AICS Magazine Recommendations

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7ECA

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As a follow on to my thread about Savage to AICS DBMs...

Looking around, I've come across two manufacturers who sell AICS magazines. MDT, and Magpul.

MDT has metal .308 AICS magazines, in a variety of capacities. But, MDT only makes polymer .223/5.56 magazines. Magpul has polymer 7.62/.308 magazines in two sizes, and a .223/5.56 variant to be released eventually.

Are there any other companies making AICS pattern magazines that are worth looking at? Are there any issues using polymer magazines, beyond the lack of ease of feed lip modifications (a selling feature for metal magazines)? Is it worth paying extra for metal magazines, or is polymer durable enough?

I'm primarily interested in 10 round capacity magazines in both .223/5.56 and .308/7.62, but will consider 5 round magazines if the price is reasonable.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Accuracy International is the gold standard for AICS pattern mags (as they should be as the inventors of the product). However, I don't believe they make any mags in .223.

MDT seem to make nice mags, I have some of their 6BR mags which are really nice. Magpul mags are very reliable. As much as I love ARC products, I would avoid their mags as they aren't reliable enough for my liking.
 
MDT all the way. In poly or metal. If you can catch them on sale it’s a heck of a deal.
 
MDT seem to fit in more rifles than Magpul, at least the plastic ones. Just handled my first MDT metal 10 shot 308 mag yesterday, looks good and is much shorter than original Accuracy 10 shot AICS.
edi
 
Should be noted that the polymer Magpul 223 magazines allow for a longer COAL than the MDT and Accurate Mags. Could be of importance of you reload heavies. The AMs can be modified to handle longer 223 rounds, but taking a dremel to a near $100 mag isn't for everyone.
 
7ECA said:
As a follow on to my thread about Savage to AICS DBMs...

I've gone ahead and purchased a DBM from Atlasworxs to convert my Savage Model 10 to AICS pattern magazines.

Looking around, I've come across two manufacturers who sell AICS magazines. MDT, and Magpul.

MDT has metal .308 AICS magazines, in a variety of capacities. But, MDT only makes polymer .223/5.56 magazines. Magpul has polymer 7.62/.308 magazines in two sizes, and a .223/5.56 variant to be released eventually.

Are there any other companies making AICS pattern magazines that are worth looking at? Are there any issues using polymer magazines, beyond the lack of ease of feed lip modifications (a selling feature for metal magazines)? Is it worth paying extra for metal magazines, or is polymer durable enough?

I'm primarily interested in 10 round capacity magazines in both .223/5.56 and .308/7.62, but will consider 5 round magazines if the price is reasonable.

Thanks in advance.
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The only mag you want is the Accurate Mag for 223.

It's the only 223 mag that I know of that can be disassembled and modified.

If you will be using the rifle for long range and you hand load, it will not be long before you get victimized by bullet envy and long to be able to shoot Hornady 88 grain ELDs or the 90 grain A-Tips. That's when the chickens will come home to roost as you'll be wanting a long seating depth.

Most AI pattern 223 mags will limit your length to about 2.5", but if you watch the video below, you can see its easy enough to modify the insert so you can run over 2.6" long. That will maximize your powder capacity and still run safe pressures.

You will need a long throat and at least 1:7 twist barrel... 1:6.5 would be better.

I drive 88s at 2900 FPS without pressure signs.

 
Searched a bit and found the Accurate Mags at ATRS, $100/ea. regardless of calibre.

MDT metal .308s are $70 from MDT; and polymer .223s are $40 (I'd consider a polymer .308 at that price, but they're only 8 rounders). I see MDT also has polymer body with metal feed lips magazines for $50 - 10 round .308.

Magpul prices are $70 from Cabela's for the 10 round .308, and the .223s seem to be about the same price.

Basically it sounds like the "gold standard" for AICS mags is Accurate Mag. MDT is probably a close second. And Magpul isn't all that far behind.

Now, this may be a stupid question, but how much of a difference between AICS and AR style mags is there? Certainly the price is a major difference, but how much of a geometry difference is there? I'm sure they're not at all interchangeable, but does anyone know of a photo/diagram that shows the difference between the two?
 
.308ACADIAN said:
Cadex also makes steel aics mags
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No they don't.... at least last I heard.

They are just selling Accurate Mags, but I heard somewhere that Cadex tweaks the feed lips.... and you can expect to tweak the feed lips on the steel mags, but not the plastic feed lips.
 
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7ECA said:
Now, this may be a stupid question, but how much of a difference between AICS and AR style mags is there? Certainly the price is a major difference, but how much of a geometry difference is there? I'm sure they're not at all interchangeable, but does anyone know of a photo/diagram that shows the difference between the two?
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The difference is huge if you want to shoot long range. Long range calls for heavy bullets, heavy bullets are long and if you seat them short they will reduce available powder capacity, so we seat them long... too long for an AR mag.

