AR Sponsor
Posted: 12/15/2025 7:25:52 PM EDT
|
Wanted to check with the group for opinions on mag compatibility. I find that the ASC mags fit but the Brownells mags only fit one of my lowers (have 2 SBRed). After taking a brownells apart and testing the 2 lowers I found that the lower feed ramp had loosened on my 633 clone but the 635 clones was still tight. The feed ramp has a tiny amount of up and down play that allows the mag to seat and after testing and barely loosening the feed ramp on the 635 clone found that this allowed the mags to sit as well. My question to the group is should I be concerned with the feed ramp being slightly loose and just vibratite the screw so it cant walk out completely or do I need to troubleshoot further? As a note I have shot the 633 and it ran beautifully, have not shot the 635 yet. To note I also tried a RRA 9mm bolt catch with no change first. Thanks in advance Additional piece of information I hadnt noticed before. The Brownells mags will load, cycle, and lock back however you cannot release the bolt forward on an empty mag which can be done on the ASC. I assume this is due to the much taller metal Empty Mag tab on the Brownells and wasnt caught because I would usually strip the mag when empty |
|
FWIW...Brownells mags have had various / numerous QC issues over the years. Some work great, some do not. I bought ( once ) some Brownells AR10 mags at a great price... when fully loaded ( 20rds of 308 ) the mag body bulged so bad, I couldn't get the mag into the magwell. |
*Hold on to your AR-15s. Their magic must be very powerful, or they wouldn’t want them.*
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man.
________________________________
TOGC,IADC
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man.
________________________________
TOGC,IADC
|
Might talk to Mike. I have had to shim the ramps of both of my 635 lowers to get them to work with all mags I have. And I have a decent mix, but mostly colt and metalforms, but some ASC also. Point is, I think Mike has a shim for these that need it. I made my own. |
|
Originally Posted By seand1111: Might talk to Mike. I have had to shim the ramps of both of my 635 lowers to get them to work with all mags I have. And I have a decent mix, but mostly colt and metalforms, but some ASC also. Point is, I think Mike has a shim for these that need it. I made my own. @Mike_NDS |
Palmetto State Armory
3760 Fernandina Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
Web Sales: 1-803-724-6950
3760 Fernandina Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
Web Sales: 1-803-724-6950
|
Originally Posted By mike_nds: Pretty sure they got tossed because we don’t use them anymore. I will dig around in my office and if I find any I’ll let you know. @mike_nds what was the solution yall came up with to not have to use them anymore? I know my lowers were some of the early early ones and the shim was the solution for mine. I dont believe y'all had that in place at the time and I made my own shim and combined that with the RRA 9mm mag catches with the small recessed edge and those worked great for me. |
| It's a pain to get mine to run consistently. Metalform followers simply are not reliable in mine. ASC or C Products followers push my rounds far enough up to be mostly reliable. I have done everything physically possible to get my 635 reliably feeding at this point. |
|
Originally Posted By 1NAVYCHIEF-RET: Is there any 9mm AR style mags to stay away from? Originally Posted By 1NAVYCHIEF-RET: Is there any 9mm AR style mags to stay away from? after a few tweaks, both of mine run all mags just fine. Originally Posted By Dracon1201: It's a pain to get mine to run consistently. Metalform followers simply are not reliable in mine. ASC or C Products followers push my rounds far enough up to be mostly reliable. I have done everything physically possible to get my 635 reliably feeding at this point. what is yours doing? here are videos of my DOE clone and 635 clone running after the tweaks. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cpgKC0_0Vos https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N2nLbGEDPLo |
|
here is an old archived thread on the feed ramps, and mag catches for the H&R 635. Good info in it if you have an older lower. old thread |
Generally, the issue with Metalform mags not locking in is the front lip isn’t consistently formed.  We lowered the feed ramp to get a better angle. I also had to come up with a new mag catch to compensate for the new position. Our current 9mm mag catch has a step to lower the mag slightly, and a thicker pad to protrude deeper into the slot on the magazine |
We are living in a Tom Clancy novel
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand
https://hr1871.com/
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand
https://hr1871.com/
|
Originally Posted By mike_nds: We lowered the feed ramp to get a better angle. I also had to come up with a new mag catch to compensate for the new position. Our current 9mm mag catch has a step to lower the mag slightly, and a thicker pad to protrude deeper into the slot on the magazine @mike_nds Would the 635 mag catch you currently use be a viable option to help prevent over-insertion of the magazine ?? This has been an issue for me....the Rock River 9mm mag release hasn't been the best solution for me on either of my Colt style SMG lowers. And during a match....it's an annoyance that has cost me a few seconds on occasion. I'm using the PSA labeled SMG mags from the 2012-2013 timeline, and they do feed well, no issues there. I would like to try one (or 2) of the H&R 635 mag releases with the thicker pad to see if it would help my over-insertion issue. Thank you for any insight, advice, and for making all the awesome products you and the folks at H&R have brought us. . |
Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
|
Originally Posted By mike_nds: The little lip on the feed ramp is the over insertion stop on our lowers. I doubt the mag catch will help in that regard. Did you file it off? @mike_nds My feed ramp does have a slight lip at the edge, but in the moment of doing fast reloads during matches, if the bolt is locked back on an empty mag, the bolt catch is engaged finger is up, the fresh magazine will slide up past the mag catch and the feed ramp. When this happens, and I release the bolt, it costs me about 5 - 6 seconds to clear it. When the bolt is closed, the magazine that is being inserted will stop when the bolt catch is down, because the bolt catch finger engages the rear lip on the mag. I was really hoping a mag catch that protrudes deeper into the magazine catch hole during insertion would help prevent the issue when the bolt is open/locked back. FWIW.....I'm not asking to send me anything for free.....I'm willing and able to pay for the parts and shipping. I'm just looking to solve an issue that's been an annoyance for me when I use either of my 635 SMG style mag guns in action steel matches. Get back to the thread when you can..... go have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the time off !!! .Attached File |
Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
|
There’s a few ways to fix that. 1. Weld up the stop lip and re cut it. 2. Replace the feed ramp with one that has a longer lip. 3. Shim the back of the magwell in order to push the mag forward for better engagement with the stop lip. What lower is that? |
We are living in a Tom Clancy novel
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand
https://hr1871.com/
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand
https://hr1871.com/
|
Originally Posted By seand1111: after a few tweaks, both of mine run all mags just fine. what is yours doing? here are videos of my DOE clone and 635 clone running after the tweaks. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cpgKC0_0Vos https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N2nLbGEDPLo Failure to feed, the round is angled upwards into the top of the barrel. I had a large feedramp cut in the barrel, but Metalform mags do it consistently. |
|
Originally Posted By mike_nds: There’s a few ways to fix that. 1. Weld up the stop lip and re cut it. 2. Replace the feed ramp with one that has a longer lip. 3. Shim the back of the magwell in order to push the mag forward for better engagement with the stop lip. What lower is that? I'll probably fire up the TIG welder and just add some material to the corners of the lip at the feed ramp to provide a better stop for the front of the magazine. This solution already crossed my mind, but I was hoping for the easier option of just replacing the mag catch. IIRC.....it's a forged SMF Tactical 80% that I milled the front of the magwell to remove the excess material. I have 2 of these I did like 15 years ago. Thanks for taking the time to give me your insight and advice on this. Have a Merry Christmas !! . |
Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
|
Originally Posted By Dracon1201: It's a pain to get mine to run consistently. Metalform followers simply are not reliable in mine. ASC or C Products followers push my rounds far enough up to be mostly reliable. I have done everything physically possible to get my 635 reliably feeding at this point. @Dracon1201 An option would be to find the PSA branded mags for sale from a private party. I've used the ASC..... and the older PSA mags with the metal follower seem to be the superior mag. Unfortunately....the ad for them on the PSA website says they are a closeout and OOS since they have moved to the newer H&R branded mags which are different. The new H&R mags are on sale.....so maybe order 1 or 2 if you haven't tried them yet, and see if the feeding has improved. You might also try the Springfield SMG mags....a little more pricey though, but the body looks like the older PSA mags and they look like they have the rounded metal follower. . |
Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
|
It might be the Metalform mags. I have a 635 clone I built using a Colt parts kit and a Knights lower with the Colt magwell adaptor pinned in place like Colt did. (Its actually my PFP) From day one it ran flawlessly with older Colt marked Metalform mags with both the metal and plastic followers. A year or so ago Brownells had a sale on the Metalform mags so I scooped up two. At the range I started having feeding issues (round nose up) every once and a while. Mostly on the last round. After paying attention I found the two new Metalform mags did it fairly consistently. All my other old mags ran without issue. The only difference between the old and new I noticed was the followers on the new seem to have a steeper angle on the follower and at the very back of the feed lips where it bends 90 degrees there is a little deformation on both sides that look like the rim of a round could be pushed down a little and make it tilt up a little. With one round loaded the round is very loose and seems to only have pressure on the very rear of the case. If there's interest I can post some pics with what im talking about. Don't know if this helps but figured Id let you know what I found with my issue. FYI, Metalform made the original Colt marked mags and they make mags for many other vendors like Brownells and other gun companies. |
'They who can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.'
AR Sponsor