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Are ProMags really that bad? (Page 2 of 2)
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Originally Posted By giantpune: It depends on the firearm model. Some promags run surprisingly well. Most of them are trash. This. I've got one for a Marlin Model 70 that, surprisingly, actually works (the 25rnd), none of the other magss I've tried over the years have been reliable with some just completely failing (given to me, part of a trade or in a "box of gun stuff"). Never seen a reliable Triple K and especially USA Mags are even worse. I'd buy KCI Korean mags over any of those any day. I think part of the problem is that places like Academy sell them and people who rarely if ever shoot and believe the counter drones buy them instead of letting them go out of business. One of the other problems is these crappy manufacturers make magazines that the no longer produced from the OEM manufacturer, i.e. Strangely they do make a few products that have good reputations including their ugly Archangel stocks. Springfield offers them as an option on their Loaded Precision M1A series for example. 
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My ProMag Saiga drums are fantastic. The stendo I have for my .45 Highpoint works well. Everything else I've had from ProMag has been a "project" at best. I got one of the AR9 mags working with some cleanup of the feed lips. Still trying to get the HK33 to lock up. |
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Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: This. I've got one for a Marlin Model 70 that, surprisingly, actually works (the 25rnd), none of the other magss I've tried over the years have been reliable with some just completely failing (given to me, part of a trade or in a "box of gun stuff"). Never seen a reliable Triple K and especially USA Mags are even worse. I'd buy KCI Korean mags over any of those any day. I think part of the problem is that places like Academy sell them and people who rarely if ever shoot and believe the counter drones buy them instead of letting them go out of business. One of the other problems is these crappy manufacturers make magazines that the no longer produced from the OEM manufacturer, i.e. Strangely they do make a few products that have good reputations including their ugly Archangel stocks. Springfield offers them as an option on their Loaded Precision M1A series for example. Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Originally Posted By giantpune: It depends on the firearm model. Some promags run surprisingly well. Most of them are trash. This. I've got one for a Marlin Model 70 that, surprisingly, actually works (the 25rnd), none of the other magss I've tried over the years have been reliable with some just completely failing (given to me, part of a trade or in a "box of gun stuff"). Never seen a reliable Triple K and especially USA Mags are even worse. I'd buy KCI Korean mags over any of those any day. I think part of the problem is that places like Academy sell them and people who rarely if ever shoot and believe the counter drones buy them instead of letting them go out of business. One of the other problems is these crappy manufacturers make magazines that the no longer produced from the OEM manufacturer, i.e. Strangely they do make a few products that have good reputations including their ugly Archangel stocks. Springfield offers them as an option on their Loaded Precision M1A series for example. The cheap KCI 92 stendos utterly failed in the Sinister's Cx4, while ProMag 92 stendos run fine in my buddy's Cx4. |
