Mag question(s)

[wildfan1]

So I'm pretty new, ok, REALLY new to the AR-15 world. Can some of you wily ol' AR-15 vets provide a noob with some mag education? I see metal and poly mags. Whats the difference, besides the obvious? One preferable to the other? Also, mag capacity...personal preference or is there benefit to smaller or larger cap mags? Finally, are all mags created equal, or are there certain brands that are superior from a quality standpoint? Are there certain brands that are known problems that should be avoided? Oh, and one more final question...i have 1 AR (so far). How many mags do you guys typically own per rifle?

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[JJ]

I only run P-mags. If a gun is finicky about mags, it will run the P-mags or there is something wrong with the gun. Do not try and use the cheaper polymer mags, they are spotty at best and for the cost savings they are not worth the headache.

For metal mags I like the Brownell's ones.

I like to buy at minimum a 5 pack of mags for each and every gun.

[jshuberg]

I second that. The Magpul P-mag is a fantastic product. I have 30 of them. I've never had a magazine related malfunction with them after around 10K rounds. As far as polymer mags go, there's nothing better.

There are several reasons why the P-mag is better than steel mags. They have a patented anti-tilt, self lubricating follower that provides more reliable feeding than found in other magazines. Despite being polymer, they are generally more durable than steel magazines. At least as far as being dropped from a crane and run over by a car is concerned. Steel magazines can also scratch or damage anodized aluminum, where a polymer magazine will be much easier on the mag well.

If you want a steel magazine, I've found that the HK mags are top shelf. Magpul sells their anti-tilt followers separately, so if you wanted to install them in an HK or other steel magazine, they should fit in just about anything. I've gotten rid of all my other AR-15 mags, P-Mags and HKs are all I'll ever need.

[yuppiejr]

I run PMags in the non-windowed 20 and 30 round variety. I've heard good things about Lancer mags (poly/steel hybrid design), never used them - when I ran GI style mags I liked the C-Products stainless steel magazines with Magpul followers the best as far as reliability and function.

Buy 10 and you should be set for a long, long time. There's a link I posted to a deal at Botach Tactical to get the 30 round non windowed PMags for $12 each, shipped, which is the best price around at the moment.

[JJ]

There's a link I posted to a deal at Botach Tactical to get the 30 round non windowed PMags for $12 each, shipped, which is the best price around at the moment.

Not sure if Botach is still running that, but JoeBoboutfitters always has them for $13, like 5% off if you use PM as a promo code and free shipping over $90 as well.

[Sigfan220]

I also run Brownells. The ones I have are 20's for bench shooting and hunting. My 30's are all surplus. I have a couple P mags, they work fine. I just always seem to grab the metal ones when I hit the range.

[jshuberg]

Not sure if Botach is still running that

They still are.

[Norsesmithy]

Pmags are good mags, if you want metal mags, the HK and FN stainless steel mags are high quality as are the Colt, D&H, and Brownells Aluminum mags (esp when used with Magpul followers). I've had good luck so far with one stainless steel Korean mag, but I've not yet read reviews from sources I trust or used it enough to endorse it strongly yet. Lancer polymer mags are well regarded also.

Most stainless mags have metal self leveling followers, there's not much point to putting an aftermarket follower in them.

Just a warning, Pmags don't drop free from all rifles, I know more than one shooter who uses USGI mags exclusively because of this.

[yuppiejr]

Pmags are good mags, if you want metal mags, the HK and FN stainless steel mags are high quality as are the Colt, D&H, and Brownells Aluminum mags (esp when used with Magpul followers). I've had good luck so far with one stainless steel Korean mag, but I've not yet read reviews from sources I trust or used it enough to endorse it strongly yet. Lancer polymer mags are well regarded also.

Most stainless mags have metal self leveling followers, there's not much point to putting an aftermarket follower in them.

Just a warning, Pmags don't drop free from all rifles, I know more than one shooter who uses USGI mags exclusively because of this.

The only rifles I've seen this problem with typically had an out of spec magwell.

[promod1385]

Pmags are good mags, if you want metal mags, the HK and FN stainless steel mags are high quality as are the Colt, D&H, and Brownells Aluminum mags (esp when used with Magpul followers). I've had good luck so far with one stainless steel Korean mag, but I've not yet read reviews from sources I trust or used it enough to endorse it strongly yet. Lancer polymer mags are well regarded also.

Most stainless mags have metal self leveling followers, there's not much point to putting an aftermarket follower in them.

Just a warning, Pmags don't drop free from all rifles, I know more than one shooter who uses USGI mags exclusively because of this.

I have a rifle with out of spec magwell (bought it from Yuppie actually). It works fine with sanded pmags. Magpul has directions for sanding magazines to fit on there website.

[yuppiejr]

Yep, Olympic, Palmetto, Spikes and a few others have all put out lowers with fairly tight magwells (mine was an Olympic), since removing material in the magwell would also remove the protective finish/anodizing it's usually better just to mod the magazines as Promod indicated.

An older thread on AR15 talking about the 4 lower makers out there and who puts their roll mark on them (not sure how current the info still is):

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_12/31811 ... ed___.html