AI (AICS metal 5 round) vs MDT (AICS metal 5 round)

[Lead hammer]

Will be using it in my Stealth 6.5. MDT is much cheaper and advertises 2.890" internal max length. Is the AI mag worth the $30?
Thanks

 

[clg]

Pretty sure the AI's are double stacks, and can be top fed with the magazine still in the rifle. Wish I knew that before I bought my single stacks.

 

[Lead hammer]

Pretty sure the AI's are double stacks, and can be top fed with the magazine still in the rifle. Wish I knew that before I bought my single stacks.

Hmm, my MDT mag can top feed, I like that feature at the range even though I reload for mag length.

 

[Lead hammer]

I emailed MDT, they say the 5 round metal will not top feed, but the 10 round polymer ones do. Gonna email AI next.

 

[Tomochan]

AICS mags can top feed.

 

[Lead hammer]

AICS mags can top feed.

MDT says that their 5 round metal AICS pattern mag will not.

 

[sillymike]

Pretty sure the AI's are double stacks, and can be top fed with the magazine still in the rifle. Wish I knew that before I bought my single stacks.

I thought AW magazines were double-stack and the AICS were single-stack

 

[tiriaq]

I thought AW magazines were double-stack and the AICS were single-stack

That is my understanding.
AI brand AICS .223 magazine is definitely single position feed. All AICS-compatible magazines I've seen are as well.

 

[RangerPark]

AW is double stack double feed, AICS is double stack single feed. You can't use AW mags in a Remington 700 or clone without messing with action feed lips. Problem is they double duty as the bolt raceway, if you mess up you'll end up with a free rotating bolt!

 

[sillymike]

Gee, I guess I've been out of the loop. I thought the AICS were more of a staggered layout (with single feed), and if you wanted a real double stack/single feed more compact magazine you had to go aftermarket, like the Alpha or ARC mags?

 

[mustang979]

I thought AW magazines were double-stack and the AICS were single-stack

This was my understanding as well as my experience with the AICS mag. While it always fed reliably, I hated the size of the single stack (felt a little more like 1.5 stack since the rounds staggered a little) and not being able to top feed the mag. It ended up being a "feature" that drove me to the Barrett MRAD which does have a proper, short, double stack mag.

 

[BadAsMo]

If weight is a concern, plastic is lighter.
If durability is a concern, steel is better.

From my experience both work perfectly.

 

[Ryan_mcle]

MDT just released a double stack single feed 10 rounder that is almost an inch shorter then a standard 10rd AI mag. We have been running them for the past couple months and love them. With how short these are I see no need for a 5 rounder any more.
https://mdttac.ca/collections/polymer-metal-magazines/products/mdt-metal-magazines-short-action

Ryan

 

[Lead hammer]

I bought a 5 round metal MDT mag. Have not shot it yet, but it looks great and makes my Stealth much more slender for hunting.

 

[Pooker]

MDT just released a double stack single feed 10 rounder that is almost an inch shorter then a standard 10rd AI mag. We have been running them for the past couple months and love them. With how short these are I see no need for a 5 rounder any more.
https://mdttac.ca/collections/polymer-metal-magazines/products/mdt-metal-magazines-short-action

Ryan

I'm assuming these should work just fine in a Mountain Tactical T3x bottom metal conversion? They certainly look nice for the price.

 

[Ryan_mcle]

They work in any AI bottom metal.

Ryan

 

[Pooker]

Excellent. Cheers.