AR Magazines PMAG, USGI, Premium Metal?
- Thread starter mini15
- Start date
The Gun Dealer
Expired Business Member
- Location
- McAdam, New Brunswick
We, and many of the other dealers on this forum, have literally hundreds of PMags in stock right now between us. There was a time when they were difficult to obtain, but that has not been the case for a while.
Regards.
The Gun Dealer
Regards.
The Gun Dealer
The Gun Dealer
Expired Business Member
- Location
- McAdam, New Brunswick
We usually sell our magazines to customers in multiples, and most of our customers purchase between 5/6 to 10/12 per gun.
Magazines are disposable items, and are responsible for 90% of malfunctions in the AR-15 FOW, as well as most other well made centerfire semi-automatic rifles. Followers, floor plates, and springs can be replaced if necessary to rebuild old, but still functional, magazines, but attempting to bend feed lips back into shape, and welding or glueing magazine bodies, will only result in further malfunctions and frustration. The only course of action in those instances, is to crush the magazine, and throw it into the garbage. Remember to number your magazines, so that it is easier to diagnose magazine related malfunctions, and identify problem magazines.
When we mail them, it usually only adds probably $1 to $2 the cost of each, when bought in multiples. Probably less than it would cost in gas driving around looking for them.
Regards.
The Gun Dealer
Magazines are disposable items, and are responsible for 90% of malfunctions in the AR-15 FOW, as well as most other well made centerfire semi-automatic rifles. Followers, floor plates, and springs can be replaced if necessary to rebuild old, but still functional, magazines, but attempting to bend feed lips back into shape, and welding or glueing magazine bodies, will only result in further malfunctions and frustration. The only course of action in those instances, is to crush the magazine, and throw it into the garbage. Remember to number your magazines, so that it is easier to diagnose magazine related malfunctions, and identify problem magazines.
When we mail them, it usually only adds probably $1 to $2 the cost of each, when bought in multiples. Probably less than it would cost in gas driving around looking for them.
Regards.
The Gun Dealer
Here's my personal thoughts on AR magazines from 20yrs in the PPCLI and 20 yrs owning Colt SP1, Armalite M15a4, Norinco full length and Norinco M4 length, an XCR-L, and an AR180B.
Best deal I ever got- was given 20 old Thermold mags a storeman found about 5yrs ago. Wpns tech pinned all for me for a coffee. Only one had damaged lips and it fed fine. These mags had large strengthening ribs and wouldn't fit in most pouches. I gave them away to a new AR shooter.
Toughest- A shiny black steel 5/20 that I think came with the AR180B. It is heavy but feeds smooth and the short profile is handy, but like any short body, not good in tactical pouches.
Best function- my old Colt 5/20s with the metal follower, and Armalite 5/20s with the slight curve. These fed smoothest in all my ARs but too short for pouches.
Work- New bought D&H with magpul followers and ranger plates because work allowed it and my life depended on them. They work in every tactical pouch. Before that, OKay brand aluminum from the early Bosnia Croatia tours when available, or old Thermold until they wore out or broke in the Wainwright winters.
Future- PMags, whichever version I can get about 30 of. For tactical training and competition, all mags should be the same. All the little 5/20s will be relegated to shooting coyotes with XCR-L.
If all you do is plink at the range, enjoy the cheapest mags you can get (likely D&H). If you compete or train, buy a ton of PMags or D&H.
Always number your mags with paint and a stencil for two reasons. So you can identify your mags on the ground after a competition, and so you can identify faults.
Always use them in the same order, to help remember which stoppage in which stage .
If a mag gives you more than a couple issues out of the rifle you primarily use it in, crush it. You cant fix it.
Note for soldiers- Don't have any of your work mags at home. They are prohibited devices! You are not exempt! It doesn't matter if it belongs to the Army, or if you use it for work. Leave them at work! Stay out of Sh$T
Best deal I ever got- was given 20 old Thermold mags a storeman found about 5yrs ago. Wpns tech pinned all for me for a coffee. Only one had damaged lips and it fed fine. These mags had large strengthening ribs and wouldn't fit in most pouches. I gave them away to a new AR shooter.
Toughest- A shiny black steel 5/20 that I think came with the AR180B. It is heavy but feeds smooth and the short profile is handy, but like any short body, not good in tactical pouches.
Best function- my old Colt 5/20s with the metal follower, and Armalite 5/20s with the slight curve. These fed smoothest in all my ARs but too short for pouches.
Work- New bought D&H with magpul followers and ranger plates because work allowed it and my life depended on them. They work in every tactical pouch. Before that, OKay brand aluminum from the early Bosnia Croatia tours when available, or old Thermold until they wore out or broke in the Wainwright winters.
Future- PMags, whichever version I can get about 30 of. For tactical training and competition, all mags should be the same. All the little 5/20s will be relegated to shooting coyotes with XCR-L.
If all you do is plink at the range, enjoy the cheapest mags you can get (likely D&H). If you compete or train, buy a ton of PMags or D&H.
Always number your mags with paint and a stencil for two reasons. So you can identify your mags on the ground after a competition, and so you can identify faults.
Always use them in the same order, to help remember which stoppage in which stage .
If a mag gives you more than a couple issues out of the rifle you primarily use it in, crush it. You cant fix it.
Note for soldiers- Don't have any of your work mags at home. They are prohibited devices! You are not exempt! It doesn't matter if it belongs to the Army, or if you use it for work. Leave them at work! Stay out of Sh$T
Last edited:
Silent8Strike
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa, Ontario
PMAGs are my preference, they load and feed so smoothly. It is true however that the Gen 3s have issues with some ARs depending on how they were riveted. I had to file down the rivets on mine before they would drop free of my Daniel Defense.
