AR Magazine Recommendations

[Abraham]

Yes, PMags are all the rage, but I read somewhere that metal AR mags in general are at their lowest cost in years and stocking up on them is a good idea.

That said, I've no clue what brand of metal mags to buy. Or which ones to avoid. Or even what is the best metal AR mag, steel, aluminum...

Brand suggestions/Recommendations?

Thanks

[karder]

I really like E-lander from Mako. I have about 50 of them. They are not super cheap, but they have been really reliable in my Colt and my brother's Bushmaster. Last time I bought some they were about $18 bucks apiece. They feed very smooth. If you want/like a metal magazine, I would suggest you give them a look.

[MechAg94]

Brownells makes some very good quality aluminum mags. They are not always cheap, but they are well put together and have worked well for me. I think they are a GI supplier.

I think D&H industries is or used to be a GI supplier. They older one's I have don't look as clean as the Brownells, but they have worked.

[Abraham]

Thanks guys!

Keep em coming.

Are promags good/bad?

I know Academy sells them and another brand I think called Red Jacket, but again I nothing about their quality, good or bad...

[eureka40]

I really like E-lander from Mako. I have about 50 of them. They are not super cheap, but they have been really reliable in my Colt and my brother's Bushmaster. Last time I bought some they were about $18 bucks apiece. They feed very smooth. If you want/like a metal magazine, I would suggest you give them a look.

Agreed, the E-landers are my favorite metal mags.

[TBJK]

Thanks guys!

Keep em coming.

Are promags good/bad?

I know Academy sells them and another brand I think called Red Jacket, but again I nothing about their quality, good or bad...

I have many P-mags & have not had a single issue with them yet. My only thoughts are I wish I bought more of them when they were 7$ each in November 2012. I haven't used any other mag brands yet.

[Abraham]

TBJK,

PMags or Promags?

Thanks!

P.S. Yes, PMags are great, but I don't know a thing about Promags except they're lower in cost than PMags.

[LSUTiger]

I'd stick to PMAGs if at all possible, best thing since sliced bread and discovery of fire.

I do have some ELanders steel mags, haven't used them yet but heard nothing but good about them, althought they are a bit heavier than aluminum mags they are sturdier.

If you do go the metal mags route, make sure you they all have the Magpul followers in them.

I have a couple of Colt aluminum 20 rd mags with the "bullet" shaped followers and have had nothing but problems with them. They ammo binds up in the mag and cause FTF issues. (yank mag out of gun, clear misfed cartridge, tap, rack, bang)

I have also had issues with $7 USGI style C Products .223 Rem aluminum 30 rd mags from , with 5.56 ammo , I couldnt load them past 15-16 rounds and they would not feed. I figured since even the manufacturers confuse .223 rem and 5.56, it was all the same. Not so, I think since the 5.56 has a longer leade, it caused them to bind in the mag.

Make sure they can be used with both 5.56 and .223, generally I stay away from USGI mags because of the Colt mags and C Products experiences.

But if I was going to get more mags beside PMAGs and along the lines of aluminum USGI mags, I would source them from Bravo Company USA.

[JSThane]

I have a stockpile of old gun-show bought GI magazines that, with one notable exception that wound up as a range target, has not failed me yet. I keep them either empty, or loaded to full capacity (30), and I've shot both 5.56 and .223 out of them, so I don't think that has anything to do with it.

For new magazines, I go with PMags. They haven't failed me once, and I abuse and beat the heck out of them at work.

[FL450]

Love my Lancer Mags
Polymer with metal lip.

[TBJK]

Magpul Pmags. Shot .223 & 5.56 with them and no issues yet. (Knock on wood)

[C-dub]

I don't believe Abraham was knocking PMags or saying that he heard anythign wrong with them vs. metal mags. I think it was more of a cost thing and the some of the metal mags have dropped in price and might be a good buy at this time.

However, I'll note that I was out at Cabela's in Fort Worth this past weekend and noticed a few dozen PMags at somewhere around $13-$15 a piece. They even had a few 40 round PMags. I didn't know such an animal existed, so I bought one ($21) to try out.

[Excaliber]

Brownells makes some very good quality aluminum mags. They are not always cheap, but they are well put together and have worked well for me. I think they are a GI supplier.

I think D&H industries is or used to be a GI supplier. They older one's I have don't look as clean as the Brownells, but they have worked.

I agree.

Brownell's and Magpul PMags are my favorites.

With the quality and price I get from these, I don't need any others.

[Abraham]

Thanks all, I really appreciate your responses.

[Jim88]

I know you're asking about steel mags but I'll give my 2 cents about the polymer. My Bushmaster was being really fickle with a variety of steel mags and producing quite a few FTF and FTE. I switched to the polymer Magpuls and haven't had even a single FTF/FTE in 2 years.