PMAG won't seat on a closed bolt

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Bloodstriker

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I bought a bunch of PMAGs and had some issues with a few of them. A few wouldn't drop free, but that was easily fixed by taking a file and smoothing out the rivet.

Now I've noticed that a few of the magazines (with 5 rounds put in) will not seat into the rifle when the bolt is closed. Somebody mentioned to disassemble the magazine and shave off a bit of the follower, but being careful to not go so far as to let it seat 6 rounds.

Can somebody explain exactly what/where I'm supposed to file away?
 
You have two options.

Option 1: Make a new hole and pin it.

Remove existing rivet. Load 5rnds into the mag, measure the distance from the leg from the end of the follower opposite to the existing hole. Add another 1/16" to 1/8" to that measurement and mark/drill a new hole and add a new rivet.

Option 2: Reuse existing hole.

Because the distance required is only about 1/16" to 1/8" or so more, you won't be able to drill a new hole for a rivet just below the existing rivet hole. You'll need to remove the existing rivet, disassemble the magazine. Note the leg of the follower that is on the side with the rivet. Take a file or sandpaper etc and remove about 1/8" and reassemble magazine and pin it back.

Both options will require you to possess a riveting tool and appropriate sized rivets.
 
Dumb that we have to do this. Both dealing with pinneds magazines and having to mod them to get them to sit properly with a closed bolt.

I've noticed this with the Gen3 Magpul magazines I bought. They do the same thing. And the rivet prevents you from taking apart the magainze for cleaning. Which I assum you have to do from time to time like with a pistol magazine.
 
I recently bought 10 Gen 3 PMAGS and had to re-pin all of them. Simple job once the first one is figured out. Drill rivet, disassemble magazine, shave about ⅛" off the follower where it contacts the rivet.

Annoying, but simple. I was told beforehand by the dealer that they were pinned exactly at 5 rounds so I wasn't upset.
 
Make sure to use a drill bit smaller than the rivet. you aren't actually drilling out the rivet, but cutting through the head and detaching it from the shaft. You shouldn't have any trouble so long as you take your time. The head usually will spin free once you've drilled through it enough. Then tap out the old rivet and say 10 Hail Marys, remove the follower and shave as required. Someone should be able to chime in with rivet size for replacement.
 
I'll drill and re-pin one of mine tonight and get pics. Sadly I don't have an unmodified mag follower to compare. I should get you close though.
 
I looked up this video to unpin.


As for pinning it back, I used 3/16" medium aluminium rivets. Also, don't cheap out on a rivet tool. I had to return 2 cheapies because they kept jamming. Ended up getting the Stanley @ Cdn Tire.
 
I wouldn't go any bigger than a ⅛" rivet. Also, be sure to use an aluminum rivet with an aluminum anvil. A steel rivet and/or anvil may crack the plastic.
 
Trinimon said:
You have two options.

Option 1: Make a new hole and pin it.

Remove existing rivet. Load 5rnds into the mag, measure the distance from the leg from the end of the follower opposite to the existing hole. Add another 1/16" to 1/8" to that measurement and mark/drill a new hole and add a new rivet.

Option 2: Reuse existing hole.

Because the distance required is only about 1/16" to 1/8" or so more, you won't be able to drill a new hole for a rivet just below the existing rivet hole. You'll need to remove the existing rivet, disassemble the magazine. Note the leg of the follower that is on the side with the rivet. Take a file or sandpaper etc and remove about 1/8" and reassemble magazine and pin it back.

Both options will require you to possess a riveting tool and appropriate sized rivets.
Click to expand...

For the mag to work on a closed bolt, do these have to be pinned at 5.5 rds or can it be less than that?
 
jackrabbit000 said:
For the mag to work on a closed bolt, do these have to be pinned at 5.5 rds or can it be less than that?
Click to expand...

Depends on the rifle I suppose. There are folks with mags that fit fine on one rifle while on a different rifle, the same mag won't fit and the above needs to be done.

A lot has to do with the person doing the initial pinning. All the PMAGS I ordered from one sponsor was done poorly and I had to repin on the opposing side of the mag. They pinned it at EXACTLY 5 rnds with zero give. The ones I ordered from Questar and SFRC were done perfectly at 5.5rnds and work right out of the box. I did have to file the rivet down a bit for them to drop cleanly.
 
I prefer to pin closer to 5 ¾ rounds. I like the extra play so you never have to force the mag into place. The first mag you pin will be a lot of trial and error. You'll go through at least 3 rivets on that first mag.
 
Having re-pinned a lot of the Magpul Gen3 PMags, I would recommend the stainless steel countersunk rivets from Canadian Tire. They do not require filing, and fit flush with the mag body, thus allowing them to fall free. The drill bit size to fit them snug is 3.2mm, followed by a quick pass with a countersunk bit. I also prefer re-pinning them at the correct height, rather than modifying the follower, it takes a little more work, but I prefer to leave the follower as-is. Technically, the use of aluminium rivets in PMags does not meet the requirements of the regulations, and for those who are interested, here they are:

(4) A cartridge magazine described in subsection (1) that has been altered or re-manufactured so that it is not capable of containing more than five or ten cartridges, as the case may be, of the type for which it was originally designed is not a prohibited device as prescribed by that subsection if the modification to the magazine cannot be easily removed and the magazine cannot be easily further altered so that it is so capable of containing more than five or ten cartridges, as the case may be.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), altering or re-manufacturing a cartridge magazine includes

(a) the indentation of its casing by forging, casting, swaging or impressing;

(b) in the case of a cartridge magazine with a steel or aluminum casing, the insertion and attachment of a plug, sleeve, rod, pin, flange or similar device, made of steel or aluminum, as the case may be, or of a similar material, to the inner surface of its casing by welding, brazing or any other similar method; or

(c) in the case of a cartridge magazine with a casing made of a material other than steel or aluminum, the attachment of a plug, sleeve, rod, pin, flange or similar device, made of steel or of a material similar to that of the magazine casing, to the inner surface of its casing by welding, brazing or any other similar method or by applying a permanent adhesive substance, such as a cement or an epoxy or other glue.

Regards.

Mark
 
PMAGS and other mags have been pinned with aluminum rivets for as long as I can recall. Your recommendation is overkill but to each their own. Trying to make sense of Canadian firearm laws will make you head spin.

You can remove a steel rivet in the same manner as an aluminum one, both are "technically" not truly permanent by any means.
 
Whether it has been done forever, or just since yesterday, is not the point. The regulations are what they are. You are free to do as you please, but advising others to do the same in the face of quite plain and specific language to the contrary is not something that I would do.

Also, there is no mention of "permanent" in the regulations, unless you are referring to the term "permanent adhesive substance", which does not actually refer to the modification, but to the type of adhesive substance used, as opposed to adhesives that are non-permanent.

The modification is only required to be such that "the modification to the magazine cannot be easily removed and the magazine cannot be easily further altered", which is generally understood to mean that it requires the use of a tool or tools, rather than removing it with your teeth or fingernails.

Again, you are free to do as you please.

Regards.

Mark
 
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