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Posted: 12/15/2014 2:31:59 PM EDT
I've been told for long term storage when they are loaded, but what's long term.
Or are they just a pretty unnecessary nearly silly accessory. I got a bunch that came with my original Pmags and I've been using them, but do I really need too? |
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I use them with the intention of keeping constant pressure off the mag lips. I have a few loaded without covers. Haven't had any problems yet.
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Magpul says the feed lips should not deform with long term storage but the cover is added protection.
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When they first came out they were to keep ammo safe in transport, and to keep pressure off feed lips.
Now if you ask Magpul they say just to keep safe for transport, and they actually get mad if you ask if it's to keep pressure off the feed lips. They changed their mind on that one. |
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My plate carrier has been loaded with pmags for over a 2 years with no issues. I'm not worried about it.
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I use them for long term storage. No idea if it helps or not. Just know that in field use they will not last long on the bottom.
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If I have mags loaded that I know are going to stay that way for months or even longer I snap on the covers. If I was one of those guys that keeps lots of mags loaded in case of zombie apocalypse I would defintrly use them. I mainly use them to keep crap from getting in loaded mags when transporting them to the range.
The way I see it they definitely won't do the mags any harm and they may prevent some stress on the feed lips so why not use them... |
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Magpul says they are not necessary but I put them back on after loading,I pretty sure I have OCD so I do it anyways but it cant hurt
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I tie a couple of strands out of 550 cord to the dust covers and the other end to the mag pouch.
They are stored with no tension on the mag lips, but when I draw them from the mag pouch the leash pops the dust cover off... and I am good to go. |
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Quoted:
Incidentally, the 30rd mags that I've kept loaded for well over a decade are steel: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/ammo_cans.jpg PMags didn't yet exist back when I loaded them View Quote Steel or aluminum..? |
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all I can say is that those of you who don't use them or throw them away are more than welcome to send them my way.
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I drank the Kool-Aid and use dust covers on my PMAGs. Besides, without dust covers, you won't be able to do this when SHTF: http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b623/EdDinIL/Stuff/PMag2_zpsmhlf5who.gif View Quote |
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Incidentally, the 30rd mags that I've kept loaded for well over a decade are steel: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/ammo_cans.jpg PMags didn't yet exist back when I loaded them Steel or aluminum..? The 20 rounders in that pic are aluminum, but the 30 rounders are steel ETA: Some of you guys may remember the Teflon coated steel Brit mags that hit the market a couple of years before the AWB sunset. Those are the "rainy day" 30 rounders shown in the pic. |
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I have 5 I have kept loaded without the covers in my patrol bag for over 4 years. Only a occasional use for qualification and changing out the ammo. Sitting in my patrol car baking, or freezing. Depending on the season. No problems what so ever.
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Earlier today http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_17/662826_Why_I_avoid_plastic_magazines__.html&page=4
I try not to lose them but don't worry about it if I do. Until they are lost I will keep putting them back on there. Once lost I will not replace them. |
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Hi,
My son used the Magpul generation 2 window magazines during his 2 deployments in Afghanistan & Iraq. He used the covers to keep dust/sand out of the magazine. Dust and sand are big problems in the desert so I don't look as an unnecessary accessory. I'm not a big fan of plastic magazines, but these covers help get the best performance out of these magazines in dusty, sandy areas. Merry Christmas To All, and to all a Good night: |
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I have 2 30's and a 20 that have been loaded, uncapped and untouched for six years now.
