Tapco and Pmag side by side comparison - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tapco and Pmag side by side comparison

Posted: 2/7/2014 3:24:25 PM EDT

I didnt see a side by side comparison of the tapco and the pmag yet. I was interested in the differences so I figured someone else might be as well.

The tapco has thicker feedlips and locking tab. Also has a wider and longer medal base plate compared to the pmag.
The pmag has a longer spring and slightly longer follower.
Personal preference but I think the tapco has better grip along the magazine compared to the pmag.
Both seated perfectly fine both loaded and unloaded in my 2001 Sar-1.

On to the pictures:

Tapco are for sale all day long for $6 compared to $14 for the pmag. I will stick to the tapcos until the metal reinforced pmags come out then try a couple of those. out.

Posted: 2/7/2014 3:33:32 PM EDT

[#1]

Damn, the Tapco looks a lot beefier actually...now i'm not even sure i'll try the metal re-inforced Magpuls.

Thanks for posting those pics!

Posted: 2/7/2014 3:44:12 PM EDT

[#2]

Aww snap! Somebody's done compared Tapcos and Pmags!

Seriously, though... good pictures. Thanks for posting them.

Posted: 2/7/2014 6:57:35 PM EDT

[#3]

Nice report, great pics.

Posted: 2/7/2014 8:11:03 PM EDT

[#4]

Interesting, everything on the tapco looks beefier including the feed lips. Thanks for the pics OP.

Posted: 2/7/2014 8:24:28 PM EDT

[#5]

Why are the spring lengths so different?

Posted: 2/11/2014 10:43:02 AM EDT

[#6]

the price kills the pmag.

Posted: 2/21/2014 12:22:58 AM EDT

[#7]

According to ResistTheTyranny's AK Pmag review, they're too long to fit AK's wearing the Romanian "donkey dick" hand guard.

Posted: 2/23/2014 8:12:24 AM EDT

[#8]

I use the tapcos for my ak range mags. Both the textured and the slicksides and both have worked well. My post on the before notedt he same thing, that te spring was much shorter than a real comm bloc ak mag and ultimately would likely reduce its service life. But at less than $10 a pop, who cares. And my russian bakelite and steel mags stay all pretty tucked away.

Posted: 2/23/2014 9:25:39 PM EDT

[#9]

Great pics and nice review. I have been interested in the magpul mags, just have not had chance to see one in person. I mostly use textured Tapco and have no issues with them. Just not sure if it's worth twice the price for the Magpuls in this case.

Posted: 2/25/2014 5:23:08 AM EDT

[#10]

I think I may buy 10 Tapcos just to have....$5.99 is cheap cheap.

Posted: 2/25/2014 8:26:54 AM EDT

[#11]

why would you buy a $14 ak pmag without reinforcements when combloc steel surplus can be had for the same price?

magpul should have skipped these and went straight to the circle 10 reinforced types

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:50:42 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
why would you buy a $14 ak pmag without reinforcements when combloc steel surplus can be had for the same price?

magpul should have skipped these and went straight to the circle 10 reinforced types

View Quote

They're probably just riding their rep for their AR pmags. The mags will probably go down to $10 or less after they've been out in the market for awhile.

They say this is their first time making AK pmags so they want to test the waters with all plastic version. They also said they're testing out a new anti tilt system for AK mags and they don't want to spend all the R&D to make reinforced mags right off the bat.

It seems like they're making money on them even though they aren't reinforced. I've seen them sold out except for the places that are price gouging, I know one place had a whole table full of them but wanted them for $25 each at a local gunshow.

I'm personally just buying surplus mags right now, I'm late to the game so I need to get caught up. I'll let everyone else beta test the AK pmags and wait on reinforced like a lot of people on here.

Posted: 2/28/2014 7:35:47 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I didnt see a side by side comparison of the tapco and the pmag yet. I was interested in the differences so I figured someone else might be as well.

The tapco has thicker feedlips and locking tab. Also has a wider and longer medal base plate compared to the pmag.
The pmag has a longer spring and slightly longer follower.
Personal preference but I think the tapco has better grip along the magazine compared to the pmag.
Both seated perfectly fine both loaded and unloaded in my 2001 Sar-1.

On to the pictures:

http://i.imgur.com/grfkHj5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eQu4pSX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/N2XLRpo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5o7UsfS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/N9h8zqr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CyK9RAR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rOZcTaH.jpg

Tapco are for sale all day long for $6 compared to $14 for the pmag. I will stick to the tapcos until the metal reinforced pmags come out then try a couple of those. out.

View Quote

Link to $6 Tapco's? I could use some cheap range mags.

