

 

[Slamfire]

The endomag certainly could have contributed to this event but no way it is the cause of the rifle being able to fire out of battery. Seems the OP is conveniently being vague on the details.

Did the OP ever mention reloads? Reloads are the most probable cause of any kaboom, because the reloader put too much powder in the case. Usually, when these guys finds out they were firing a self created a mini nuke, instead of admitting it, they lie.

And, we don't know if the OP ejected a live shell, or conducted some other dangerous weapon handling practice, at the time of the kaboom. I don't have an endo mag, but the video states the ejector is on the magazine. If a live round is ejected, with a live primer, and that primer hit that ejector, the primer could ignite. It has happened with other weapon systems, inadvertent contact with a primer.

 

[230RN]

Post withdrawn by poster.

I was getting too crusty about posters who assume their readers are mind readers.

Wasn't high road at all.

Terry, 230RN

 

[wesmonster]

I tried an Endomag insert in both a gen2 windowed and a gen 3 PMAG for a 9mm pistol build.
It did not work with an Alpha Shooting Sports 9mm hybrid BCG.
When feeding from the right side there was just enough contact for the bolt to catch a round, but not from the left because of the built in plastic ejector. Tried to file it down to get rounds to sit up higher, but the ejector eventually failed before it ever ran right.
Also, with the ejector in the mag, if a round is chambered and you remove the mag, it’s a PITA to clear the weapon if you’re trying to fix a malfunction or if you shoot on a range that requires you to rack your firearm with action open & empty when the range goes cold.
It was a tight fit in my gen 3 but I had to hammer it in my gen 2 windowed PMAG.

lots of people seem to like Endomags, I’ve also run a 16” carbine Colt style 9mm AR with Metalform mags and a Hahn top loading block. That setup has never malfunctioned, even with hollow points or 147 gr. truncated bullets. And runs fine with both the Alpha BCG and my original RRA BCG.