Just got an AR - need some good mags and ammo

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goon

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I know that AR's are often more picky about which mags and ammo they will run with than AK's. Can someone give me some suggestions to start with and sources for ammo and mags online (everything local is too expensive).
Thank you.
 
I bought a bunch of Brownell magazines to replace some USGI magazines that were pretty well worn out and have been nothing but pleased with them.
You will pay a bit more for them and they are worth every extra penny spent.

Stay away from steel case ammunition.
Just about all the American made promotional loads are quite decent for shooting in an AR unless you are competing.
 
http://dsgarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=25
I bought 10 mags from these guys a month or two ago. They had 30 rounders on sale.

http://www.eaglefirearms.net/ar15_magazines.htm#5.56MM/.223_Magazines
Eagle Firearms used to have teflon coated mags that work well for me. The NTMG grey mag works for me also though I had to very lightly file off the point of the feed lips. Worked great once I did that. It took about 1 minute to do once I realized I needed to do it. I only have the one though.

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magazines.html
I haven't bought from these guys, but those D&H mags are the black teflon coated mags I mostly have. They work well in my Armalite.
 
I agree with the above recommendations on mags & ammo. Also test every mag you get and make sure it works. Even the best manufactuers have glitches. Treat your AR well and it'll be a very enjoyable firearm. An AR was my first centerfire rifle. I convinced good ole dad to get it for me as an "investment" as it was $600 for an original Colt SP1 during the dreaded ban. I couldnt pass up the offer then, and even now its worth more than what I paid. Have fun with the new rifle.
 
http://dsgarms.com/index.cfm?fuseact...category_id=25
I bought 10 mags from these guys a month or two ago. They had 30 rounders on sale.

http://www.eaglefirearms.net/ar15_ma....223_Magazines
Eagle Firearms used to have teflon coated mags that work well for me. The NTMG grey mag works for me also though I had to very lightly file off the point of the feed lips. Worked great once I did that. It took about 1 minute to do once I realized I needed to do it. I only have the one though.

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magazines.html
I haven't bought from these guys, but those D&H mags are the black teflon coated mags I mostly have. They work well in my Armalite.
Click to expand...

I have bought mags from all of these companies and have been very satisfied with their service and mags themselves. Stay away from anything made by USA Magazines, no matter how cheap they are.

Any mags marked DSA, NHTMG, D&H, OKay, Labelle, and Center are all safe bets. You will find teflon and dry film finishes. Either finish is good but the teflon tends to stay "nicer" looking over time.

Ammo I use.....
-Federal XM193 (boxed. There is losed packed stuff called XM193PD. Very mixed reviews. most people will say to stay away from it). This is mil-spec and is considered very good ammo. The bad news is it is getting harder to find. If you do decide to buy the PD stuff, be sure to visually check each round before shooting it.

-Federal American Eagle 55 gr. Good stuff for target shooting.

Also, check out this web site. This will provide you with a lot of information.
http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm
 
I have had three AK's. Can't shoot them worth a damn. Plus the ammo thing scared me with them. At least with .223 it is available, even if it is a little more. I found some American Eagle .223 today for $3.50 a box - not much more than Wolf 7.62x39 used to be for a box around here.
IMO, the AR definitely beats the AK on this.

What about foreign surplus ammo for cheap blasting and stockpiling? Is there any good stuff around?
Thanks.
 
Radway Green. NATO 5.56 made by the British.

The other alternative is the Guatemalan 5.56. There's also the 5.56 made in the United Arab Emirates.

While I am sure both of those are fine, I trust British ammo a little bit more for some reason ;)

Finally, there is the XM855PD. That's made in the US, but it isn't factory seconds, they are factory thirds. It is too expensive to justify being thirds.

For new factory ammo, there's Winchester Q3131, which is 5.56 ammo. It is expensive. AE is next, it is .223 pressure, and it is expensive, but less than the Winchester. Rem UMC was the cheapest of the factory .223, but they just had a price increase.

For blasting ammo, Wolf is hard to beat. If your AR can eat it. My Colt has zero problems with it.


That's pretty much the breakdown. Your best bet is to go to ar15.com, go to the AR15 forum, then to the ammunition discussion area and click on the Ammunition prices sticky. Whatever is listed there, is pretty much what's available and for what prices.
 
Thank you. I won't be able to do anything about some mags and ammo until next week but at least now I know where to start.
 
I'll back up what ugaarguy said. If you don't know for sure, just buy one mag of each type and try them. If it works for you, buy 10 or 15. :) Having a mag that doesn't work reliably makes the whole rifle unreliable and frustrating.

I actually have 2 40 round USA mags that seem to work just fine in my Armalite. I certainly can't speak for any others and I haven't seen that brand around much anyway. From reports I have read, they are inconsistent. I also have USA 2 20 rounders that are crap.
 
I've had really bad luck with the XM193PD and now avoid any ammo packaged as "PD" from Federal. I am running about 2-3% squib loads 1-2 per 1k that are visibly unsafe to fire.
 
1-2% squibs? Ouch.

I just finished up firing the last of a 1K box of Fed PD, and had 0 squibs for the entire thing. I got it about a year ago though, so maybe the newer stuff has more problems? I hand sorted all 1000+ rounds, and tossed about 2 dozen with cracked case necks and dents too severe to trust as safe, but no squibs.
 
The best?
no problems ever?

Get some GI mags (D&H seem to be the most common currently)
Put a Magpul ranger bottom on it and get the Magpul followers
absolutely no issues
the only way to fly
You can get these pre-done from most "tactical vendors"
I get mine from Denny's Guns for about 23 a pop
worth it, I've seen them from $23 to $27 a pop

Best Ammo?

Black Hills blue box 55gr or for longer distances Black Hills blue box 75 grain (if you have a 1/7 or 1/8 barrel)

Black Hills 55grain and the Mangpul magazines and you will have ZERO issues.

enjoy
 
there was a post on here to a thread on ak47 with people having quite a few problems with the D&H FYI. I haven't used them, was actually going to order 10 when I heard about the problems.
 
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