Is there really that big a difference in m2 v m3 pmags?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is there really that big a difference in m2 v m3 pmags?

Posted: 6/14/2014 6:09:25 PM EDT

I'm stocking up now. Have many m2. However, m2's are a lot cheaper than m3. A legs said the m3 have not been out long enough to be proven. Thoughts?

Thanks

Posted: 6/14/2014 6:17:39 PM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
I'm stocking up now. Have many m2. However, m2's are a lot cheaper than m3. A legs said the m3 have not been out long enough to be proven. Thoughts?

Thanks

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I would post this in the industry forum asking Magpul as well. But the polymer they use or whatever the stuff is called is supposed to be much stronger than the m2.

Posted: 6/14/2014 8:15:10 PM EDT

[#2]

I saw Magpul post once that the spines are much stronger in the M3 vs. M2. I guess this would reduce the likliehood of cracking or splitting if dropped on their side?

I'm still rocking M2's and buying more. They work for me.

Posted: 6/14/2014 9:20:37 PM EDT

[#3]

m2s work just fine for me
i can deal without the extra cover that comes with the m3s

Posted: 6/14/2014 9:33:44 PM EDT

[#4]

M3's come with a cover. They also look different.

I have heard that M2's have been known to fall out of rifles and that was fixed with M3's...

Can someone validate that statement? If untrue, please let me know.

Bottom Line: People buy Pmags, many don't care what version. I stock up on whatever is cheapest.

Posted: 6/14/2014 10:20:41 PM EDT

[#5]

M3s work better in certain non AR-pattern rifles and supposedly have a stronger design.

M2s work fine in all in-spec lower receivers. I've had zero issues with PMAGs in five different lowers.

Whatever you buy, buy cheap and stack deep

Posted: 6/15/2014 2:41:53 AM EDT

[#6]

I'm almost certain both the m2 and m3 pmags use the same polymer, just the m3 has some physical design differences that make it stronger. I personally still buy m2s and probably will until a deal comes along for m3s.

Posted: 6/15/2014 4:45:40 PM EDT

[#7]

I have had issues with many m3 pmags. the feed lips spread.

Posted: 6/15/2014 9:03:20 PM EDT

[#8]

Anything that I buy now mill be Gen M3

Posted: 6/15/2014 9:25:25 PM EDT

[#9]

I did a test that ran a year long and used the same 5 pmag m3's at the end of the test each mag had roughly 4,000 rounds through them and at this point they were pretty much worthless. The feed lips were so spread that when loaded the round below the top was poking up because the feedlips were no longer containing the rounds as they should, making it impossible to seat on a closed bolt. Also toward the end of the test I had numerous double feeds. I contacted magpul and they said they had never heard of this occuring but doing a little search on the net will show otherwise. I got rid of all my m3 and now have the m2 mags. I love the m2 mags though they are awsome.

Posted: 6/15/2014 10:01:32 PM EDT

[#10]

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I did a test that ran a year long and used the same 5 pmag m3's at the end of the test each mag had roughly 4,000 rounds through them and at this point they were pretty much worthless. The feed lips were so spread that when loaded the round below the top was poking up because the feedlips were no longer containing the rounds as they should, making it impossible to seat on a closed bolt. Also toward the end of the test I had numerous double feeds. I contacted magpul and they said they had never heard of this occuring but doing a little search on the net will show otherwise. I got rid of all my m3 and now have the m2 mags. I love the m2 mags though they are awsome.

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What you really need are Lancers...

Posted: 6/16/2014 12:46:07 PM EDT

[#11]

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I would post this in the industry forum asking Magpul as well. But the polymer they use or whatever the stuff is called is supposed to be much stronger than the m2.

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Quoted:

I'm stocking up now. Have many m2. However, m2's are a lot cheaper than m3. A legs said the m3 have not been out long enough to be proven. Thoughts?

Thanks

I would post this in the industry forum asking Magpul as well. But the polymer they use or whatever the stuff is called is supposed to be much stronger than the m2.

Pretty sure Magpul stated they use the same updated polymers in gen 2 and 3 mags.

Posted: 6/16/2014 12:53:14 PM EDT

[#12]

M3s fit different in some pouches. Makes it a little weird at first when you have a mix of 2s and 3s in your rig.

