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Page AR-15 » Rimfire and Pistol Calibers
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
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Posted: 8/10/2023 6:02:05 AM EST
Hi All,

I was wondering if I could pick your brains for some suggestions for best 22 mags for a CMMG kit? Lower is an Aero. It seems like there are a lot of mixed reviews about them.

I was looking at black dog machine
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 6:14:40 AM EST
[#1]
I have CMMG 25rd, Black Dog 25 and 32rd mags and a couple RTB 25rd and they all work fine in my AR22.
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 6:54:36 AM EST
[#2]
I run the back dog mags.  No isuues for me except the mags suck to reload.  Get a McFadden reloader, best money I spent.

Jim
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 7:11:48 AM EST
[#3]
15-22 mags with the Redi-Mag adapter.

But I will second that no matter what you choose, get the Lightnin' Grip Loader. It'll change your life.
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 7:47:42 AM EST
[#4]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
15-22 mags with the Redi-Mag adapter.

But I will second that no matter what you choose, get the Lightnin' Grip Loader. It'll change your life.
View Quote


Yes this was my other option, but I seem to find better reviews for the Black Dog mags then the 15-22 with adapter. However I do really like the idea of the bolt catch actually working with the redimag adapter and the Catch22
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 8:04:12 AM EST
[#5]
I was gonna say, I use the 15-22 adapter and the McFadden loader with them. The upside is they make FDE mags which match the color of the gun it's going into.
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 8:29:52 AM EST
[#6]
I run a CMMG 9" upper on my SBR for Steel Challenge (around 1200 rds/month) and get exceptional service out of Black Dog X sonic welded stainless feed lips (23 rounds) with CCI SV or Blazer....

SW 15-22 mags will eventually wear at the feed lips where the cartridge rim rides and cause problems
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 8:57:36 AM EST
[#7]
The two most popular magazines for the AR22 is Black Dog Machine and S&W M&P 15-22 magazines. Both have pro's and con's to them. And you really won't go wrong choosing either one.

I have stuck with the BDM magazines and haven't had any issues with them. I have both the sonic welded with polymer feed lips and the steel feed lips.

Now if you are using your AR22 for competition where you are shooting a lot of rounds that requires multiple mag changes all of the time and or competitions where you let the empty mags drop to the ground then look at the BDM mags with steel feed lips.

I know that CMMG has their new magazines that will actuate the bolt hold open. But those seems to have pretty weak springs in them. Some have swapped out the stock CMMG mag springs with S&W 15-22 mag springs to correct this issue. And there is also the KRISS magazines too.  The BDM and S&W mags are the most popular and most common.
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 9:54:32 AM EST
[#8]
Blackdog for me

Ive avoided the SW mags because on a standard lower you have to add to each mag or add to the receiver.  No cost/availability benefit

Fwiw JSE has the blackdogs for $20 and cheap shipping on sub-$100 orders
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 11:48:58 AM EST
[#9]
I've been using Black Dog Machine mags for years with great results.  Recently got some Arms Unlimited 25rd mags that worked perfect when I was at the range last.
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 2:27:48 PM EST
[#10]
Black Dog
Link Posted: 8/10/2023 4:48:36 PM EST
[#11]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
15-22 mags with the Redi-Mag adapter.

But I will second that no matter what you choose, get the Lightnin' Grip Loader. It'll change your life.
View Quote


This is what I have in two of my .22 ARs
Link Posted: 8/11/2023 6:55:55 AM EST
[#12]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
15-22 mags with the Redi-Mag adapter.

But I will second that no matter what you choose, get the Lightnin' Grip Loader. It'll change your life.
View Quote


I'll second this. I ran the BD 50rd drum for years along with an unknown gen 25rd CMMG mag and a couple 32rd mags from I can't remember where. The drum ran great, but the others were tight in the magwell, wouldn't lock in sometimes, and didn't give me LRBHO, so I just ran the drum...but it was very tedious to load.

I swapped in a Redi-Mag adapter and picked up a couple 15-22 mags and it's awesome. Combined with the Lightnin' Grip loader all is now right in my AR22 world
Link Posted: 8/11/2023 9:04:10 AM EST
[#13]
I have a couple of 28 round Chiappa magazines. They are easy to load and are very reliable. The issue is that they are tight fitting in some of my lowers.

Link Posted: 8/11/2023 5:36:30 PM EST
[#14]
Better-Mag adapter with 15-22 mags if you want to have a functioning bolt catch and release. It'll cost a little more, but retain some aspects of training. Not entirely sure if it's my Colt lower, but inserting mags is slightly different and you'll have to be a little more deliberate with your reloads.

If you just want to plink, BDM seems to be the other suggested choice.
Link Posted: 8/12/2023 9:07:20 AM EST
[#15]
Get the Gen.3 Black Dog magazines.
Has the metal feed lips and also a magazine loading button like that on the S&W magazines.

