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Well I had to carefully open all of mine.
All 5 are Colt 223's....... |
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You opened them ? Jeez there's only 10 million loose mags out here. Now what ? What did you find ?
Thous't are condemned to watch the movie "Fathom" and think Zweimal. |
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You better believe I opened them, It was like playing scratch off tickets........... Heck I even let the wife open two of them to get in on the fun. That way, it seemed to lighten the fact that another package just showed up at the house with gun parts in it. She don't quit get this Retro madness that has started to suck me in.
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And what did you find besides another 20 rounder ?
The value and lure is in the sealed package. These are not scratch off tickets. To each is own, don't get me wrong. |
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Your right on one thing, the value and the lure of me dropping MY hundred bucks on them, was just so I could open them. Putting unopened 1973 USGI repacks in my gun safe is not. In the sellers ad he stated that a very large percentage of what he had opened were Colt 223’s and that’s what I had truly anticipated as well as hoped I would receive. You’re also right on the fact that they are not lotto tickets as I jokingly use that comparison to my experience of getting to open them. I have no plans to resale them so if by chance you concluded that they are devalued I could care less. One parallel to my post of that statement, if I had opened one that turned out to be an Armalite it would have went straight to EE and you can rest assured it wouldn’t have been for my $20 investment of the magazine. I do hope that you yourself were able to secure a lot or two, so that a 1973 USGI repack could be secured for future generations to partake in the same pleasure I had of opening mine…...
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Very cool. I remember having some "issue packs" - boxes of 20 round mags. The were 6 or 7 mags in the box, and it had a FSN on the box, which was tan pasteboard. I had cases of them when I did gunshows in the late 80s to early 90s. Sure wish I had some now!
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So I guess this is the opening of the repack magazines party .
I don't see any armalite mags yet . I hope to at least get a few .223 colts in mine if I can make myself open them . I don't remember did Booya say how many armalites he found ? The guys that opened theirs did all the ones with different packaging have the same type per different packaging ? Well that was confusing what I mean was did you notice the different packaging types have only certain named mags in them .? |
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I will likely leave them all in their current condition--with both sealed and opened packaging. I don't really "need" more 20 round mags, so they won't be shooters, and these will make a nice display to go with some unopened (original packaging--not repacks) items I have. For display purposes, I really like the combination of opened and unopened items. It teaches us how things were packaged.
Think of M1sniper's NIB 1964 SP1. Would I suggest he take it out shooting? No! But think how boring it would be if he had never opened the box! We've learned a lot about authenticating early SP1s from his willingness to document and photograph that rifle. Honestly, I can't think of anything more boring than looking at nothing but sealed packages. |
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So I guess this is the opening of the repack magazines party . I don't see any armalite mags yet . I hope to at least get a few .223 colts in mine if I can make myself open them . I don't remember did Booya say how many armalites he found ? The guys that opened theirs did all the ones with different packaging have the same type per different packaging ? Well that was confusing what I mean was did you notice the different packaging types have only certain named mags in them .? View Quote All were labeled, papered and packaging the same. I honestly think had an Armalite been in the lot I could have picked it out blind folded by being able to feel the waffles of the mag through the packing materials. For the record I'm in no way implying that was done, as when I tried to feel the mag's shape prior to opening it would crease/print the foil packing material and none arrived that way. In light of this thread getting kind of heavy I'm very pleased with my Mags, as mentioned earlier all 5 were Colt 223 |
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So I guess this is the opening of the repack magazines party . I don't see any armalite mags yet . I hope to at least get a few .223 colts in mine if I can make myself open them . I don't remember did Booya say how many armalites he found ? The guys that opened theirs did all the ones with different packaging have the same type per different packaging ? Well that was confusing what I mean was did you notice the different packaging types have only certain named mags in them .? View Quote The external packaging is absolutely identical (on my five, at least). The only difference I could discern was the "feel" of the one with the paper wrap. |
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All were labeled, papered and packaging the same. I honestly think had an Armalite been in the lot I could have picked it out blind folded by being able to feel the waffles of the mag through the packing materials. For the record I'm in no way implying that was done, as when I tried to feel the mag's shape prior to opening it would crease/print the foil packing material and none arrived that way. In light of this thread getting kind of heavy I'm very pleased with my Mags, as mentioned earlier all 5 were Colt 223 View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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So I guess this is the opening of the repack magazines party . I don't see any armalite mags yet . I hope to at least get a few .223 colts in mine if I can make myself open them . I don't remember did Booya say how many armalites he found ? The guys that opened theirs did all the ones with different packaging have the same type per different packaging ? Well that was confusing what I mean was did you notice the different packaging types have only certain named mags in them .? All were labeled, papered and packaging the same. I honestly think had an Armalite been in the lot I could have picked it out blind folded by being able to feel the waffles of the mag through the packing materials. For the record I'm in no way implying that was done, as when I tried to feel the mag's shape prior to opening it would crease/print the foil packing material and none arrived that way. In light of this thread getting kind of heavy I'm very pleased with my Mags, as mentioned earlier all 5 were Colt 223 The Armalite the seller reported was not a waffle--it was a transitional mag (straight body with Armalite floorplate). Frankly, I have a lot more waffles than transitionals. |
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Gotcha I did not realize that.....