Posted: 6/19/2014 9:32:43 PM EDT

[#13]

I bought some M3 magazines a while back but then traded them for Generation M2 magazines because I have haveing feedlip spread issues.

Posted: 6/20/2014 9:49:14 AM EDT

[#14]

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Anything that I buy now mill be Gen M3

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Why?

Posted: 6/20/2014 10:31:24 AM EDT

[#15]

Get a mix of both. I had Pmags of all generations. I had around 20 of the M3 and around 40-50 M2's but they were all lost in a tragic boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico they were fully loaded so they did not float they sunk straight to the bottom.

Posted: 6/20/2014 8:14:38 PM EDT

[#16]

Oh man that is a tragic story..I would be so pissed. Does anyone know why the m3 pmags tend to have weaker feed lips. Anybody that has put over 1000 rounds through one m3 magazine will know what i am talking about. I have an m2 mag that has around 5000 rounds or so and there has been no change in feed lip deminsions.

Posted: 6/21/2014 12:07:55 PM EDT

[#17]

I have one M3 20 that came with my new colt. The rest of my mags are M3 30's. All have been flawless in operation. The only odd thing I have observed is with the 30's. When full, if you give the mag a couple of moderate shakes, the nose of the second round will pop up and be even with the top round. In this condition, the mag inserted fine on an open bolt, and self corrected to feed the top round. This is a bit disconcerting, I am going to pick up some M2's and see if there is a difference.

Posted: 6/21/2014 12:12:00 PM EDT

[#18]

some of my rifles have a real tight fit with m2, so tight on some that they wont drop free unless fully loaded, the M3 pmags are a little thinner and fit perfect in all my rifles.

Posted: 6/21/2014 12:55:41 PM EDT

[#19]

M3 have like a magwell stop on the back of the mag.

Posted: 6/21/2014 1:21:42 PM EDT

[#20]

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M3 have like a magwell stop on the back of the mag.

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^^^ This.

Posted: 6/21/2014 3:09:02 PM EDT

[#21]

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Why?

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Anything that I buy now mill be Gen M3

Why?

I already have a 100+ Gen M2 PMags, time to update

Posted: 8/8/2014 5:32:29 AM EDT

[#22]

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I bought some M3 magazines a while back but then traded them for Generation M2 magazines because I have haveing feedlip spread issues.

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In our testing which involved 100,000 s of rounds of live fire along with large scale military unit testing we never encountered this.

We have had zero feed lip spread issues with either gen M2 or gen M3 magazines. We have a few people who have posted complaints online but when asked to return the magazines for inspection they decline to do so.

For a sampling of our tests watch these videos...

Magpul M3 testing videos (YouTube) HK416 full auto /high sped video

Posted: 8/11/2014 7:36:09 AM EDT

[#23]

You folks that claim to be having problems with magazines need to send them to Magpul for evaluation so corrections can be made if needed. The rest of us would appreciate it. We don't need any surprises or disappointments with our mags.

Posted: 8/12/2014 10:19:04 AM EDT

[#24]

I only had problems with a magpul magazine one time, but it was one of the first Gen pmags. I sent it back because it was cracked at the top and they sent me a new replacement. Have yet to have any issues with the Gen 2 or 3 magazines.

Posted: 8/13/2014 2:22:35 AM EDT

[#25]

Well boys, I would tend to think if you are shooting 20k plus a year, you should be pretty savvy on gear. That said, Magpul has heard your pleas, and offered to make this right. Time to make em look stupid guys!!! Or plan B....which is not going to go well for you. I'm betting on plan B here. Maybe you guys could post up some pics of these unsightly pieces of garbage, for us to behold?

Posted: 8/14/2014 12:57:34 PM EDT

[#26]

Just a bump, waiting on pics of well out of spec feed lips. I am sure I'm not alone, in wanting to see these, with rounds loaded, going all over the place.

Posted: 8/14/2014 5:12:33 PM EDT

[#27]

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Just a bump, waiting on pics of well out of spec feed lips. I am sure I'm not alone, in wanting to see these, with rounds loaded, going all over the place.

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Same here.

Posted: 8/15/2014 2:24:08 AM EDT

[#28]

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Same here.

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Quoted:
Just a bump, waiting on pics of well out of spec feed lips. I am sure I'm not alone, in wanting to see these, with rounds loaded, going all over the place.

