Mini 14 Pro Mag

Status
Not open for further replies.

mcmurry

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
233
Location
L.A. Lower Arkansas
So I have two, 20 round Pro Mag brand mags for my mini 14. To be honest, I've had them for at least 5 years but had not had a chance to use them. I tried yesterday. The first issue was that the rounds kept self ejecting. I unloaded and re-loaded them to make sure I wasn't trying to force in too many bullets, but it continued. I took several shells out, and then tried to load the mag into my rifle. It did not fit properly. The mag fits very tight and is too far back in the mag well. It is right against the back of the mag well and against the mag release lever, and was not seated upward properly as the bolt would not load a bullet. Has anyone else had any problems with Pro Mag brand mags? Does it make a difference how old or new your rifle is? This was the 1st time I had ever bought extended mags for this rifle, as it came with 2 metal 5 round Ruger clips.
 
I had a co-worker ask what mags to get for his AR. I said P-Mags, he heard Pro-Mags. His first range session was similar to yours. He would load the magazine, and, before he could insert it, the top 3 rounds were flying. Granted, these were polymer mags, but I have avoided Pro-Mag ever since.
 
I know some people have great luck with them but I never have. I have purchased a few of them over the years but, without exception, they have all been returned to sender for the same issues you are having.
 
With respect to the Mini 14 or Mini 30 stay with Ruger factory magazines for the best results. In my experience, the only time I have seen promag magazines work in an acceptable manner has been with unmodified Saiga rifles in their sporter configuration, and even then there are better options.
 
I have multiple 10 rd Pro Mags that all perform well in my 581 Series Ruger Ranch Rifle. The only Ruger mags I own are the 5 rd that came with the rifle (works fine) and three 10 rd ones that I got from Ruger (had to file to fit before they'd work). Three 20 rd mags (CDNN, made in ROK I think) seem to work ok too.
 
mcmurry wrote:
Has anyone else had any problems with Pro Mag brand mags?

Yes.

They were the only magazines I ever sent back to a seller.

The Mini-14 magazines I have now came from a couple of different sellers (catalog merchants in the pre-internet days). They have a welded on retaining lug at the back, two holes drilled in each side of the body (one at the top, one at near the bottom) and the lines on the folds that make the lips are very smooth, not at all angular. I have no idea who makes them because they have no markings at all. One seller called them "Warrior" but I don't know if that had any meaning or if it was just to call attention to the $15 magazines that worked rather than the $8 ones that didn't. Any time I find one like it, I buy it and it always works. These no-name magazines and Ruger factory ones are the only ones I have ever found that are consistently reliable.
 
badkarmamib wrote:
I had a co-worker ask what mags to get for his AR. I said P-Mags, he heard Pro-Mags.

Well, I think I know where this story ends.

With respect to the OP's concern about magazines for his Mini-14, Magpul doesn't make Mini-14 magazines.
 
They have a welded on retaining lug at the back, two holes drilled in each side of the body (one at the top, one at near the bottom) and the lines on the folds that make the lips are very smooth, not at all angular.
I have 3 forty round, 1 thirty round, and 2 twenty round SS mags that fit that description exactly, and they too have been flawless over the years. IIRC, and I may not, they were branded "Precision".

I also have a similar thirty round SS mag, but no holes, and the mag stop is formed, stamped into, the metal on the back. It has been good, but not like those others.
 

Attachments

  • Mini 14 Mag Pic 1.jpg
    Mini 14 Mag Pic 1.jpg
    70.3 KB · Views: 7
  • Mini 14 Mag Pic 2.jpg
    Mini 14 Mag Pic 2.jpg
    54.9 KB · Views: 8
I have 2 Promag magazines. Both are 20 rounders. They have worked flawlessly. I bought them about 5 years ago. It was my understanding that Promags were junk for the longest time and then Promag got it right and made some great magazines for several years. Now I understand the Promag magazines are having issues again. I don't know what happened to the company but it appears they lost their edge.
 
Ruger and PMI (Precision.. I don't think they are around anymore) are the only mags I'll use in a Mini 14, never have seen a polymer mag that worked well.
 
Last edited:
Pro Mag=:barf:

I agree with the above comments they are good for malfunction drills.

Since Sr and Jr Ruger are gone just get some factory Ruger mags.
 
I have some, haven't used them in a long time. First time out one of them had me get the hammer out of the car then it went in the trash. All I buy now are Ruger factory mags.
 
Bought a 40 round pro-mag for my AR, and it would bulge at the top. Fed like crap, and had to modify it to clear the bolt. Basically junk.

However, I had one for my AK, and with just a little bit of filing, it ran like a champ.

I guess it depends on the design.
 
Back when I was living in Northern Arkansas, the owner of an LGS in the next county warned me off a brand of cheap magazines. I don't remember the brand so I don't want to say for sure it was ProMag. But, whatever the brand, he told me that what was wrong with them was that the lips were formed improperly and with a pair of pliers and a lot patience, they could be put right, but it was better to just decent magazines in the first place.
 
I bought some pro mags for my mini-14 ranch rifle several years ago. I don't remember any malfunctions, but one didn't fit and the other two rusted sitting in my range bag in my house overnight. I got rid of them all and use only Ruger brand mags now - they're worth the extra $$
 
Haha! Some things never change. I still have some Pro Mags for the Mini that I bought in the late 80s/early 90s, they did the same thing! Just by accident and trial and error you'd think they'd occasionally sell a good magazine.
 
FL-NC wrote:
If a mini 14 mag doesn't say Ruger on it its probably junk.

I have three Ruger factory magazines and they all work just fine. I also have fiftteen (15) of the magazines described in post #7 and after more than 1,200 rounds through a 181- and a 182-series Mini-14, have had zero failures with any of them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top