AR Magazine Recommendations
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
If you find old military surplus magazines with weak springs or sticking followers you can buy rebuild kits for them. I have a pretty good supply of military surplus magazines and I have several of the kits for the occasions they start to have problems. I had a couple with damaged lips I had to throw out. I could not get the lips correct. The rebuild kits are pretty cheap. here is one place with them. http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifl ... 25018.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I have a dozen makos and they are built very well, great magazine
http://www.themakogroup.com/product_p/earm30%20w.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I also have about two dozen pmags and I do prefer them over the makos, beings you can buy them for only $10 right now is what I'd get
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifl ... 50772.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then I have three of these because I just wanted to see what some of the cheaper mags are like and they work just fine for only $8
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... m-mag.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.themakogroup.com/product_p/earm30%20w.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I also have about two dozen pmags and I do prefer them over the makos, beings you can buy them for only $10 right now is what I'd get
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifl ... 50772.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then I have three of these because I just wanted to see what some of the cheaper mags are like and they work just fine for only $8
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... m-mag.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I won't touch Promag with a 10 foot pole.
I have about 60-70 PMags and a bunch of GI mags from DSG Arms. All work great.
I have about 60-70 PMags and a bunch of GI mags from DSG Arms. All work great.
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I like Brownells alot (great service and they really stand behind their products) but their metal magazines and my LMT rifles did not play well together. Lots of failures to feed. Brownells took them back (even though I bought them through Bravo Company - who would not refund my money). My LMT magazines (metal) work very well as do some Stoner and Colt metal mags that I have. With that said, the metal mags stay home and only my Pmags go to the 3 gun matches. I have never had a failure of any type with the Pmag. The same six mags have been in the rotation for 3 gun matches for several years with no issues and still look good. When not in use at a match, they stay loaded with 30 rounds in each mag and the cover on to hold the loaded round off of the magazine lips.
One other thing to think about. It is easy to insert a Pmag with 30 rounds in it in a rifle with a closed bolt (at least the rifles I have). You most likely won't find that to be the case with metal mags. Most people download them to make insertion on a closed bolt easy.
PS - In case your wondering why I bought my Brownells magazines from Bravo Company, Brownells was out of them and Bravo Company had them in stock. This was right after Obama got elected the first time and Bravo Co. had the magazines marked up significantly. When I contacted them about the problem, they told me to go to Brownells and would not talk to me after that. I had my receipt showing where I bought the magazines and how much I paided for them. Brownells was very fair in what they refunded (not what I paid but a fair price). I then turned around and bought Pmags from them. BTW, I offered to take store credit for the metal mags I was returning since they were being so kind as to take them back but they would not hear of that. They made if very clear that they would refund cash and I could go wherever I wanted for magazines. Brownells is a really stand up bunch of folks and I give them a lot of my business because of how they treated me on the magazine issue. Bravo Company will never get another dime from me.
One other thing to think about. It is easy to insert a Pmag with 30 rounds in it in a rifle with a closed bolt (at least the rifles I have). You most likely won't find that to be the case with metal mags. Most people download them to make insertion on a closed bolt easy.
PS - In case your wondering why I bought my Brownells magazines from Bravo Company, Brownells was out of them and Bravo Company had them in stock. This was right after Obama got elected the first time and Bravo Co. had the magazines marked up significantly. When I contacted them about the problem, they told me to go to Brownells and would not talk to me after that. I had my receipt showing where I bought the magazines and how much I paided for them. Brownells was very fair in what they refunded (not what I paid but a fair price). I then turned around and bought Pmags from them. BTW, I offered to take store credit for the metal mags I was returning since they were being so kind as to take them back but they would not hear of that. They made if very clear that they would refund cash and I could go wherever I wanted for magazines. Brownells is a really stand up bunch of folks and I give them a lot of my business because of how they treated me on the magazine issue. Bravo Company will never get another dime from me.
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I prefer polymer mags (MagPul or Lancer).
If I was to buy metal ones, I would buy Brownells which happen to be on sale now:
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifl ... -15zz1zzM4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If I was to buy metal ones, I would buy Brownells which happen to be on sale now:
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifl ... -15zz1zzM4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I did not know there was anything, but PMAGS.
If it ain't broke. . .