Same here.

Glock, I am sure that we are about to be sadly dissapointed here. Man, I guess I am not tactical enough to be able to fubar the 10 that I have been using for about 6 years now. I guess they only have about 20K through them. BTW, I have plenty of more. I just tend to use stuff til it breaks. Still waiting.

Posted: 8/15/2014 7:55:51 AM EDT

[#29]

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I did a test that ran a year long and used the same 5 pmag m3's at the end of the test each mag had roughly 4,000 rounds through them and at this point they were pretty much worthless. The feed lips were so spread that when loaded the round below the top was poking up because the feedlips were no longer containing the rounds as they should, making it impossible to seat on a closed bolt. Also toward the end of the test I had numerous double feeds. I contacted magpul and they said they had never heard of this occuring but doing a little search on the net will show otherwise. I got rid of all my m3 and now have the m2 mags. I love the m2 mags though they are awsome.

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If you were doing testing I'd have to imagine you would have had a camera on hand to provide additional documentation.

Posted: 8/15/2014 11:43:48 AM EDT

[#30]

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Same here.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Just a bump, waiting on pics of well out of spec feed lips. I am sure I'm not alone, in wanting to see these, with rounds loaded, going all over the place.

Same here.

Ditto......

Posted: 8/15/2014 12:50:27 PM EDT

[#31]

i cant remember if it was g2 or g3 pmags but one was really tight in my brothers dpms pos and the other wouldnt fit at all. the one that fit tight wouldnt drop free either. i blame his pos dpms because they both work in my dozen ars of different makes. one thing i did notice is i cant snap the dust cover to the bottom of the g3 mags like i can with my g2

Posted: 8/15/2014 3:01:49 PM EDT

[#32]

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Same here.

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Quoted:
Just a bump, waiting on pics of well out of spec feed lips. I am sure I'm not alone, in wanting to see these, with rounds loaded, going all over the place.

Same here.

Still waiting... C'mon fellas. Post up those pics. We all need to know if it's time to dump our M3 Pmags

Posted: 8/16/2014 10:28:17 AM EDT

[#33]

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If you were doing testing I'd have to imagine you would have had a camera on hand to provide additional documentation.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
I did a test that ran a year long and used the same 5 pmag m3's at the end of the test each mag had roughly 4,000 rounds through them and at this point they were pretty much worthless. The feed lips were so spread that when loaded the round below the top was poking up because the feedlips were no longer containing the rounds as they should, making it impossible to seat on a closed bolt. Also toward the end of the test I had numerous double feeds. I contacted magpul and they said they had never heard of this occuring but doing a little search on the net will show otherwise. I got rid of all my m3 and now have the m2 mags. I love the m2 mags though they are awsome.

If you were doing testing I'd have to imagine you would have had a camera on hand to provide additional documentation.

BAHAHAHAHAHA.....called the eff out....like a boss. Right along with a bunch of other guys.

Look, before people start accusing me of being a lover of all things Magpul, allow me to explain. I am a lover of all things that freaking work. As I started to think about it, I actually have about 25K through 10 Pmags, that I have had for about 5 or 6 years. Zero problems is what they have given me. I also have Lancers, and good USGI mags that are flawless as well.

Bottom line guys, there are a couple of you here, that have made some pretty tall claims. We aren't calling you liars, we just want you to put up, or STFU, and stop propogating BS rumors. So until you are able to bring this to the table, shut your mouths while the adults are talking.

Posted: 8/16/2014 7:10:37 PM EDT

[#34]

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Glock, I am sure that we are about to be sadly dissapointed here. Man, I guess I am not tactical enough to be able to fubar the 10 that I have been using for about 6 years now. I guess they only have about 20K through them. BTW, I have plenty of more. I just tend to use stuff til it breaks. Still waiting.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Just a bump, waiting on pics of well out of spec feed lips. I am sure I'm not alone, in wanting to see these, with rounds loaded, going all over the place.

Same here.

Glock, I am sure that we are about to be sadly dissapointed here. Man, I guess I am not tactical enough to be able to fubar the 10 that I have been using for about 6 years now. I guess they only have about 20K through them. BTW, I have plenty of more. I just tend to use stuff til it breaks. Still waiting.

Yep. I am prepared for