I guess being so new here I had not acquired as many 20 rd mags as most members, prior to me picking up this lot I actually had more Retro A1 guns than I had 20 rd Retro mags. So I'll justify my actions of opening them to deficiencies of old 20rd mags. Seriously |
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So the internal paper packing means nothing . I thought maybe it identified the type inside . The mystery continues . I can't wait to look at mine ,the excitement iis definitely worth the cost of admission !
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I have a bunch (a dozen or so) of 223 marked Colts with aluminum followers and a couple Universal and Simmonds. For use with bullet botton equiped Kalifornication guns, I have only two Colt 5.56 that at 10 round and riveted (Colt 5 rounders with the U block shortened and re-riveted) I just cant bear to rivet any of my pre-ban aluminum followered mags. I REALLY like 20s... The mag I keep loaded in my house weapon is a curved Stoner 20. It is loaded with alternate rounds: MK262 Mod1 77 grn OTM, and and M855 62 grn penetrators. 20s are just handier than 30s, especially when limited to semi-auto fire.
10 rounders are easy to make. A rivet in the back of the mag body set in such a way that it stops the rears of the follower at 10 rounds. Problem is, you have to drill the back of the mag, blasphemy on an early Colt! |
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I tred to purchase some Colt .233 mags off the seller along with the Armalite marked mags but he never got response back to me. If any of you scored a good amount of any of these two and would part with one of each, shoot me an IM.
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You can bet if I score an ultra rare .233 mag I will be saving it
I have 10 of them coming and will probably keep opening them until I find an Armalite or run out. I'll let you guys know what I find and may be willing to part with some once I find out what I have as I have to many 20 rounders as it is but must are Universals. |
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I got my five yesterday as well. All were Colt 5.56mm as requested, and in excellent condition. I wanted magazines I can use.
As someone who used to do packaging at a government contractor (Honeywell Inc., mostly Air Force & NASA stuff), I can say that the writing on the foil wrap has nothing to do with the contents; it's simply information regarding the packaging itself. Everything I've seen in that job, 25 plus of military service and retro/surplus addiction would have markings to include NSN, description, quantity and manufacturer (or CAGE code) from either the OEM or the company doing the packaging. Since there isn't any re-pack info on the individual wraps, I'd guess that these were stored in some type of larger container with the information on it. |
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I was just giving you guys a hard time opening those fresh minty vintage mags
So who got some rare mags ? Any Armalites yet ? No I didn't buy any as I already have a dozen or so used Colt's and Simmonds. I got couple 556 marked Colt's in the box. |
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which is rarer colt 223 or 556 marked? View Quote Colt 223 marked Mag's are older then the Colt 5.56mm Mag's |
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Well my ten arrived and here's the breakdown:
4 nice condition Colt .223 marked 1 well worn and looks like it was painted orange at one point Colt .223 marked 2 nice Colt 5.56 marked ones 2 nice Universals And my big winner 1 nice Colt .223 marked circle 1 mag |
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Can you show the difference between the 223s & the circle 223 or just explain what is the difference?
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Can you show the difference between the 223s & the circle 223 or just explain what is the difference? View Quote http://3gn.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=123&t=353243 IIRC: They were originally designed to be piggyback mags, and when that didnt really pan out, they were sold to the air force. |
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Awesome find, thanks for sharing the joy.
One of the first things I ever did coming to the states as a teen we landed in HI in 1979, and I went to the military museum in Oahu, and bought a 20 round magazine, a Simmons iirc, and kept that till about 2000 or so, sent them out to be refinished (mistake) and never got the same mags back from the guy :( |
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Awesome find, thanks for sharing the joy. One of the first things I ever did coming to the states as a teen we landed in HI in 1979, and I went to the military museum in Oahu, and bought a 20 round magazine, a Simmons iirc, and kept that till about 2000 or so, sent them out to be refinished (mistake) and never got the same mags back from the guy :( View Quote Sorry to hear that. |
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I guess no one got any armalites ? I don't hear any jumping for joy .
