Where can I find the Holy Grail of magazines?

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An AR10-a4 lower could still be an AR10B. But it's not impossible that your lower is mis stamped, although it's unusual to say the least.

Ultimately, if the Gen 2 mags don't fit, you can either try and modify them (assuming you can figure out where they're hanging up), or if it were me, I would call Armalite and see what they have to say. Maybe you have an out of spec lower and they'd be inclined to help you out?
 
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The whole point of those magazines was that they were easily converted from stock M14 mags. If you are having such trouble finding some and just want mags that work, wouldn't it be easiest to just buy a stack of M14 mags and modify them?

PS- The Holy Grail of Magazines is the 1st generation FG42 ten-rounder.
 
BattleRife said:
The whole point of those magazines was that they were easily converted from stock M14 mags. If you are having such trouble finding some and just want mags that work, wouldn't it be easiest to just buy a stack of M14 mags and modify them?

PS- The Holy Grail of Magazines is the 1st generation FG42 ten-rounder.
Click to expand...

The problem with modifying them is that you can't buy the conversion followers anymore, so the bolt will lock open by mashing into the back of the follower as the original M14 follower doesn't have a tab at the back to actuate the bolt stop (the conversion followers had a spring loaded tab that would pop out to actuate the bolt stop). IIRC you also have to modify the front of the feed lips but I'm not 100% on that

Picture below shows various the different followers on Gen1/Gen2 mags

f3su1i.jpg
 
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Ok OP. I got your pics and I think I have your solution!!

Firstly, you have an AR10B. It's stamped AR10A4, which doesn't mean it's an AR10A, just that it's the A4 model.

Second, I'm 99% sure your problem is the rivet that's in the spine of the Gen 2 mag. On all my Gen2 mags, the rivet has to be filed down quite a bit (as flush as you can get it without it falling out), otherwise it's drags on the rear of the magwell. I've had this problem with AR15 mags as well. I'm almost positive that's why you can't seat the mag all the way and why it's hard to remove, because the rivet is wedging the mag in the lower.

The Gen 1 mags work because there is no spine, and the rivet is underneath the M14 mag catch/block

File the rivet more flush and you should be gtg :)
 
If the followers is the main stumbling block in preventing you to convert M14 mags on your own, you can probably find someone to model it and 3D print a few for you.
 
Thanks for the continued advice Gunners. Unfortunately it is not the rivet. The rivet has lots of clearance and does not get hung up. I did file a bit to double check.
The followers on Gen 1 and 2 are totally different. I tried swapping followers from both bodies and the magazine still would not fully seat or drop free. This weekend I will try a Norc m14 mag body and the Gen 1 follower to see if this is a fix. The rectangular block on the back at this point seems to be necessary. i could be completely off here but another troubleshoot can't hurt.

The conversion ie working follower is polymer and the Gen 2 non working is metal so 3d printing the right follower would be easier. I may have a source for Gen 1 followers so I will see if my Norc magazine experiment works and go from there.
 
So where exactly is the mag hanging up? Does the magazine not fit properly even with the upper removed from the lower?

The block on the back of the Gen1 magazine doesn't need to be there. The only reason they aren't removed is that when armalite originally modified the magazines, they still had to be functional in a M14/M1A otherwise they would have been creating a 'high capacity' magazine (the AWB was in place at the time) instead of just modifying a grandfathered one.

I still suggest contacting Armalite and seeing what they say. They might be able to provide a convenient solution.......
 
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Okay on the block part, I get that and can rule it out. The followers on Gen 1 and 2 are different so Gen 2 might not work. Gen 1's do. There is no wear on the Gen 2 mag yet to pinpoint a spot but I tried lower only and the follower on the Gen 1 is the difference. With that said on the Gen 2 body a Gen 1 follower will not function on my rifle as I tried that earlier today. Perhaps the Norc M14 body with a Gen 1 follower will be the perfect combo (or at least I can rule this out). The mag release cut out appears to be the same but I will measure and see if I can't rule this out too.

I emailed Armalite a few days back, I have emailed them before and have yet to receive a response, I have also contacted Wolverine. Next week I will start making calls.
 
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Calling armalite works better.

So to clarify, what happens when you insert the gen 2 mag into the lower without the upper on? Still jams up tight? Or slides in and out freely?
 
Without the upper on the gen 2 mag is the exact same. It will not seat unless slammed or fall out unless ripped. The magazine catch is not engaged fully on the gen 2 follower. I was thinking maybe there is a different magazine catch in my rifle. I will look to see tmw if this could be something because magazine catches are generation ie magazine specific. Anyway I'd prefer to find a source for the unobtanium mags!

I tried the M14 magazine and even with a Gen 1 follower the work looks too much for me.
 
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