I'm torn over the FX9

Can I assume the SGM mag will work in the Ruger PC9 as well? I was checking FOC to order a couple but they want my PAL info online to order them. Is this the norm to order a couple mags. Since when is a PAL required for mags? I don't recall having to use my PAL for mags in the past as far as I can recall.

My kid doesn't have a PAL. He could walk into Reliable this morning and buy a few magazines, no problem. Anyone telling you a PAL is required for this purchase, or for most firearm parts for that matter, a) needs to learn the rules and b) deserves to have your business taken elsewhere if they don't change their tune.
 
Can I assume the SGM mag will work in the Ruger PC9 as well? I was checking FOC to order a couple but they want my PAL info online to order them. Is this the norm to order a couple mags. Since when is a PAL required for mags? I don't recall having to use my PAL for mags in the past as far as I can recall.

I would assume so, they're Glock-style mags and work in both of my Glocks as well as the FX-9 - though I never actually tried them in the PC9 so I'm only at 99% certainty instead of 100% can-confirm level of certainty here. No reliability issues so far in the Glocks or FX-9 with the big SGM mags though.

The Firearms Outlet Canada thing might be a standardized system applied across all their stuff. As far as I know you can trust them as much (or more) than any other online retailer. a PAL or RPAL is not required for a magazine purchase, but is for ammo or actual guns. So not sure if they need to tell their system "down, boy!" or whether you may just want to roll with it. I'm not gonna tell you what to do!
 
My kid doesn't have a PAL. He could walk into Reliable this morning and buy a few magazines, no problem. Anyone telling you a PAL is required for this purchase, or for most firearm parts for that matter, a) needs to learn the rules and b) deserves to have your business taken elsewhere if they don't change their tune.

I don't mind being checked when buying things like magazines, I'm proud of my RPAL and all the courses that have followed. Also think about this - if I don't have a PAL then what are the magazines going to be used for, exactly? Things that make you go, "Hmmm, could be a gift for someone else (or prepping for passing an upcoming PAL course) OR it could be crime."
 
I don't mind being checked when buying things like magazines, I'm proud of my RPAL and all the courses that have followed. Also think about this - if I don't have a PAL then what are the magazines going to be used for, exactly? Things that make you go, "Hmmm, could be a gift for someone else (or prepping for passing an upcoming PAL course) OR it could be crime."

Sure. Maybe my tone was a bit harsh. And I've had no problems in my dealings with FOC. But it seems like shades of 'if you haven't done anything illegal, why are you worried about the government spying on you?' Sort of along the lines of death by a thousand cuts, sort of thing. I think it would be helpful to contact them and let them know a PAL isn't needed for a magazine purchase, and that they might want to make sure everyone knows it, including their website developer.
 
I don't mind being checked when buying things like magazines, I'm proud of my RPAL and all the courses that have followed. Also think about this - if I don't have a PAL then what are the magazines going to be used for, exactly? Things that make you go, "Hmmm, could be a gift for someone else (or prepping for passing an upcoming PAL course) OR it could be crime."


We already have to jump through enough hoops, don't encourage more.
 
Sure. Maybe my tone was a bit harsh. And I've had no problems in my dealings with FOC. But it seems like shades of 'if you haven't done anything illegal, why are you worried about the government spying on you?' Sort of along the lines of death by a thousand cuts, sort of thing. I think it would be helpful to contact them and let them know a PAL isn't needed for a magazine purchase, and that they might want to make sure everyone knows it, including their website developer.

Nope, no over-harshness read into it and you're right to be concerned! Any information collected by anyone can also be called 'actionable intelligence' by an agency you don't want gaining that kind of intel on you! Aaand, yep. I agree! I don't' want the government knowing everything about me, just what it needs to run the country and not run it into tyranny or ruin, for sure!!

Could be worth a call to FOC to let them know, they seem to be pretty good folk and customer-oriented. I'm sure they'd appreciate hearing from you.
 
We already have to jump through enough hoops, don't encourage more.

If the hoop jumping stops idiot wannabe gangsters from doing bad stuff, and the Gabriel Wortman a-holes of the world from doing their evil thing - but DON'T block my hobbies and passions - I'm all for it. I agree though, I shouldn't be giving the government any ideas they haven't already had. I prefer to put my effort into stopping their idiot ideas already in motion...Support the CCFR, court challenges, etc. Because I'm not that smart and any idea I have is basically unintentional plagiarism - they already have had that thought, I'm sure.
 
Can I assume the SGM mag will work in the Ruger PC9 as well? I was checking FOC to order a couple but they want my PAL info online to order them. Is this the norm to order a couple mags. Since when is a PAL required for mags? I don't recall having to use my PAL for mags in the past as far as I can recall.

I was at FOC a few days ago in store and all I bought were mags (3 different varieties / calibers) and a muzzle brake. No PAL asked for, nor required. I have gone to FOC many, many times and the only time I had to whip out my PAL was for a gun or ammunition purchase, as it should be. Maybe the online system is simply defaulting to certain options with a recent upgrade or something. I would be very surprised if this is store policy now across the board.

EDIT - out of curiosity, I just went to FOC online and added only a Magpul PMAG 30 and a Magpul GL7 mag to my cart and I got through everything up to the point I am putting my credit card info in, and before clicking complete purchase. NO PAL info asked or required.

