Armory Sponsor
Are ProMags really that bad? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 6/19/2026 6:01:31 PM EDT
|
As a new gun owner, I saw on forums a lot that Pro Mags are junk and should be avoided at all cost. Also when I see cheaper stuff like that I figure it's just a noob trap to trick inexperienced people at Cabela's. It's not something a serious person would look at. I've been playing around with them in a few cases where they have higher capacity than the normal factory offerings or the factory mags are really expensive. So far no issues with them. Maybe they were junk years ago but are better now? To me they seem like they're good enough as range mags. |
|
I've used several, including in guns they weren't intended for, and have sent one back - one I sold to a friend cheaply - they replaced it. Just got some .40 M&P mags in for a Snow Mexican customer, we'll see if he has any trouble w/ his. Like most things on the internet, complaints are magnified out of proportion. ProMag couldn't still be in business if they really are as bad as the naysayers say they are. They're an OEM to CMMG & Kel-Tec. |
|
You guys saying they're junk: Is this based on recent experience or is it going back to the 80s and 90s? Not to argue just curious what time frames. If possible please say the year, type of gun, and which Pro Mag it was. My goal isn't to defend them, I'm just curious what your experiences were. |
|
The 20 rd AK mag I tried was awful, simply AWFUL. How hard is it to make an AK mag in 2/3 capacity? I had a Bersa handgun for a few months that had unobtainable magazines, and when I finally did get one ordered, it turned out to be a Promag. It still cost way too much. It worked fine the 2 times I used it before getting rid of the Bersa. The only other Promag I have is a P365 10 rounder, which of course has been for range use only. It's worked well as a range magazine. I'd bought it for use in dry fire drills, follower removed and filled with weight. It worked fine in that roll as well. It came at half the cost of a factory magazine and I don't regret the purchase. |
|
ProMag is Latin for Cancer. Bought 2 EAA Witness mags in 1994 or 1995, mail order. Noticed that the follower would go up and down smoothly. Then, the mags wouldn't even go in the mag well! It's like the mag bodies weren't sufficiently square... the sides looked bulged and the corners weren't proper 90 degrees. Was done with ProMag at that point. |
_______________________________________________________
*** NRA Endowment Life Member *** VCDL Member *** TN Squire ***
*** NRA Endowment Life Member *** VCDL Member *** TN Squire ***
|
Absolute junk. I am constantly amazed they are still in business. They thrive on making cheap mags that work just long enough for you to think "eh, it was only $20, I'll just buy another one". The crazy part is that for a few dollars more, you could just buy an OEM mag. People are dumb. I understand that some people think Rosanne Barr is attractive (oddly), but Jesus H Chris...why? There is always a Tom Arnold on deck willing to take the bullet for the rest of us, but at what cost? |
|
The Saiga 12 drums are an example of something designed by someone that doesn’t understand basic physics. They have thumb recesses to hold or wind it located towards the center axis but it’s difficult enough at the outer edge with far more leverage. Totally useless. They made some awful SKS 30 rd mags with cheap, thin steel. They were the right shape but so thin that the opening was too wide to retain cartridges. I was able to bend the feed lips on one down to work, mostly, but they were almost right angles. It would dent easily. Junk. |
|
Originally Posted By DrMark: ProMag is Latin for Cancer. Bought 2 EAA Witness mags in 1994 or 1995, mail order. Noticed that the follower would go up and down smoothly. Then, the mags wouldn't even go in the mag well! It's like the mag bodies weren't sufficiently square... the sides looked bulged and the corners weren't proper 90 degrees. Was done with ProMag at that point. And yet, more than 30 years later, they're still in business and OEM to two well known gun manufacturers. I have used ProMags in ARs, 1911s, & HiPoints. A friend of mine has used ProMags in his Beretta Cx4 - with one issue, which ProMag replaced. A customer of mine has bought 2x S&W .40 S&W mags for his M&P, I don't know if he's shot em yet. Have a Buckmark mag out to a friend for him to try. |
|
I have three 30 round colt pattern 9mm AR15 ProMags for my RRA rifle. They performed flawlessly. Early 90's. I bought another brand after that and only two of five were acceptable. You will have great luck with MecGar mags in general. |
Fantrax ARFCOM PICKERS Champion 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
|
Originally Posted By backbencher: And yet, more than 30 years later, they're still in business and OEM to two well known gun manufacturers. I have used ProMags in ARs, 1911s, & HiPoints. A friend of mine has used ProMags in his Beretta Cx4 - with one issue, which ProMag replaced. A customer of mine has bought 2x S&W .40 S&W mags for his M&P, I don't know if he's shot em yet. Have a Buckmark mag out to a friend for him to try. Which manufacturers? |