No drama. |
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Quoted:
Hi, My son used the Magpul generation 2 window magazines during his 2 deployments in Afghanistan & Iraq. He used the covers to keep dust/sand out of the magazine. Dust and sand are big problems in the desert so I don't look as an unnecessary accessory. I'm not a big fan of plastic magazines, but these covers help get the best performance out of these magazines in dusty, sandy areas. Merry Christmas To All, and to all a Good night: View Quote They were handy for that, but we lost most of them when we popped the top off. No time to stop and put them away. Sometimes we could but sometimes we couldn't. Here in Ohio it isn't that much of a problem. If I lived in the south West I would try to keep them on until needed. We had to clean the inside of our GI mags about once a week. Not really a problem as we had the time but I would have rather spent it doing something else. |
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Same here After dealing with Thermolds and Orlites in the eighties and early nineties, it took me until 2009 to finally give "plastic" mags another try. After suffering multiple durability issues previously I just didn't trust them, so I wasn't an early adopter when Magpul released their first polymer magazine. Today, while I still stockpile a few USGI 30s and still rebuild Vietnam era USGI 20s the majority of the mags in my collection in aggregate are 30 round PMags. I have several Lancers and a few Surefire 60s, but the PMag 30 is my "go to" magazine. My teenage daughter on the other hand strongly prefers straight PMag 20s. She has amassed a fairly large quantity of them for her AR and Sig Patrol. My daughter's AR, along with her preferred magazine: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/6920_Ash.jpg Range day: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/range1.jpg . View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I have 5 I have kept loaded without the covers in my patrol bag for over 4 years. Only a occasional use for qualification and changing out the ammo. Sitting in my patrol car baking, or freezing. Depending on the season. No problems what so ever. Same here After dealing with Thermolds and Orlites in the eighties and early nineties, it took me until 2009 to finally give "plastic" mags another try. After suffering multiple durability issues previously I just didn't trust them, so I wasn't an early adopter when Magpul released their first polymer magazine. Today, while I still stockpile a few USGI 30s and still rebuild Vietnam era USGI 20s the majority of the mags in my collection in aggregate are 30 round PMags. I have several Lancers and a few Surefire 60s, but the PMag 30 is my "go to" magazine. My teenage daughter on the other hand strongly prefers straight PMag 20s. She has amassed a fairly large quantity of them for her AR and Sig Patrol. My daughter's AR, along with her preferred magazine: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/6920_Ash.jpg Range day: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/range1.jpg . Can you tell me about that forend? |
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The 20 rounders in that pic are aluminum, but the 30 rounders are steel ETA: Some of you guys may remember the Teflon coated steel Brit mags that hit the market a couple of years before the AWB sunset. Those are the "rainy day" 30 rounders shown in the pic. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Incidentally, the 30rd mags that I've kept loaded for well over a decade are steel: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/ammo_cans.jpg PMags didn't yet exist back when I loaded them Steel or aluminum..? The 20 rounders in that pic are aluminum, but the 30 rounders are steel ETA: Some of you guys may remember the Teflon coated steel Brit mags that hit the market a couple of years before the AWB sunset. Those are the "rainy day" 30 rounders shown in the pic. Hahah, I remember those! 12+ years ago, these were "the shit" and considered top of the line at the time. Steel SA80 magazines "upgraded" with the "anti tilt" green followers! Much more durable and reliable than the fragile surplus aluminum magazines available at the time. I wasn't even into 5.56 or the AR platform at the time, but I remember getting some for my buddy who just got his first AR so he could have some "quality mags"! They were considered cheap at the time too at around $12 - $15 each. We are really spoiled when it comes to quality mags these days. I wonder if those old steel euro mags are available anywhere? I wouldn't mind picking up a couple for nostalgic purposes. |
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Phb1gt, those are old school Surefire M500 forends, more info HERE Quoted:
Hahah, I remember those! 12+ years ago, these were "the shit" and considered top of the line at the time. Steel SA80 magazines "upgraded" with the "anti tilt" green followers! Much more durable and reliable than the fragile surplus aluminum magazines available at the time. I wasn't even into 5.56 or the AR platform at the time, but I remember getting some for my buddy who just got his first AR so he could have some "quality mags"! They were considered cheap at the time too at around $12 - $15 each. We are really spoiled when it comes to quality mags these days. I wonder if those old steel euro mags are available anywhere? I wouldn't mind picking up a couple for nostalgic purposes. Yep, those are the ones Think I paid around $25/ea for my first batch of Brit mags. While that sounds like a lot by today's standards, I was just happy to find brand new mags for less than $75/ea. The followers in most of mine have been upgraded twice. They all got USGI green followers when I originally bought them, just like the mags you got for your friend. Years later I discovered that Magpul's anti-tilt follower worked perfectly in them, contrary to legend, so I made a batch purchase of followers and upgraded them again You are absolutely right about us being spoiled today. Many of our younger members have no idea how bad it was back in the AWB dark ages. I can remember using JB Weld to fix spilt feedlips or missing floorplate tabs Never again. |
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That's funny, I remember upgrading to the new improved followers back in the day. I just threw them all away a few months back.