Since AICS mags are designed for 308 length rounds, they have the real estate needed to optimize the 223 for long range and feed from the mag. F Class guys typically run these loads from single shot actions but you can do it from a repeater.

An AR mag will hold rounds with a max overall length of 2.25", but most AI pattern mags for 223 will feed rounds at least 2.3" and most will get out to 2.5" or so. But... the mag is actually considerably longer.

The Accurate Mag is my fav as stated above because it's the only version that can be disassembled and modified to run the heavies like 88s or 90s from the mag easily as long as 2.6" or even longer.
 
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Maple57 said:
No they don't.... at least last I heard.

They are just selling Accurate Mags, but I heard somewhere that Cadex tweaks the feed lips.... and you can expect to tweak the feed lips on the steel mags, but not the plastic feed lips.
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Well, cadex claims that the brand of mags they sell are cadex brand, but they they are accurate mags. Are the accurate mags not aics pattern?
 
Okay, back to the metal versus polymer debate for a moment. If there any appreciable advantage in either material? Obviously metal magazines will be easier to adjust the feed lips, if required. But, one could (probably) make minor adjustments to a polymer magazine.

For the record, I'm leaning towards the MDT magazines at the moment - overall the reviews are positive on their products and being Canadian made is a selling feature in my view as well. Not 100% sure which magazine I will get in .308, so looking for suggestions on the pros/cons of going to the polymer/metal feed lip version versus the all metal .308.
 
My thoughts, I have both. 300wm and .308
Poly are more affordable, but metal is easier to adjust if u need to. I use metal for my precision rifle and bench shooter, but when I hunt in the Fall I always stick in a polymer. Poly are quieter and lighter
Both are excellent mags, well constructed, and solid quality. Hope this helps.

edit to add...also MDT has a fantastic customer service performance, Can't speak of any other companies, but these guys really are attentive to the needs of the customer.


7ECA said:
Okay, back to the metal versus polymer debate for a moment. If there any appreciable advantage in either material? Obviously metal magazines will be easier to adjust the feed lips, if required. But, one could (probably) make minor adjustments to a polymer magazine.

For the record, I'm leaning towards the MDT magazines at the moment - overall the reviews are positive on their products and being Canadian made is a selling feature in my view as well. Not 100% sure which magazine I will get in .308, so looking for suggestions on the pros/cons of going to the polymer/metal feed lip version versus the all metal .308.
Click to expand...
 
7ECA said:
Okay, back to the metal versus polymer debate for a moment. If there any appreciable advantage in either material? Obviously metal magazines will be easier to adjust the feed lips, if required. But, one could (probably) make minor adjustments to a polymer magazine.

For the record, I'm leaning towards the MDT magazines at the moment - overall the reviews are positive on their products and being Canadian made is a selling feature in my view as well. Not 100% sure which magazine I will get in .308, so looking for suggestions on the pros/cons of going to the polymer/metal feed lip version versus the all metal .308.
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In terms of AICS pattern mags for 223, all of them are actually plastic. At least all of them that I know of.

I have at least one or two of each brand.

The Accurate mag is metal, but the feed system is a plastic insert. All other AICS mags for 223 are entirely plastic.

If you are running a larger caliber like a 308, all of the AICS mags seem pretty good... after you adjust the feed lips anyway. All of them seem to need adjustment.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate the knowledge available to be mined on this forum. In that case, based on cost savings, I'm leaning towards polymer magazines from MDT, although I would go with the poly/metal combo for the .308.

Back again to the AR vs. AICS magazine question once more; just looking for confirmation that there is no interchangeability between the two "patterns" of magazines? For example, I assume I wouldn't be able to use an CProdcuts LAR-15 .223 magazine in a rifle setup for AICS magazines. Correct?
 
7ECA said:
Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate the knowledge available to be mined on this forum. In that case, based on cost savings, I'm leaning towards polymer magazines from MDT, although I would go with the poly/metal combo for the .308.

Back again to the AR vs. AICS magazine question once more; just looking for confirmation that there is no interchangeability between the two "patterns" of magazines? For example, I assume I wouldn't be able to use an CProdcuts LAR-15 .223 magazine in a rifle setup for AICS magazines. Correct?
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Wont work

An AR mag is 2.25 inches long and an AICS mag is like 3 inches long.

They are not compatible.

In an RPR however, they do have a creative solution that is designed to work with AR mags for 308 and AICS mags, but not AR 223 mags and AICS.
 
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