So I received my Alpha Magazines for my .308 There were a few issues with the paperwork not being filled out correctly on the first attempt which caused a return on the first shipment, but once that was sorted out my mags made it to me with no issues.
Upon inspection the mags are very well constructed with a very nice finish. Unlike the AI mags, they are a staggered mag. This allows the mag to still hold 10 rounds but it is about 3/4 of an inch shorter than my AI 10 round mag. The OAL is effectively 2.995 but you do need to reduce that to 2.99 to get them to feed. Left lots of room for my 208 amaxes. I currently run a ATRS AI chassis for a Savage. With and AICS chassis system there is a significant amount of side area of the mag well that is in contact with the magazine. As it turns out, the magazines have been designed to allow some expansion when fully loaded with rounds to allow the magazine to snug up in common bottom metal applications. In my chassis, it made the magazine nearly impossible to insert when fully loaded. Empty the magazine inserted and dropped clear perfectly. I called Chris, the owner/operator of Alpha Manufacturing, and explained my problem. HE WAS FANTASTIC!! He explained that it was something that was designed into the magazine, but that on a few rare occasions it did cause this problem, but he had a solution. He did say that if I loaded only 8 rounds they would work and they did, but of course this was not an ideal solution. He also offered to send me a couple of single stack model magazines free of charge to ensure I had magazines that would hold 10 rounds. No return of my old mags required. How's that for customer service?! He is currently interested in finding a Canadian distributor, and I hope to see Alpha in Canada soon. The customer support is outstanding. The mags are half the price of AI mags. And Alpha will be releasing long action and .338 mags in the next month or two for half the price of AI and Accurate.