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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
Run, don't walk away from ProMags. They are a malfunction in a box. I have about a dozen Pmags and a whole bunch of 20 and 30 round GI metal mags. I have put MagPul followers in all my metal mags and keep them loaded with 28 rounds or 18 rounds. If and or when the world goes into the toilet I'm ready.



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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
Just to clarify... not necessarily on this forum but on others I've seen a lot of confusion on PMags vs Promag.
They are NOT the same. ProMag is a manufacturer... PMags are made by Magpul. They have ZERO relation.
ProMag = baaaaad. PMag = goooooood.
They are NOT the same. ProMag is a manufacturer... PMags are made by Magpul. They have ZERO relation.
ProMag = baaaaad. PMag = goooooood.
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
MadMonkey wrote:Just to clarify... not necessarily on this forum but on others I've seen a lot of confusion on PMags vs Promag.
They are NOT the same. ProMag is a manufacturer... PMags are made by Magpul. They have ZERO relation.
ProMag = baaaaad. PMag = goooooood.

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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I didn't realize it was common for promags to malfunction. I purchased a promag 30 round magazine for my SKS. I did the mod on my SKS that allows one to use a removable magazine but you have to purchase a magazine made specifically for this purpose. I let it sit in the cabinet for maybe a year or so. I tried to use it a month or so back. It is almost impossible to get the rounds in it and the darned follower acts like it has velcro on it. The thing won't feed reliably at all. I thought I had just gotten a bad one. No more promags for me.MoJo wrote:Run, don't walk away from ProMags. They are a malfunction in a box. I have about a dozen Pmags and a whole bunch of 20 and 30 round GI metal mags. I have put MagPul followers in all my metal mags and keep them loaded with 28 rounds or 18 rounds. If and or when the world goes into the toilet I'm ready.![]()
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I've some concern over time thinking the plastic might break down in the PMags, but this may be over-thinking it...or not, I've no sure way to know...?
Perhaps, high quality metal mags could perhaps be less costly and have a longer life cycle or not...?
Perhaps, high quality metal mags could perhaps be less costly and have a longer life cycle or not...?
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
My rifle loves P-Mags and Lancer, they both feed reliably with 30 rounds. A few of my P-Mags will actually hold 31.
With any metal mag, if loaded with 30 rounds, it will not feed. If only 27 are loaded, they work fine.

With any metal mag, if loaded with 30 rounds, it will not feed. If only 27 are loaded, they work fine.
Guns are like parachutes, if your ever in a situation that you need one and you dont have one, you'll probably never need one again.
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
Promag is junk and P-Mags are awesone. I have also had good luck with Lancers. USGI mags with Magpul guts are also a good choice. With the current price of P-Mags, it would be hard for me to buy anything else.
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
I'm seeing Magpul P-Mags for as low as $11-$12 (GT Distributors, but also seen a few online prices this low).
How much lower price are the metal mags? Most of the "good ones" I've seen mentioned are more expensive than the P-Mags right now.
Also, for storing mags loaded, I like the little dust cover that comes with most of the P-Mags - helps relieve pressure on the feed lips.
How much lower price are the metal mags? Most of the "good ones" I've seen mentioned are more expensive than the P-Mags right now.
Also, for storing mags loaded, I like the little dust cover that comes with most of the P-Mags - helps relieve pressure on the feed lips.
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Re: AR Magazine Recommendations
Great advice.A-R wrote:Also, for storing mags loaded, I like the little dust cover that comes with most of the P-Mags - helps relieve pressure on the feed lips.