Dixiejack
Member
Just bought a Bushmaster AR and it came with a 30 round magazine. It seems rather lightweight. I would like to buy some military M16 20 round mags. Where would be a good place to buy them?
Where to buy military surplus M16 magazines?
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TheLostOtter
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http://www.44mag.com/product/d_h_industries_ar15_20_round_magazine/223_ar15_magazines
I wouldn't consider them to be surplus since they are brand new but I believe D&H does/did make magazines for the military. They have 30rd mags too which are a bit cheaper.
I wouldn't consider them to be surplus since they are brand new but I believe D&H does/did make magazines for the military. They have 30rd mags too which are a bit cheaper.
CApighunter
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Google is your friend...
CApighunter
CApighunter
Fast Frank
Member
While you MIGHT find some sort of surplus magazine for less money, I wouldn't do it.
The Pmag is better in every way.
They fit in the magwell better, they feed smoother, they don't rattle in the gun, they won't dent if you drop them, they look better in the rifle, they have a window so you can see how much ammo is still in the magazine... and the list goes on.
Do yourself a favor and buy just one Pmag first. You won't regret it. While plastic magazines sound cheap, they are far stronger than the flimsy metal ones.
You can find them here. http://store.magpul.com/product/MAG210/2
They are also available at any gun store or gun show.
The Pmag is better in every way.
They fit in the magwell better, they feed smoother, they don't rattle in the gun, they won't dent if you drop them, they look better in the rifle, they have a window so you can see how much ammo is still in the magazine... and the list goes on.
Do yourself a favor and buy just one Pmag first. You won't regret it. While plastic magazines sound cheap, they are far stronger than the flimsy metal ones.
You can find them here. http://store.magpul.com/product/MAG210/2
They are also available at any gun store or gun show.
I second the MagPul PMags.
When I was out shooting the other week I did my own torture test on the mag. I threw it about 30 feet, ran and stomped/jumped on it, then I took a fist sized rock and threw it at the mag. It scraped a little material off and the mag was dirty and scraped up a bit, but just kept on working. Try that with a GI mag and see what happens.
I do have a bunch of AR-Stoner or Armalite Aluminum mags that I got from Midway I think for $6 each, while reliable so far, I'm sticking with PMags from now on.
When I was out shooting the other week I did my own torture test on the mag. I threw it about 30 feet, ran and stomped/jumped on it, then I took a fist sized rock and threw it at the mag. It scraped a little material off and the mag was dirty and scraped up a bit, but just kept on working. Try that with a GI mag and see what happens.
I do have a bunch of AR-Stoner or Armalite Aluminum mags that I got from Midway I think for $6 each, while reliable so far, I'm sticking with PMags from now on.
06
Member
Have a milsup shop buddy in Rockingham that has a good supply. Was there last week and he had quite a few green followers and some others. "Curtis International Arms" is the name of the shop. He is a SF Colonel Ret. and has real bad health at present. His bud is running the shop for him.
If you want the most reliable 20 rd mags I strongly suggest you either buy Lancer AWM 20 rd or NHMTG (Colt) mags. The 20rd Pmags have had issues including mine.
Rainer Arms is a good source for the Lancer mags and 44mags is good for the NHMTG mags.
Rainer Arms is a good source for the Lancer mags and 44mags is good for the NHMTG mags.
Ehtereon11B
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I wouldn't recommend surplus magazines especially if you find them with black or green colored followers. That was before the military started using 4way anti tilt followers to cut down on magazine related malfunctions. If you can find or buy the brown Magpul followers then jump on those because mags with those followers are just one step below Pmags in terms of feeding reliability.
That being said 20 round mags are a bit harder to find. But I did find some Colt 20 rounders for a decent price. http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/7-SP62103
That being said 20 round mags are a bit harder to find. But I did find some Colt 20 rounders for a decent price. http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/7-SP62103
HorseSoldier
Member
I'd go for either PMag 20 rounders or, if you want metal for a retro look, new 20 rounders from Brownells aren't too expensive.
OP, that bushmaster mag is probably made by D&H who is a .mil contractor (old La Belle or Okay can't remember which). There's no sense buying surplus when brand new USGI mags straight from the suppliers are running <$10 a mag. Current production look for D&H, NHMTG (Colt) and Brownells (Buddy was issued brand new Brownell mags this pass May before deployment). As far as feel... that's just the way it is.
Never had an issue with USGI mags using green and newer followers. I have La Belle, Brownells and D&H 30 rounders and NHMTG and Colt 20 rounders (straight body style). I have some windowed P-mags and they too have been reliable. They do insert easier than USGI mags when fully loaded but the cost is higher. Only other non-USGI mag I've tried is old C-products. They were really cheap, the quality isn't as good as the others but they work.
44mag.com and Aimsurplus are good sources.
Never had an issue with USGI mags using green and newer followers. I have La Belle, Brownells and D&H 30 rounders and NHMTG and Colt 20 rounders (straight body style). I have some windowed P-mags and they too have been reliable. They do insert easier than USGI mags when fully loaded but the cost is higher. Only other non-USGI mag I've tried is old C-products. They were really cheap, the quality isn't as good as the others but they work.
44mag.com and Aimsurplus are good sources.
Sav .250
Member
How bout your local Gun Shows. If you have any.