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Originally Posted By backbencher: The cheap KCI 92 stendos utterly failed in the Sinister's Cx4, while ProMag 92 stendos run fine in my buddy's Cx4. Originally Posted By backbencher: Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Originally Posted By giantpune: It depends on the firearm model. Some promags run surprisingly well. Most of them are trash. This. I've got one for a Marlin Model 70 that, surprisingly, actually works (the 25rnd), none of the other magss I've tried over the years have been reliable with some just completely failing (given to me, part of a trade or in a "box of gun stuff"). Never seen a reliable Triple K and especially USA Mags are even worse. I'd buy KCI Korean mags over any of those any day. I think part of the problem is that places like Academy sell them and people who rarely if ever shoot and believe the counter drones buy them instead of letting them go out of business. One of the other problems is these crappy manufacturers make magazines that the no longer produced from the OEM manufacturer, i.e. Strangely they do make a few products that have good reputations including their ugly Archangel stocks. Springfield offers them as an option on their Loaded Precision M1A series for example. The cheap KCI 92 stendos utterly failed in the Sinister's Cx4, while ProMag 92 stendos run fine in my buddy's Cx4. This is a great example of why I tell folks to avoid most aftermarket mags that haven't been well vetted by the gun community including the military or you have no choice- there is almost no consistency across the board and every product seems to be a gamble. You wouldn't think it wouldn't be that hard since the gun manufacturers and companies like Mecgar get it right (and Mecgar is OEM for a lot of companies) but that's just not the case and everybody has different experiences with them and most are on the negative side. I've got a couple of the KCI G17 and three 33rnd mags, all purchased when they were under $10, as well as one KCI AK mag that was $5 IIRC and a 1911 mag. Before I even loaded the Glock mags I pulled them down, cleaned up any flashing and made sure the followers moved smoothly. It's been a long time now so I don't remember the exact details but results were OK, but not 100%. I swapped in some Wolff Springs 10% extra power springs and they've all been fine since in every gun I've tried them in including a Sub2000 (the only rifle I've got that takes Glock mags and what I actually bought them for). No, I wouldn't use them for self defense, but for messing around on the range they've been fine. No issues with the AK mag although I only took it out once and I have no idea where it is now. I've never tried the 1911 mag or any of their other mags. |
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Originally Posted By giantpune: It depends on the firearm model. Some promags run surprisingly well. Most of them are trash. I can concur. Promag’s Uzi .45 mag works very well. I run them full auto in the Reising either with a 3D printed sleeve to fit the mag well or in an aftermarket mag well designed to use them. I also used a 10-round mag for a tower to graft onto a Promag 40-round drum for the same It also runs flawlessly. They don’t seem to run as well in the Group Uzi with a .45 conversion. But then neither do other mags, so I’m thinking it’s something with my .45 conversion. |
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Originally Posted By GarrettJ: I can concur. Promag’s Uzi .45 mag works very well. I run them full auto in the Reising either with a 3D printed sleeve to fit the mag well or in an aftermarket mag well designed to use them. I also used a 10-round mag for a tower to graft onto a Promag 40-round drum for the same It also runs flawlessly. They don’t seem to run as well in the Group Uzi with a .45 conversion. But then neither do other mags, so I’m thinking it’s something with my .45 conversion. I too have been using their Uzi mags in Reising with a magwell adapter. Works just fine. |
I just ordered a pair of steel Mini-14 Pro Mags. A nickle 20 rounder and a 30 rounder. These are very poor quality compared to the factory Ruger 20 rounders. The locking tabs are crooked and offset to the left. I had to dremel on the side of the locking tabs just to get them to lock in without having to pull the mag to the side. The 20 rounder won't reliably hold the bolt open because it wiggles side to side in the mag well so it misses the gun's internal bolt hold open lever. The polymer 42 rounder seems fine though. The factory Ruger 20 rounder seems to be the best mag of all the Mini 14 mags.