|
Originally Posted By Karankawa: Which manufacturers? Originally Posted By Karankawa: Originally Posted By backbencher: And yet, more than 30 years later, they're still in business and OEM to two well known gun manufacturers. I have used ProMags in ARs, 1911s, & HiPoints. A friend of mine has used ProMags in his Beretta Cx4 - with one issue, which ProMag replaced. A customer of mine has bought 2x S&W .40 S&W mags for his M&P, I don't know if he's shot em yet. Have a Buckmark mag out to a friend for him to try. Which manufacturers? CMMG & Kel-Tec - their 5.7x28mm copy of the Mk 2 FN mags. Diamondback may use them as well. |
|
Originally Posted By SyberSniper: I've been buying mags for over 30 years, for all kinds of rifles and pistols. I have never had a ProMag that worked reliably. I estimate I swore off them about 10 years ago. Don't be cheap, for a few $ more get a good mag. |
| I had a pair of hicap G19 Promags that I bought cheap during the ban. The lips on one cracked off and the body on the other split. I sent them under the lifetime warranty for replacement and didn’t hear from Promag for a long time. Eventually, I called them just to find out they had to finish destroying my mags because they couldn’t produce replacement hicaps legally. Only at that point did they offer to send me some of their nickel plated 1911 mags in exchange. I had no choice but to accept and tried them out. Neither mag would feed reliably fully loaded (weak springs?) and would cause stove pipes. I threw them out and resolved to never buy another Promag magazine again. Maybe they’ve gotten better, but I won’t be finding out first hand. |
USAF-retired, GOA, FPC
|
Mags are a weird thing OP. With a company as big as ProMag they are certain to have both good and bad products. I've known people who had issues with them but I have no idea what the specific guns were. I understand that's not helpful. I actually ordered my first ProMags recently upon finding out they make a 13rd extended 9mm 1911 mag. An item which I have asked Mecgar Wilson Brownells and probably others to make numerous times and didn't realize ProMag does. They do feel a bit weird or maybe a lower level of finish than my other mags and I am not a fan of the sleeves and how freely they move. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
|
Mostly junk, with a spattering of occasional functionality. I'm 43. When I was young I bought a Mini14 during the AWB. Most of the 20-30rd magazines that weren't $100+ were Promags. I bought two of them, and both of them were utter trash. Many years later, I bought one of the Century HK33 rifles. There were two options for magazines: surplus 40rders that were hit or miss or Promag polymer 30rders. I bought about a dozen of the Promags because they were reasonably priced. All of them fed fine. I even used them with an actual class three HK33 and all fed fine with no hiccups. I was surprised. |
If you own M&P40 Ser. CPD1915 I will trade you a new M&P40 M2 for it. It belonged to a friend of mind who is deceased.
|
Great mag for the HK53/93 guns as others have stated, I run them in a full auto Vector 53 and love them. I picked up one for the FN FNX-45 and haven't shot it yet but I fear it won't end well. It tends to unseat itself during function tests and the follower is kinda wonky. It cost under $10.00 so I gambled. |
|
They are not consistently reliable... that is the issue. IMHO, they are not worth the $ spent. While you might bet a reliable one,odds are you might get a absolutely worthless one. I bought a 30rd LFAR mag in 308 years ago, it was cheap and a add on with an order, the danged mag wouldn't even push the 30rd - stack up the mag body... even when not inserted in the rifle. Spending your money on a known reliable brand , is a wiser choice. |
*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
Joined:
Nov 2022
Posts:
4825
EE: 100% (4)
SC, USA
|
Originally Posted By bfoosh06: They are not consistently reliable... that is the issue. IMHO, they are not worth the $ spent. While you might bet a reliable one,odds are you might get a absolutely worthless one. I bought a 30rd LFAR mag in 308 years ago, it was cheap and a add on with an order, the danged mag wouldn't even push the 30rd - stack up the mag body... even when not inserted in the rifle. Spending your money on a known reliable brand , is a wiser choice. I mean, my 33 round Glock OEM mags don't reliably feed 147 grn WWB in two Gen 5 26s. There is no 100% every time reliable answer. |
| I have only one promag magazine, 20rd USP 45. It works great with a genuine HK follower. The promag follower looks like chewed bubble gum. It’s strange as the mag body and spring looks really well made and then they appeared to just give up on the follower. |
Well, I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison....
