Does anyone have experience with these mags in the SCAR?  Any issues?  Do they drop free?

TIA!

Here's a link to a post where I discuss ARC's and PMAGS in a SCAR.  It's just below in this forum, but here's the link.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=24&t=313583

I also emailed Todd Smith from Tango Down recently about this very subject.  Here's the emails:

Me:

> I purchased two ARC mags from an online retailer to try in my FN SCAR. At
> the top right side of the mags near the rear (just in front of the groove
> for a stripper clip guide) they are both stamped "GPM."
>
> Both mags drop free from the SCAR and function great. I later ordered 10
> more ARC's from a different retailer. These just came in today. These have
> "GPM A" stamped on them in the same place. They also have "B" stamped on
> them on the bottom right side where the original two I bought have no
> stamping.
>
> The 10 new mags I bought do not drop free from the FN SCAR. It's not the
> end
> of the world, since I have lots of rifles that take AR-15 type mags. I'll
> use the new ARC's in other rifles. I was curious, however, to find out
> which
> mags are the latest manufacture. Can you tell me the differences and why
> the
> change. I've read a few postings online from other SCAR owners who have
> new
> ARC mags that won't drop free from their rifles.
>
> I'd appreciate any info you can give me on this so I'll know for any
> future
> purchases.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chris


Todd:

> Hello Christopher,
>
> We made a small change to the mag upper which has been a problem in about
> 20% of the SCAR rifles out there. We have done dimensional inspections of
> about 20 commercial lowers and we feel that FN is having trouble
> controlling
> the shrinkage in the lowers ,so the combination of our very minor change
> and
> excess shrinkage is the problem. My personal SCAR (commercial) will not
> drop
> Colt 20 round mags free, and is sticky with NHMG mags also. Oddly enough
> this is ONLY a problem in the commercial guns. We have SOCOM MIL lowers at
> our shop that we use to check fit and they drop free without and
> issue...in
> fact they seem loose. And we have never had a single Mil-operator complain
> about dropping free.
>
> If you would like to return you mags just let me know.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Todd Smith
> TangoDown, Inc.
> [email protected]


Me again:

Thanks for the reply Todd.

So I'm guessing by your answer that the GPM A  /  B  mags are newer than the

plain GPM's?

I don't need to return them.  The mags seem great, and I have plenty of
rifles they fit in.  Oddly enough, the latest Magpul PMAGS drop free, but my

older ones don't.  HK mags drop free, and all the USGI's I have seem to fit
(and drop free).

If I wanted to experiment on one of your new mags by filling it slightly,
should I do so on the sides or the front or rear?

Some guys seem to be sanding the inside of their SCAR magwells, but I don't
know if I want to do that.

Mine is a black 16S.


Todd:

Christopher,

We increased the width of the mag by .010 (front to back) by adding material
to the back face. I have tried to modify mags myself to fit my SCAR with
little luck. When we added the material to the back face it also added .010
to the radius corners which seems to be one area of contact. I have filed
down the back face and removed some stock from the corners and it did help
but not 100%. I think there is a couple of other contact points that are not
so easy to see.

As I mentioned ...we have 6 SCARS...2 commercial and 4 SOCOM issue and only
mine has a tight mag well. So for now there just is not much we can
do.....until we start having trouble with the Mil-version it just does not
make sense for us to start changing things again.

And I agree with you......filing a 2300.00 rifle's mag well does not appeal
to me either.

Thank you,

Todd Smith
TangoDown, Inc.
[email protected]


I hope this helps you.

Chris