Glock magazines

[JoeSF]

I notice some factory glock magazines ahve a small metal window on the front side while some dont. Does anyone know why that is?

 

[Bullet]

The ones with the metal are for the ambidextrous mag release but can be used with the regular mag release too.

 

[HorseSoldier]

The new 4th generation models have a different magazine release set up that the mags you're talking about work with.

 

[Quiet]

Those are the newer style of magazines (8th generation).
The cut is there so it works with the ambi-mag release.

Since, the 9x19mm/.357SIG/.40S&W/.45GAP magazines share the same magazine bodies and the 10x25mm/.45ACP magazines share the same magazine bodies, it's cheaper to make all the magazines with the ambi-mag release cut than to make two different styles of magazines.

Ambi-mag release magazines will work in Glocks with the standard mag release.
Ambi-mag release Glocks will only work with ambi-mag release magazines (unless you modify the older style Glock magazines)

Currently, there are four different type of Glocks that have the ambi-mag release.
They are:
Glock 17MB
Glock 19MB
Glock 21SF (picatinny rail + ambi-mag release)
Glock 21SF (Glock rail + ambi-mag release)




Gen 1-4 = pre-'94 ban
Gen 5-6 = during '94 ban
Gen 7-8 = post-'94 ban

 

[xm21]

Those new ambi mags also hang out slightly when used in a standard frame.The magazine catch notch for use in regular frames is slightly higher on the side of the mag body.This is on a G19 Does anyone using different models notice the same thing?The tech rep I talked to when I called Glock in Smyrna said he had never noticed this.

 

[1KPerDay]

cool pix, Quiet. thanks