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I was just wondering What is the history of the repacked stuff in general ? We're they refurbished to re send overseas or repacked overseas to send home or some other reason ?
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I IM and emailed the OP 6 times trying to purchase 2 Armalite mags for market price but he wouldn't even respond to me. Nothing like coming here to figure out a value on the mags, sell them to us and disappear.
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So, none of the Armalite joy? View Quote Quite honestly, considering the relative rarity of the Armalites, I think most of us understood the odds were pretty long against stumbling across one in a sealed pack. Personally, I really just wanted a few to be able to see and document how surplus mags were repacked at the end of the war. Must admit, though, dangling that Armalite floorplate was a heck of a marketing tactic! I may not have paid $110 for five mags (even sealed ones) if I hadn't been thinking of how fun it would be to open a few to see what they were! |
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No safe queens here. All of my colt 20s get used. If I found new colt 20s, I'd use them to.
But, nice find op. Txl |
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I IM and emailed the OP 6 times trying to purchase 2 Armalite mags for market price but he wouldn't even respond to me. Nothing like coming here to figure out a value on the mags, sell them to us and disappear. View Quote He didn't force anyone to buy them, and he didn't force anyone to reply to his thread asking about them (which has disappeared, by the way). I have no idea why you guys entertain people who come here asking about the value of things. I'll go out on a limb and say that more than 80% of the people who come here asking about the value of something aren't in any way concerned about this hobby, but instead, only want to make a quick dollar off of you. I remember when I was looking for an Edgewater for my XM16E1 some years ago and a guy who I had never seen post on the forums sent me an IM saying that he had one that his friend had given him and told him to "make as much money as he can off of it". I didn't even take the time to reply. I wasn't going to entertain that. I wound up finding one for a more than fair price from an outstanding member here. He even gave me a discount on the original, unmolested 601 tube that I bought from him later. I've noticed that more often than not, once a ballpark value is given, it's off to the EE with it. |
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He didn't force anyone to buy them, and he didn't force anyone to reply to his thread asking about them (which has disappeared, by the way). I have no idea why you guys entertain people who come here asking about the value of things. I'll go out on a limb and say that more than 80% of the people who come here asking about the value of something aren't in any way concerned about this hobby, but instead, only want to make a quick dollar off of you. I remember when I was looking for an Edgewater for my XM16E1 some years ago and a guy who I had never seen post on the forums sent me an IM saying that he had one that his friend had given him and told him to "make as much money as he can off of it". I didn't even take the time to reply. I wasn't going to entertain that. I wound up finding one for a more than fair price from an outstanding member here. He even gave me a discount on the original, unmolested 601 tube that I bought from him later. I've noticed that more often than not, once a ballpark value is given, it's off to the EE with it. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I IM and emailed the OP 6 times trying to purchase 2 Armalite mags for market price but he wouldn't even respond to me. Nothing like coming here to figure out a value on the mags, sell them to us and disappear. He didn't force anyone to buy them, and he didn't force anyone to reply to his thread asking about them (which has disappeared, by the way). I have no idea why you guys entertain people who come here asking about the value of things. I'll go out on a limb and say that more than 80% of the people who come here asking about the value of something aren't in any way concerned about this hobby, but instead, only want to make a quick dollar off of you. I remember when I was looking for an Edgewater for my XM16E1 some years ago and a guy who I had never seen post on the forums sent me an IM saying that he had one that his friend had given him and told him to "make as much money as he can off of it". I didn't even take the time to reply. I wasn't going to entertain that. I wound up finding one for a more than fair price from an outstanding member here. He even gave me a discount on the original, unmolested 601 tube that I bought from him later. I've noticed that more often than not, once a ballpark value is given, it's off to the EE with it. Sad to say it, but.....+ 1 Still we maintain and hopefully slow down and stabilize the future mark up and mass hysteria of said parts. |
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Sad to say it, but.....+ 1 Still we maintain and hopefully slow down and stabilize the future mark up and mass hysteria of said parts. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I IM and emailed the OP 6 times trying to purchase 2 Armalite mags for market price but he wouldn't even respond to me. Nothing like coming here to figure out a value on the mags, sell them to us and disappear. He didn't force anyone to buy them, and he didn't force anyone to reply to his thread asking about them (which has disappeared, by the way). I have no idea why you guys entertain people who come here asking about the value of things. I'll go out on a limb and say that more than 80% of the people who come here asking about the value of something aren't in any way concerned about this hobby, but instead, only want to make a quick dollar off of you. I remember when I was looking for an Edgewater for my XM16E1 some years ago and a guy who I had never seen post on the forums sent me an IM saying that he had one that his friend had given him and told him to "make as much money as he can off of it". I didn't even take the time to reply. I wasn't going to entertain that. I wound up finding one for a more than fair price from an outstanding member here. He even gave me a discount on the original, unmolested 601 tube that I bought from him later. I've noticed that more often than not, once a ballpark value is given, it's off to the EE with it. Sad to say it, but.....+ 1 Still we maintain and hopefully slow down and stabilize the future mark up and mass hysteria of said parts. Yep. |
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Must admit, though, dangling that Armalite floorplate was a heck of a marketing tactic! I may not have paid $110 for five mags (even sealed ones) if I hadn't been thinking of how fun it would be to open a few to see what they were!