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If I plan on leaving any loaded I always put the dust cover on whether it's short term or long term
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Something I found useful for them is that they will attach to the bottom of the mag on the 30s.This may seem pointless, but I have had a few mags baseplates crack when dropping the mag. Putting the dust cover on the bottom protects the baseplate a little more, and if your baseplate does crack, you can still attch the dust cover with the broken baseplate and it will stay in place as a temporary field repair of your magazine.
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Most of my PMags that are intended for medium to long-term storage have the covers installed: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/pmag_dry_box_storage.jpg The mags that are with my bump-in-the-night carbine do not: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/maxpedition_bag.jpg Incidentally, the 30rd mags that I've kept loaded for well over a decade are steel: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/ammo_cans.jpg PMags didn't yet exist back when I loaded them View Quote Jesus and I thought buying 6 was a bit excessive O.O For Op, mine are loaded with caps on, dunno if it helps but i figure might as well. |
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I use the covers for all the fully loaded P-Mags ... why not ?
It does protect the feed lips and take the pressure off of the feed lips. Heck if USGI mags had a easy to pop off cover that did the same thing.. I would use those also. If push came to shove I can easily pop off all the covers ... even while still in the mag pouches. |
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Jesus and I thought buying 6 was a bit excessive O.O For Op, mine are loaded with caps on, dunno if it helps but i figure might as well. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Most of my PMags that are intended for medium to long-term storage have the covers installed: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/pmag_dry_box_storage.jpg The mags that are with my bump-in-the-night carbine do not: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/maxpedition_bag.jpg Incidentally, the 30rd mags that I've kept loaded for well over a decade are steel: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/ammo_cans.jpg PMags didn't yet exist back when I loaded them Jesus and I thought buying 6 was a bit excessive O.O For Op, mine are loaded with caps on, dunno if it helps but i figure might as well. While I realize that that may seem like a lot, like many of the old-timers here I shudder at the thought of another AWB type situation where new mags are scarce and/or absurdly expensive. And although we may joke about it, most of us here who stockpile ammo, mags, and spare parts don't do it for zombies or Red Dawn fantasies - it's all about availability I look at it like this: If the sale of new magazines was made illegal overnight, would I have enough on-hand to last a lifetime? What about for my friends, family, and coworkers I care about? I have a lot of mags for my ARs and Sig rifles - many more than I have pictured here. I suppose it's all about comfort level A few years ago I realized that I *might* have a *small* hoarding problem when I started stockpiling mags for weapons that I don't even own. A couple of my friends for example have LaRue OBR rifles in 308, so I started stockpiling 308 PMags and ammunition for them. The only 308 caliber rifle I own is a FAL Para ... and that doesn't take PMags |
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I used one to prop my door open while I was moving a new couch into my apartment a few years back. That's about it.
