So what is the big deal with pmags? I'll admit I'm a AR newbie, I've have a single Remington metal mag 30/5 (my build is in progress). All I see is everyone taking about pmags this and that. So please forgive my ignorance. Im wondering if they are worth my pennies as I prefer look and feel of the metal mags.
What's the big deal with pmags?
- Thread starter Dyspnea
- Start date
I prefer 10 round pistol mags, don't really see the point of having a 5 round magazine that is really long for no reason. I guess there is always the hope that the stupid magazine capacity law could be repealed some day but I doubt it and the zombie or SHTF thing is kind of lame.The funny thing is that every time there is a new generation of pmags people seem to go nuts for them, not sure what they do with the older gen mags.
Full length magazines are a definite benefited to us bullpup owners who also love LAR mags but don't like to have are LAR mags coupled together. I enjoy 10 rounds as much as the next guy but I am also not in a hurry to fire those rounds down range as fast as possible. I like having 5/30 mags a lot of the time as it aids in learning fast mag changes. I will load only 3 rounds in a five round mag just to practice fast changes without having to heat the barrel.
I have no idea what the Pmag craze is about either. The sales guy at reliable was talking to me about them like they were the second coming of Christ. I looked at him, like so what, it's a plastic magazine? I just don't get it. I'd rather have steel. I must be missing something?
andrew3081
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
There are 10 round plastic pistol magazines that look like 20 round Ar15 rounds magazine now..
It's about reliability.
The weakest link to most, if not all platforms that take STANAG magazines (AR-15 pattern mags) has been the magazine, until polymer mags were introduced. Take a metal mag and drop it on the feed lips, load it and see how well it performs, then do the same to a Pmag and it will perform. Don't get me wrong, metal mags do the job and likely will never be removed from service, but how much of that is due to cost vs reliability is up for debate.
Basically you can't do this with a metal STANAG;
Where as the PMag and other reliable polymer mags on the market have bridged the gap in reliability for the STANAG magazine. Not that you're looking to do pushups on your rifle, it's just to demonstrate pressure or a blow from the bottom of the mag and still be able to put rounds downrange.
The weakest link to most, if not all platforms that take STANAG magazines (AR-15 pattern mags) has been the magazine, until polymer mags were introduced. Take a metal mag and drop it on the feed lips, load it and see how well it performs, then do the same to a Pmag and it will perform. Don't get me wrong, metal mags do the job and likely will never be removed from service, but how much of that is due to cost vs reliability is up for debate.
Basically you can't do this with a metal STANAG;
Where as the PMag and other reliable polymer mags on the market have bridged the gap in reliability for the STANAG magazine. Not that you're looking to do pushups on your rifle, it's just to demonstrate pressure or a blow from the bottom of the mag and still be able to put rounds downrange.
Informative post, +1 to your count.
+1 for me for bothering to respond. Time to call it a night.
They are known to be the best mags available for the AR-15. Most durable, longest lasting, least likely to jam, stuff like that.
So they have become the favorite and everyone who shoots AR wants them, especially down south where they don't have to pin them.
So here is the story. Once upon a time, Pmag were plentiful. If you wanted any, you could usually find them in stock from your fav' dealer for a reasonable price.
When Sandy Hook went down, and the US started buying everything, and naturally the popular Pmags got all bought up.
Because of all the buying down there, the supply of them got compromised up here. So everyone that planned to buy Pmags, fearing the worst bought them all at once.
Next thing you know, there was none left. So people started fussing, trying to find Pmags. There were none.
Enter the EE entrepreneurs. They started listing their spares at a considerable markup. Typically $50 a mag.
That lasted a while, until the scalpers took over. Any new mags that showed up in stock, got instantly bought up by the scalpers, and again, listed on the EE for a considerable markup.
So, for the last few months, if you really wanted a Pmag, you either had to wait for stock and get lucky to snag them at the right time, or lube up, bend over, and submit to the EE.
The reason why they are a big deal NOW, is because the buying crazy is starting to quell down south, and as such, Pmags are starting to become more readily available again, at a reasonable price, from your fav' dealer. So now, everytime some show up in stock some where, someone feels obligated to post about it, at which point, you may notice they promptly go out of stock.
So, if you're new to AR's, and want a good solid 5/30 mag, the Pmag is an excellent option. Just as advised, avoid the EE. Scalpers should burn.
So they have become the favorite and everyone who shoots AR wants them, especially down south where they don't have to pin them.
So here is the story. Once upon a time, Pmag were plentiful. If you wanted any, you could usually find them in stock from your fav' dealer for a reasonable price.
When Sandy Hook went down, and the US started buying everything, and naturally the popular Pmags got all bought up.
Because of all the buying down there, the supply of them got compromised up here. So everyone that planned to buy Pmags, fearing the worst bought them all at once.
Next thing you know, there was none left. So people started fussing, trying to find Pmags. There were none.
Enter the EE entrepreneurs. They started listing their spares at a considerable markup. Typically $50 a mag.
That lasted a while, until the scalpers took over. Any new mags that showed up in stock, got instantly bought up by the scalpers, and again, listed on the EE for a considerable markup.
So, for the last few months, if you really wanted a Pmag, you either had to wait for stock and get lucky to snag them at the right time, or lube up, bend over, and submit to the EE.
The reason why they are a big deal NOW, is because the buying crazy is starting to quell down south, and as such, Pmags are starting to become more readily available again, at a reasonable price, from your fav' dealer. So now, everytime some show up in stock some where, someone feels obligated to post about it, at which point, you may notice they promptly go out of stock.
So, if you're new to AR's, and want a good solid 5/30 mag, the Pmag is an excellent option. Just as advised, avoid the EE. Scalpers should burn.
It's about reliability.
The weakest link to most, if not all platforms that take STANAG magazines (AR-15 pattern mags) has been the magazine, until polymer mags were introduced. Take a metal mag and drop it on the feed lips, load it and see how well it performs, then do the same to a Pmag and it will perform. Don't get me wrong, metal mags do the job and likely will never be removed from service, but how much of that is due to cost vs reliability is up for debate.
Basically you can't do this with a metal STANAG;
Where as the PMag and other reliable polymer mags on the market have bridged the gap in reliability for the STANAG magazine. Not that you're looking to do pushups on your rifle, it's just to demonstrate pressure or a blow from the bottom of the mag and still be able to put rounds downrange.
Very informative post, thank you.
) fortunately retailers near me as selling them for $21ish.
I never understood the craze either, I don't have much use for pinned 5 round mags when we can legally have 10 rounders such as the LARs and now the ATRS AT15 10rd mags, these are my new favs and function flawlessly.
+1 for AlexD92's comment one of the reasons I use 30 round mags.
Even though having a pmag pinned to five sucks I prefer them for training over the LAR mags since I can get a full grip on the magazine when inserting it and removing it from the rifle. And if people want to rock tactical gear on the range that's there business. While yes we are shooting at paper some of us aren't just plinking but are actually trying to train to become more proficient with our gear and firearm combinations.
Even though having a pmag pinned to five sucks I prefer them for training over the LAR mags since I can get a full grip on the magazine when inserting it and removing it from the rifle. And if people want to rock tactical gear on the range that's there business. While yes we are shooting at paper some of us aren't just plinking but are actually trying to train to become more proficient with our gear and firearm combinations.