Posted: 3/1/2014 7:29:02 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Link to $6 Tapco's? I could use some cheap range mags.

View Quote

http://www.classicfirearms.com/accessories/ak-30-rd-polymer-mag-by-tapco

Posted: 3/1/2014 1:21:09 PM EDT

[#15]

Thanks for the $6 tapco link, I needed some more range mags.

Posted: 3/1/2014 5:06:59 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

why would you buy a $14 ak pmag without reinforcements when combloc steel surplus can be had for the same price?
magpul should have skipped these and went straight to the circle 10 reinforced types

View Quote

That wouldn't be smart business... They know all the same people who bought these will also buy the next version to come out, and the ones after that. Kind of like how Glock didn't make a 9mm version of that .380 they came out with. It's a good way to make a lot more sales later on down the road.

Posted: 3/1/2014 5:29:13 PM EDT

[#17]

Thanks for this thread , great pictures

Posted: 3/2/2014 3:08:00 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
why would you buy a $14 ak pmag without reinforcements when combloc steel surplus can be had for the same price?

magpul should have skipped these and went straight to the circle 10 reinforced types

View Quote

Honestly, I bought two because I wanted to try them. If the reinforced ones are released for a fair price I will probably get a bunch of them. So far the two I have feed/fit/function great.

Posted: 3/9/2014 1:13:07 PM EDT

[#19]

OP, thanks for the review and pics!

I had to get a couple of the Pmags just to try them out as well.

I will buy more when they go on sale.

Posted: 3/22/2014 10:34:01 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

http://www.classicfirearms.com/accessories/ak-30-rd-polymer-mag-by-tapco

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Link to $6 Tapco's? I could use some cheap range mags.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/accessories/ak-30-rd-polymer-mag-by-tapco

I went to order 3 of these and shipping was $14.99, just $3 under the cost of the 3 mags.

Posted: 3/23/2014 11:34:32 AM EDT

[#21]

I ordered some things from midway yesterday. I saw they had AK Pmags in stock so I added one to my cart. If it works, then great. If it doesn't, I have about forty other mags that do work.

Posted: 4/11/2014 12:59:31 PM EDT

[#22]

The thickness of the mag catch tab on the mag is critical. The statement that it was 'thicker' jumped out at me. The mag catch is designed and installed to work with steel tabs, and there is a little play in most rifles, at least with an empty mag. When loaded, the pressure of the top round pushing against the bolt tightens up the fit. With a thicker polymer tab, you may have trouble getting the mag catch to snap over it. If you ever relieve a rear tab, be sure to work only on the lower side where the mag catch rides and be sure to keep the same angle. The top flat sets the height of the feed lips in the gun and usually shouldn't be modified. In these cases the question comes up whether to modify the mag catch or the magazine - I go with the magazine. If you filed on the catch, it would be too loose for other kinds of mags.

Posted: 4/26/2014 8:41:38 PM EDT

[#23]

Couple of questions-
Are either of these followers anti-tilt?
Are anti tilt even needed?
The tapco spring is substantially shorter then the pmag. Isn't that reason enough to go with the pmag?

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:47:01 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
Couple of questions-
Are either of these followers anti-tilt? All the AK mags that I have ever seen are "anti-tilt".
Are anti tilt even needed? See above.
The tapco spring is substantially shorter then the pmag. Isn't that reason enough to go with the pmag? Don't know why that would be a reason...I have never had any issue at all with Tapco.

View Quote

Posted: 5/16/2014 7:45:49 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

I didnt see a side by side comparison of the tapco and the pmag yet. I was interested in the differences so I figured someone else might be as well.

The tapco has thicker feedlips and locking tab. Also has a wider and longer medal base plate compared to the pmag.

The pmag has a longer spring and slightly longer follower.

Personal preference but I think the tapco has better grip along the magazine compared to the pmag.

Both seated perfectly fine both loaded and unloaded in my 2001 Sar-1.

On to the pictures:
http://i.imgur.com/grfkHj5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eQu4pSX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/N2XLRpo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5o7UsfS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/N9h8zqr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CyK9RAR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rOZcTaH.jpg

Tapco are for sale all day long for $6 compared to $14 for the pmag. I will stick to the tapcos until the metal reinforced pmags come out then try a couple of those. out.

View Quote

Thanks for posting those photos.

I'm normally a Magpul fanboy, but those Tapcos look better...

Posted: 5/23/2014 5:05:21 PM EDT

[#26]

Perhaps Magpul is using a superior polymer that doesn't require as thick of feed lips and locking tab?

Perhaps Tapco's spring material is more powerful vs Magpul / military types?

Info is missing / not available.