Caliper_Mi
Member
Not anymore since they started censoring firearms related searches on their shopping site.
Brownells sells new aluminum GI mags at a good price.
Kyle M.
Member
I used these when I had my AR and never had a problem with them.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-Magazines-p/magazines dh gt20.htm
The 30 rounders are a little cheaper and work just as good.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-Magazines-p/magazines dh bt30mf.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-Magazines-p/magazines dh gt20.htm
The 30 rounders are a little cheaper and work just as good.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-Magazines-p/magazines dh bt30mf.htm
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Dixiejack
Member
Thanks everyone. I have more information from your personal experience than I ever expected. I will check all your suggestions out. This is great information that you won't find on "Google."
Looking at the sites you recommended, I am amazed at the varieties and prices of mags that are offered.
This is my first black rifle since being issued one back in the 60's. I guess I had in my mind all steel mags from that era. If you kept them clean, they worked and I like the steel followers.
Frankly, everyone to their own likes, but for civilian use I don't see an advantage of the 30 round mag. over the 20 round. Twenty rounds are lighter, the mags don't stick out as far, and the rifle looks more balanced.
Looking at the sites you recommended, I am amazed at the varieties and prices of mags that are offered.
This is my first black rifle since being issued one back in the 60's. I guess I had in my mind all steel mags from that era. If you kept them clean, they worked and I like the steel followers.
Frankly, everyone to their own likes, but for civilian use I don't see an advantage of the 30 round mag. over the 20 round. Twenty rounds are lighter, the mags don't stick out as far, and the rifle looks more balanced.
txgunsuscg
Member
I would definitely buy PMags, or new aluminum mags. I have bought surplus GI mags before and there is a reason they are surplus, ie, they were at the end of their service life. The last time I bought surplus mags, they weren't any cheaper than the new mags and had the older followers, compressed springs, and cracked feed lips...
And as a random aside to your statement about 20 rounders, here in Virginia an AR-15 with a 20 round mag is not an assault weapon, but an AR-15 with a 30 round mag is...."An assault firearm is defined as any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of offence with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock."
And as a random aside to your statement about 20 rounders, here in Virginia an AR-15 with a 20 round mag is not an assault weapon, but an AR-15 with a 30 round mag is...."An assault firearm is defined as any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of offence with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock."
Dixiejack
Member
Thank God Georgia don't have that law. Another form of gun control.
Just ordered from .44mag.com 5 each D&H (formally La Belle) and NHMTG 20 round mags.
Now I going to mount my 40 y.o. El Paso Weaver 1.5 X 4.5 on my Bushmaster. The Weaver has been on my Model 740 .30-06 for 40 years.
Just ordered from .44mag.com 5 each D&H (formally La Belle) and NHMTG 20 round mags.
Now I going to mount my 40 y.o. El Paso Weaver 1.5 X 4.5 on my Bushmaster. The Weaver has been on my Model 740 .30-06 for 40 years.
X-Rap
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If you have a Sportsmans Warehouse nearby take a look at the Thermold 20's I bought a bunch a few yrs back because they were only $5 a piece.
I have heard mixed reviews but I have used them in all temps and so far they have held up well. I won't say they are at a par with the PMags, or Brownells but for the price I can't complain.
I think they are Thermold, they are maked Master Molder, Wilson NC USA, Law and Gov't use only.
I have heard mixed reviews but I have used them in all temps and so far they have held up well. I won't say they are at a par with the PMags, or Brownells but for the price I can't complain.
I think they are Thermold, they are maked Master Molder, Wilson NC USA, Law and Gov't use only.
mortablunt
Member
Online. Look at Worth Point, Ebay, and Cheaper Than Dirt.
Sam Cade
Member
Sheesh...
If you google "PMAG"
The first 5 results are:
Magpuls store
Brownells
Cheaper Than Dirt
Midway
Botach.
Each one linking directly to the page to begin your purchase of said item.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pmag
Aikibiker
Member
Here is a good reason to buy PMAGs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdesKUSUchA&feature=related
The thing doesn't break until they run it over with an armored humvee driven at speed. I have personally run over a PMAG in an SUV and it still works flawlessly.
The thing doesn't break until they run it over with an armored humvee driven at speed. I have personally run over a PMAG in an SUV and it still works flawlessly.
BADUNAME37
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On occasion, you could get 30-round magazines with the green followers for less than $10 from MidwayUSA.
I realize they aren't the Cadillac of magazines, however you cannot beat the price and they hold up just fine for how little I use them!
I realize they aren't the Cadillac of magazines, however you cannot beat the price and they hold up just fine for how little I use them!
Caliper_Mi
Member
I know that. What I meant was that Google is not my "friend" anymore since they decided that my interests warrant censorship. Plenty of other search engines will give the same results without adding their political opinions.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
You might be remembering M14 steel mags.
But there were never any steel M16 mags used in the U.S. military ever.
Or at least until probably the last few years when probably some Spec-Ops guys tried H&K SA80 steel mags.
rc
X-Rap
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My son had one PMag crack while in Iraq, he said it was apparent immediately as it wouldn't hold a full load, I don't think the same can be said of the metal mags. They can be damaged and you don't know until you need it. BTW the broken one still functions it just has to be down loaded to around 25 rds. 1 out of 10 isn't bad in my opinion given the environment.
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