Magpul AR10 mags, dust covers...

[ID-shooting]

Got a new AR10 this year. I have buying Magpull 20-rd mags for it. Each mag comes with a dust cover that snaps over the feed lips. While this may seem cool, they mostly just get in the way and are a pain in rapid re-load drills.

While I like most Magpull "innovations" these seem like a solution looking for a problem. 9 years in the Army, carrying rifles in some really harsh environments, I never needed a dust cover over the mags.

So, did you guys toss them, shove them in a box, or are you re-training your selves to deal with them?

 

[CaptHank]

I have them all in a box, stored on the top of a cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[rbernie]

The dust covers aren't just for keeping out debris - they push the round stack in a loaded magazine down slightly, and keeps the stack from pressing up onto the feed lips. Most magazine failures occur over time as the feed lips get spread or cracked from the constant upward pressure of the round stack when you store the magazines loaded. The Magpul approach lets you store loaded magazines without worrying about long term damage to the feed lips.

 

[rcmodel]

Exactly!

They are for long term Loaded storage protection of the feed lips spreading more then a dust cover.

rc

 

[herrwalther]

The dust covers keep out dust and debris for long term storage. They also take pressure off the feed lips if you store the magazine loaded. All my P-mags are 1st generation and have had thousands of rounds fed, stored, and fired through. They last much longer than GI mags, even with enhanced Magpul followers.

Besides, when carrying in any domestic or international sandbox, the cheapest dust cover for your magazines is storing them upside down in a pouch.

 

[ID-shooting]

OK, I get it. Makes sense. So storing them unloaded, stacked nice and dress-right-dress in the safe then they aren't needed. LOL

 

[wally]

they push the round stack in a loaded magazine down slightly, and keeps the stack from pressing up onto the feed lips. Most magazine failures occur over time as the feed lips get spread or cracked from the constant upward pressure of the round stack when you store the magazines loaded

IF this is in any way true then the MagPul mags are not of the "high quality" everyone seems to think they are. I've GI mags that weren't new when I got 'em that have sat fully loaded for 20+ years and when I emptied them, they fed and functioned just fine.

If the feed lips suffer from "creep" when left fully loaded, then the design and materials selection has failed big time.

If you like the covers to "keep out the dust" fine. At least the 5.56 covers will snap on the bottom for storage, the 7.62 don't so I've probably lost at least half of them already.

 

[rbernie]

If the feed lips suffer from "creep" when left fully loaded, then the design and materials selection has failed big time

Well, I've never experienced it with USGI's but it's reportedly happened enough with USGI magazines that MagPul felt that it was a marketing advantage to address it.

 

[rcmodel]

Aluminum isn't plastic.

By it's very definition, plastic is hmmmm?
Plastic.

5: capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without rupture

That makes P-Mags capable of taking abuse that would bend an aluminum GI mag into a flattened useless piece of scrap metal.

But it also makes them susceptible to plastic 'creep' from force applied over a long period of time.

rc

 

[rbernie]

I seem to recall reading that the same happens to steel magazines, with the No1/No4 Enfield box magazine as prime example. I've also seen pics of USGI AR magazines with the front of the left feed lip cracked from the leading edge of the lip to almost halfway back the length of the lip.

 

[Casefull]

If the feed lips suffer from "creep" when left fully loaded, then the design and materials selection has failed big time.

Exactly. A hundred years from now when none of us care, people will laugh at the extensive plastics now used in firearm industry and wonder at the short sightedness of present day manufacturers. I think the day will come when we have plastics/composites that are superior to metal but it is not here yet.

 

[Dr.Rob]

On the 5.56 mags I use the dust cover snapped to the bottom of the mag as a 'bumper'.

Works like a charm.

 

[herrwalther]

Exactly. A hundred years from now when none of us care, people will laugh at the extensive plastics now used in firearm industry and wonder at the short sightedness of present day manufacturers. I think the day will come when we have plastics/composites that are superior to metal but it is not here yet.

Highly doubt that. Plastics are cheaper than metal and likely always will be. It is cheaper to make a Glock than a Nighthawk 1911. You prefer to have the 1911 but the wallet prefers the Glock. Simple economics. And there are plastics that are better than metal for specific applications. I have seen metal boxes pushed out the back of a C-130 flatten on impact, even with a parachute. But have also watched a high grade Pelican or similar case go out too and just get scratched up.

 

[Surly]

Highly doubt that. Plastics are cheaper than metal and likely always will be. It is cheaper to make a Glock than a Nighthawk 1911. You prefer to have the 1911 but the wallet prefers the Glock. Simple economics. And there are plastics that are better than metal for specific applications. I have seen metal boxes pushed out the back of a C-130 flatten on impact, even with a parachute. But have also watched a high grade Pelican or similar case go out too and just get scratched up.

I prefer Glocks over 1911's, but that's another discussion.

The P-Mag is the best option for the AR-10 that uses the Stoner pattern magazines. You could use a DPMS mag and load 18 rounds so it's reliable. You can spend two to three times as much for a Knights Armament mag. You can get a ProMag and spend more money shipping it back to get one that works if you like gambling.

Whether you like it or not, plastics are here to stay.

 

[herrwalther]

The P-Mag is the best option for the AR-10 that uses the Stoner pattern magazines.

I agree. When I deployed years ago, PMAGS were the new kid on the block and expensive. So I only had enough spare money to buy 2 of them. Also had 7 issued USGI magazines with Magpul followers. Even with the better followers, it was still a good idea to download to 28 or 29 rounds instead of 30 to prevent feed issues. Did not have the same issue with the PMAGS even though they are 1st Gen.

 

[Justin]

From my experience, the PMAG freshness seals are more for marketing than anything else.