I went back to my cart and added some boxes of random ammo - random 12ga rounds, 9mm rounds, etc and went back to the check out page. Now it is asking for my PAL info. So so far, it seems to be working properly as it should.
 
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I was at FOC a few days ago in store and all I bought were mags (3 different varieties / calibers) and a muzzle brake. No PAL asked for, nor required. I have gone to FOC many, many times and the only time I had to whip out my PAL was for a gun or ammunition purchase, as it should be. Maybe the online system is simply defaulting to certain options with a recent upgrade or something. I would be very surprised if this is store policy now across the board.

EDIT - out of curiosity, I just went to FOC online and added only a Magpul PMAG 30 and a Magpul GL7 mag to my cart and I got through everything up to the point I am putting my credit card info in, and before clicking complete purchase. NO PAL info asked or required.

I went back to my cart and added some boxes of random ammo - random 12ga rounds, 9mm rounds, etc and went back to the check out page. Now it is asking for my PAL info. So so far, it seems to be working properly as it should.

Ok so I just went to their site "without signing in" and it didn't ask for my PAL so I assume the requirement is to make things easier if you have an account set up to speed up the process. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused. I should have tried to proceed without signing in, to begin with.
 
So is there any real advantage to the length of the SMG 10/33 aside from the cool factor and the last round bolt hold open? Not a best choice for any type of bench rest shooting with the long mag not that I would be specifically doing a lot of that.
 
So is there any real advantage to the length of the SMG 10/33 aside from the cool factor and the last round bolt hold open? Not a best choice for any type of bench rest shooting with the long mag not that I would be specifically doing a lot of that.



Just my opinion only - as a guy who heavily favours function over form, I have never understood the attraction of using a much longer magazine that is pinned. It's like my friend who bought the PMAG 5/40...I don't understand why. For that, you are using less than 15% of the capacity (albeit due to legal restriction and mandate). I guess it's like seeing whale tails on Honda Civics (and even on a Corolla once) or faux suppressors...it's just for the looks (for which I have never done anything just for looks). I shoot off the bench (I am old and get achy if not sitting), so I have always favoured the shortest magazine possible that can legally hold the most rounds. I do like the PMAGs GL9 or so, since they seem to have more positive effects on my FX9's last round bolt hold open.
 
Just my opinion only - as a guy who heavily favours function over form, I have never understood the attraction of using a much longer magazine that is pinned. It's like my friend who bought the PMAG 5/40...I don't understand why. For that, you are using less than 15% of the capacity (albeit due to legal restriction and mandate). I guess it's like seeing whale tails on Honda Civics (and even on a Corolla once) or faux suppressors...it's just for the looks (for which I have never done anything just for looks). I shoot off the bench (I am old and get achy if not sitting), so I have always favoured the shortest magazine possible that can legally hold the most rounds. I do like the PMAGs GL9 or so, since they seem to have more positive effects on my FX9's last round bolt hold open.

I like the reduced variation in tension between rounds 1 and 10 with the pinned mags.
Even with an UPLULA, getting that 10th round in gets to be a chore with those native ten rounders.
For that reason alone, I prefer the pinned 17s over the 10s.
 
I like the reduced variation in tension between rounds 1 and 10 with the pinned mags.
Even with an UPLULA, getting that 10th round in gets to be a chore with those native ten rounders.
For that reason alone, I prefer the pinned 17s over the 10s.

This is a very good point and one in which I have not considered. Yes, I use the Upulas as well since I don't know about anyone else, but putting in rounds 9 and especially 10 on a 10 round unpinned Glock OEM mag requires strength I don't quite possess. I can do it at the risk of blowing blood vessels, initiating a hernia and who knows what else. It is true that there is much less tension on a pinned larger capacity mag. Point taken.
 
This is a very good point and one in which I have not considered. Yes, I use the Upulas as well since I don't know about anyone else, but putting in rounds 9 and especially 10 on a 10 round unpinned Glock OEM mag requires strength I don't quite possess. I can do it at the risk of blowing blood vessels, initiating a hernia and who knows what else. It is true that there is much less tension on a pinned larger capacity mag. Point taken.

But I have to admit, the pinned 10/99 mags are great for anticipating the zombie apocalypse! (Awesome match with the whale tail Civic) LOL
 
So is there any real advantage to the length of the SMG 10/33 aside from the cool factor and the last round bolt hold open? Not a best choice for any type of bench rest shooting with the long mag not that I would be specifically doing a lot of that.

Great for run by gun style shooting, specifically the extra surface area/length helps me grab the mag and...ram it in the hole *snicker snicker*
 
I’ve owned an FX-9 before and sold it and one of my shooting buddies still has his but both were problematic. Spent brass doesn’t always eject and would be lodge in the gap between the trigger group and mag well. It is a real pain to remove because of the bolt carrier group being stuck half way. I replaced mine with a tactical style Ruger PC9 and had no problems with it
 
I’ve owned an FX-9 before and sold it and one of my shooting buddies still has his but both were problematic. Spent brass doesn’t always eject and would be lodge in the gap between the trigger group and mag well. It is a real pain to remove because of the bolt carrier group being stuck half way. I replaced mine with a tactical style Ruger PC9 and had no problems with it

Definitely both are great guns and if you have had problems with your FX9 I can see why you'd be looking at something else. PC Carbine with the alum handguard and adjustable stock is a great choice. I still like the weight of the FX9 better, as well as the ease of takedown/cleaning.
 
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