|
Originally Posted By Clicker58: Great mag for the HK53/93 guns as others have stated, I run them in a full auto Vector 53 and love them. I picked up one for the FN FNX-45 and haven't shot it yet but I fear it won't end well. It tends to unseat itself during function tests and the follower is kinda wonky. It cost under $10.00 so I gambled. The FNX45 is one of the few guns that promags run good in for me. I got some like 6 years ago and everybody said they'd be shit. They haven't even had an issue, other than not having witness holes. |
Member
Joined:
Jun 2022
Posts:
13740
EE: 100% (31)
TX, USA
|
Originally Posted By 18B30: The USP .45 mags tend to work The plastic HK33 mags are decent. Mini-14 mags will help you practice your SPORTS failure drills. Simply put, range mags at the best of times, never for EDC usage. 18Z50 I will second this. I had some of their Mini14 mags and tossed them in the trash. I have heard some of their products work “OK” but would not trust them for martial affairs. That being said, if they are all you can get, better than loading one at a time I guess. I have a couple of their 12 gauge drum mags sitting on the shelf that I have yet to try. I am expecting them to perform poorly. |
“That’s not how it works. You buy more tools and power than you need and as you fuck everything up you gain the knowledge to become a better carpenter.”
Tveddy
Tveddy
|
Originally Posted By Curmudgeon762: I will second this. I had some of their Mini14 mags and tossed them in the trash. I have heard some of their products work “OK” but would not trust them for martial affairs. That being said, if they are all you can get, better than loading one at a time I guess. I have a couple of their 12 gauge drum mags sitting on the shelf that I have yet to try. I am expecting them to perform poorly. Their uzi 45 mags are worse than loading 1 at a time. They misfeed every round, so you're still fucking with it every shot. Except now you're pulling the mag out to screw with it. |
|
Originally Posted By giantpune: Their uzi 45 mags are worse than loading 1 at a time. They misfeed every round, so you're still fucking with it every shot. Except now you're pulling the mag out to screw with it. lol that’s pretty bad. It looks like they still make the thin walled SKS duck billed mags. The feed lips are like 1/5th the thickness of genuine Russian mags. Some Chinese or maybe Korean drum mags have the same problem. Someone good at welding thin metal could reinforce them. Not worth it after the ban. Maybe behind enemy lines. Link Attached File |
|
Sorry, I lied about their drum magazines. I had an image in mind but it was actually of an AR22 drum mag that works pretty well. It’s kind of worse than I remember though. They have a raised thumb assist instead. Maybe it’s better as it seals off the drum from debris or maybe having another moving part is worse. Pro mag Attached File AR 22 I was thinking about Attached File |
|
Originally Posted By mini14jac: MidwayUSA will accept returns on magazines that don’t work. They had a great price on Promag magazines for the Mini14. I ordered 6. Four of them worked perfectly. I returned the other two. They can make working mags. They don’t always. That's the way you should do it with anything like these. Order a decent number and then try to test them out immediately and cycle out the bad ones if there are any. One nice thing about mags is that usually if they work they will keep working. Originally Posted By funnelcake: Trash but a tier above Triple K (are they still in business?). Great example of a company that found a niche and rolled with it. One of the stores I worked at we ordered mags from them constantly because they were the only ones who still made them. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
|
Originally Posted By sparky923: Uzi mag in .45, which I can attest to, and HK33, are the only promag I'd spend money on. Next you'll ask about TripleK, right? You let me know if you need more of those uzi 45 mags. The ones I got are absolute trash. Mine runs like a raped ape with factory IMI mags, though. |
|
Originally Posted By sparky923: Uzi mag in .45, which I can attest to, and HK33, are the only promag I'd spend money on. Next you'll ask about TripleK, right? I don't think I've ever used a TripleK product...just seen them on the racks at Cabela's. I don't think it's worth a thread right now because I don't have any. |
Member
Joined:
Jun 2022
Posts:
13745
EE: 100% (31)
TX, USA
|
Originally Posted By giantpune: It depends on the firearm model. Some promags run surprisingly well. Most of them are trash. I have a couple 9mm P226 promags that were given to me by a retired LEO. He said they never failed but he didn't ever use them for duty. They are 100% reliable in my old West German P226 but can't get through more than a few rounds in any of my NH made P226s. |
Call sign: Smack
Joined:
Nov 2024
Posts:
302
EE: 100% (5)
KY, USA
|
Originally Posted By Andrewsky: As a new gun owner, I saw on forums a lot that Pro Mags are junk and should be avoided at all cost. Also when I see cheaper stuff like that I figure it's just a noob trap to trick inexperienced people at Cabela's. It's not something a serious person would look at. Wait, wait, wait... Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 12947 EE: 100% (190) ... and you are a new gun owner. A noob? |
Fantrax ARFCOM PICKERS Champion 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Are ProMags really that bad? (Page 1 of 2)
Armory Sponsor