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: 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. I have some recent experience. I have a couple of Saiga 12 drums that have been flawless. Same with some extended FNX Tactical 45 mags that surprisingly work well and no issues. I would say their quality has improved, BUT, for serious use, I would stick with OEM mags or very reputable aftermarket makers like Magpul and Mecgar (who makes many OEM mags for firearm manufacturers). I would keep them in the crapshoot category. If you find some obscure mags that work, that's a great find, but that's not the norm. ROCK6 |
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I have mixed results with ProMags and will not use them except for casual practice. Two made for M1-carbine (30 rounds) have random jamming. Maybe the carbine and 30 round banana mags just don't work together. One, for a standard M4 5.56 30 round capacity works fine, but I don't trust it beyond range work. My old OEM Colt 30 round capacity M4 OEM mag is absolutely, totally reliable, as are all my 10, 20 and 30 round Magpul mags. Thus, no reason to buy any more ProMag mags. |
Joined:
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Joined:
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EE: 100% (72)
PA, USA
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Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: This. I've got one for a Marlin Model 70 that, surprisingly, actually works (the 25rnd), none of the other magss I've tried over the years have been reliable with some just completely failing (given to me, part of a trade or in a "box of gun stuff"). Never seen a reliable Triple K and especially USA Mags are even worse. I'd buy KCI Korean mags over any of those any day. I think part of the problem is that places like Academy sell them and people who rarely if ever shoot and believe the counter drones buy them instead of letting them go out of business. One of the other problems is these crappy manufacturers make magazines that the no longer produced from the OEM manufacturer, i.e. Strangely they do make a few products that have good reputations including their ugly Archangel stocks. Springfield offers them as an option on their Loaded Precision M1A series for example. I've run several KCI mags over the years & never had a problem |
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I ordered 5 Promag 30 round mags for my Mini 14 from MidwayUSA (because they have an excellent return policy). Loaded them and tested them. Three were perfect. I returned the other 2 for a refund. So far they perform as well as Ruger mags. But to the OP: My experience in past years and recent months, Promags are generally junk, but some work. As someone with years in manufacturing environments, you wouldn’t think getting QC in line would be that hard. They make products people would purchase by the truckload if word got out that they were 100% as good as factory. |
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Originally Posted By FoxValleyTacDriver: Mostly bad But seems to work well with weird guns Like my Remington 597. Stock mags run like shit but the promag is flawless. It's molded like garbage but never had an issue with it. I wouldnt bother with them otherwise Oh yeah I meant to say that Promag certainly couldn't be worse than OEM 597 mags. 
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Originally Posted By FoxValleyTacDriver: Mostly bad But seems to work well with weird guns Like my Remington 597. Stock mags run like shit but the promag is flawless. It's molded like garbage but never had an issue with it. I wouldnt bother with them otherwise |
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: The typical price of a used 8 round mag for an S&W4506 on Ebay is about $75. The Pro Mags are about $25. So in that case you're in a scenario where the Pro Mag is saving you about $50 per mag. To me that seems fairly logical to buy the Pro Mag as a range mag. Originally Posted By Andrewsky: 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. This. I gave my son a 4506, but only had one factory mag for it. I picked up a Promag for it just to give it a try. I only used ball ammo, but it worked fine. Not like it's gonna be his carry gun. My son says the Promag H&K 93/53 mags work fine in his gun. He recently picked up some Promags for his TX22 so I'm anxious to hear how they work. The gun has an FRT and it's flawless with factory mags. |
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There are specific promags that are good enough (Saiga, HK93 are the ones I have experience with). Others may be fine. But for the most part you have better options. They aren't as bad as the internet tries to make them out to be - they have been around forever despite their rep; there's just better options out there. |
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: 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. Recent as of 2 years ago |
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Originally Posted By backbencher: 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. I didn't know that. That explains why the 22LR and 9mm CMMG AR mags I bought suck. |
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Originally Posted By Gotterdammerung: I didn't know that. That explains why the 22LR and 9mm CMMG AR mags I bought suck. Originally Posted By Gotterdammerung: Originally Posted By backbencher: 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. I didn't know that. That explains why the 22LR and 9mm CMMG AR mags I bought suck. Probably not. They do the 5.7 FN pistol mags, at least. |
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Originally Posted By funnelcake: Trash but a tier above Triple K (are they still in business?). Now there’s a name from the past and yes, KKK’s are junk. I would be shocked if they’re still around. But I’ll go check. Just checked, yep, still in business 
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Buy a Promag magazine. Buy a Wolff spring kit for it. Then it's a good mag. I had to do that for a pistol that the factory mags were hard to get and very expensive. I tried it with the springs that came with the mags, and just as I'd heard, they wouldn't feed. I put the Wolff spring kits in them, and they were flawless. They were still relegated to range only. 1. Don't buy Promag unless you HAVE to. 2. If you have to buy them, replace the springs with Wolff springs. If you have them swap out the springs. |
Are ProMags really that bad? (Page 2 of 2)
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