Is a lot of fun busting open the re-packs. Probably not $20 per mag fun to me unless I opened the earlier pieces but figure new, any decent quality 20 round straight mag is going to run $15ish once shipped unless buying more than 5 and no mystery with those. A like new or new authentic retro mag is probably very justifiable at $20ish per today again just not to me. I recently had a couple more surplus 20's crap out so replacements are a must if one is doing any real amount of shooting and uses the smaller capacity mags. Both had over 5K on them which is about 3K rounds more than any C Products mag has ever run flawlessly for me and much longer than they were ever intended to last on the battlefield. I also bought a bunch of re-packed M-16 stocks a while back. Got at least one C but nothing earlier. Iit sure didn't keep me from opening them all up like I was scratching lottery tickets and they cost less than the mags and was far more rewarding than any purchased losing ticket. |
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Must admit, though, dangling that Armalite floorplate was a heck of a marketing tactic! I may not have paid $110 for five mags (even sealed ones) if I hadn't been thinking of how fun it would be to open a few to see what they were! Is a lot of fun busting open the re-packs. Probably not $20 per mag fun to me unless I opened the earlier pieces but figure new, any decent quality 20 round straight mag is going to run $15ish once shipped unless buying more than 5 and no mystery with those. A like new or new authentic retro mag is probably very justifiable at $20ish per today again just not to me. I recently had a couple more surplus 20's crap out so replacements are a must if one is doing any real amount of shooting and uses the smaller capacity mags. Both had over 5K on them which is about 3K rounds more than any C Products mag has ever run flawlessly for me and much longer than they were ever intended to last on the battlefield. I also bought a bunch of re-packed M-16 stocks a while back. Got at least one C but nothing earlier. Iit sure didn't keep me from opening them all up like I was scratching lottery tickets and they cost less than the mags and was far more rewarding than any purchased losing ticket. View Quote Yep. I'd much rather buy these or stock repacks then $20 or $40 scratch off tickets. I may not walk away a big winner but I know I am not going to lose anything. |
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Anyone get any Armalite marked mags? I am starting to think the seller cherry picked them all out.
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Are waffle magazines heavier
I got a chance to look at my sealed magazines and I swear one feels heavier . And when I press and feel the packaging on the flat sides its not smooth like the others are It feels like cross grooves like a waffle |
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Are waffle magazines heavier I got a chance to look at my sealed magazines and I swear one feels heavier . And when I press and feel the packaging on the flat sides its not smooth like the others are It feels like cross grooves like a waffle View Quote (yes, they were steel as opposed to aluminum) And you bastard.......I mean that in the nicest way. |
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(yes, they were steel as opposed to aluminum) And you bastard.......I mean that in the nicest way. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Are waffle magazines heavier I got a chance to look at my sealed magazines and I swear one feels heavier . And when I press and feel the packaging on the flat sides its not smooth like the others are It feels like cross grooves like a waffle (yes, they were steel as opposed to aluminum) And you bastard.......I mean that in the nicest way. Thanks I don't know much about them . I have never touched one Would they be magnetic or were they stainless steel ? I'm afraid to open it . |
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Thanks I don't know much about them . I have never touched one Would they be magnetic or were they stainless steel ? I'm afraid to open it . View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Are waffle magazines heavier I got a chance to look at my sealed magazines and I swear one feels heavier . And when I press and feel the packaging on the flat sides its not smooth like the others are It feels like cross grooves like a waffle (yes, they were steel as opposed to aluminum) And you bastard.......I mean that in the nicest way. Thanks I don't know much about them . I have never touched one Would they be magnetic or were they stainless steel ? I'm afraid to open it . They're magnetic. One reason magazines were changed to aluminum is because the waffles corroded in the humid environment of SE asia. also: prepare your inbox. Its worth $200+ depending on condition. |
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