never once used them in Iraq, never had any problems whatsoever with the moondust getting inside them |
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While I realize that that may seem like a lot, like many of the old-timers here I shudder at the thought of another AWB type situation where new mags are scarce and/or absurdly expensive. And although we may joke about it, most of us here who stockpile ammo, mags, and spare parts don't do it for zombies or Red Dawn fantasies - it's all about availability I look at it like this: If the sale of new magazines was made illegal overnight, would I have enough on-hand to last a lifetime? What about for my friends, family, and coworkers I care about? I have a lot of mags for my ARs and Sig rifles - many more than I have pictured here. I suppose it's all about comfort level A few years ago I realized that I *might* have a *small* hoarding problem when I started stockpiling mags for weapons that I don't even own. A couple of my friends for example have LaRue OBR rifles in 308, so I started stockpiling 308 PMags and ammunition for them. The only 308 caliber rifle I own is a FAL Para ... and that doesn't take PMags View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Most of my PMags that are intended for medium to long-term storage have the covers installed: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/pmag_dry_box_storage.jpg The mags that are with my bump-in-the-night carbine do not: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/maxpedition_bag.jpg Incidentally, the 30rd mags that I've kept loaded for well over a decade are steel: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/ammo_cans.jpg PMags didn't yet exist back when I loaded them Jesus and I thought buying 6 was a bit excessive O.O For Op, mine are loaded with caps on, dunno if it helps but i figure might as well. While I realize that that may seem like a lot, like many of the old-timers here I shudder at the thought of another AWB type situation where new mags are scarce and/or absurdly expensive. And although we may joke about it, most of us here who stockpile ammo, mags, and spare parts don't do it for zombies or Red Dawn fantasies - it's all about availability I look at it like this: If the sale of new magazines was made illegal overnight, would I have enough on-hand to last a lifetime? What about for my friends, family, and coworkers I care about? I have a lot of mags for my ARs and Sig rifles - many more than I have pictured here. I suppose it's all about comfort level A few years ago I realized that I *might* have a *small* hoarding problem when I started stockpiling mags for weapons that I don't even own. A couple of my friends for example have LaRue OBR rifles in 308, so I started stockpiling 308 PMags and ammunition for them. The only 308 caliber rifle I own is a FAL Para ... and that doesn't take PMags Makes sense. I only have one Ar, or rifle in general so i can't justify a bunch of loaded mags = / m&p9 and Glock 23 mags are a different story How many mags do you have total, do you think? Feel free to PM in you don't wanna put it out in the open. I already am planning more Ar builds as funds will allow so i guess slowly i can build it up to match you |
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<tree trimming> Makes sense. I only have one Ar, or rifle in general so i can't justify a bunch of loaded mags = / m&p9 and Glock 23 mags are a different story How many mags do you have total, do you think? Feel free to PM in you don't wanna put it out in the open. I already am planning more Ar builds as funds will allow so i guess slowly i can build it up to match you View Quote You can justify buying a supply of $25-$35 mags for your handguns but not buying a supply of $10 mags for your rifle? Ok, it's your choice, but I don't agree with it. If it's a funds issue, then build up that collection slowly. Just don't read the magazine whores thread and feel like you need to be there by the end of next week. To keep my reply thread-relevant, you won't even need the dust covers unless you want to use them! |
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I just grabbed an extra 20 round Pmag to fit into a hidden cargo pocket in my new uniform pants. I decided to use the dust cover as a lint cover.
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Something I found useful for them is that they will attach to the bottom of the mag on the 30s.This may seem pointless, but I have had a few mags baseplates crack when dropping the mag. Putting the dust cover on the bottom protects the baseplate a little more, and if your baseplate does crack, you can still attch the dust cover with the broken baseplate and it will stay in place as a temporary field repair of your magazine. View Quote This. |
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I always found the PMAG dust covers to make great landfill material. I've always pitched 'em as soon as I opened the package.
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I have 2-PMAG40 Gen M3 and 1-PMAG30 Gen M3. I also have a batch of standard steel 30 rd mags a friend gave me. I must say I am quite happy with the Gen M3 PMAGs. I basically use the dust covers for storage when I am not at the range. Saw no sense in throwing them away since they were designed to be used lol.
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