Black Dog Gen 3 magazine

RCA
Link Posted: 8/12/2023 10:03:58 AM EST
[#16]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Get the Gen.3 Black Dog magazines.
Has the metal feed lips and also a magazine loading button like that on the S&W magazines.

Black Dog Gen 3 magazine

RCA
View Quote
I wonder why BDM is stating that their Gen 3 mags won't work with a Chiappa upper yet states that they do work with a Tactical Solutions upper. The Chiappa is a copy of the Tac-Sol upper. I know the BDM sonic welded mags work fine with a Chiappa upper.
Link Posted: 8/12/2023 10:51:43 AM EST
[#17]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I wonder why BDM is stating that their Gen 3 mags won't work with a Chiappa upper yet states that they do work with a Tactical Solutions upper. The Chiappa is a copy of the Tac-Sol upper. I know the BDM sonic welded mags work fine with a Chiappa upper.
View Quote



Not sure.
I had a Chiappa M4 22 upper a few years ago.
BDM Gen 3 magazines worked just as well as others, which considering the quality of the Chiappa M4 22 isn't saying much.
A better way to put it might be that BDM Gen 3 magazines worked equally as bad as the factory magazines.
That being said, I have had good luck on my home built 22 upper using the Chiappa magazines, even when fired full auto on my M16A1 lower.
And they can often be found for a very good price.


EDIT: What part of Mo. are you from?



RCA
Link Posted: 8/12/2023 11:20:10 AM EST
[#18]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



Not sure.
I had a Chiappa M4 22 upper a few years ago.
BDM Gen 3 magazines worked just as well as others, which considering the quality of the Chiappa M4 22 isn't saying much.
A better way to put it might be that BDM Gen 3 magazines worked equally as bad as the factory magazines.
That being said, I have had good luck on my home built 22 upper using the Chiappa magazines, even when fired full auto on my M16A1 lower.
And they can often be found for a very good price.


EDIT: What part of Mo. are you from?



RCA
View Quote
The only parts I am still using from the Chiappa upper is the bolt and barrel. I replaced the polymer receiver with an aluminum receiver and installed a free float handguard. The barrel is actually quite accurate now that it is in an aluminum receiver and free floated.

I do like the Chiappa magazines though they are extremely tight in some of my lowers.

I am located halfway between Columbia and St. Peters in Montgomery County.
Link Posted: 8/12/2023 1:12:07 PM EST
[#19]
Gotcha.
I'm up in Pike County in Clarksville.


RCA
Link Posted: 8/12/2023 2:33:32 PM EST
[#20]
I use the s&w mags with the better mag adapter. So far it works flawlessly. I have about 2k rounds through it.
Link Posted: 8/13/2023 3:54:37 PM EST
[#21]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Get the Gen.3 Black Dog magazines.
Has the metal feed lips and also a magazine loading button like that on the S&W magazines.

Black Dog Gen 3 magazine

RCA
View Quote

This is what I use. They're great.
Link Posted: 8/16/2023 5:14:43 PM EST
[#22]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Get the Gen.3 Black Dog magazines.
Has the metal feed lips and also a magazine loading button like that on the S&W magazines.

Black Dog Gen 3 magazine

RCA
View Quote


These work flawlessly. If you have a RR, definitely pick up 3 or 4 of the black dog 50rd drums. You will thank me later.
Link Posted: 8/17/2023 7:57:14 AM EST
[#23]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


These work flawlessly. If you have a RR, definitely pick up 3 or 4 of the black dog 50rd drums. You will thank me later.
View Quote


How hard are they to load? I don't use my CMMG magazines as they aren't as easy to load as magazines with a loading button.

Do they feed well?

I typically don't put more than 20/25 rounds in a magazine.
On full auto the M16 rate of fire on .22lr is pretty darn fast.
My experience is that once you get past 25 rounds on these types of magazines, you get a lot of friction which can slow down round presentation.
As a result, an M16 running on full auto can outrun the single feed mechanism of .22lr magazines' ability to feed fast enough.

No experience with the drums though.

RCA

Link Posted: 8/19/2023 5:20:21 AM EST
[#24]
For my RTB upper I run a mix of RTB, Black Dog sonic welded plastic & steel lip mags, 50 round drum, and the S&W mags with the stick on shims for a std. lower.

All run 100%

For the BDs I use the CMMG steel load assist tool, works fine. Cheap.

The S&W mags can usually be found hanging from a hook in most big box sporting goods stores but are often out of stock, they're either popular or made in small batches. The BDs always seem to be In Stock although the 20s occasionally go OOS.

Best bet is to buy one or two of each and see what your setup likes. Mine doesn't care, feeds round nose lead & copperwashed and various hollow points just fine.

Most of my mags are 20s, with a few S&W 10s which are shorter bodies and handy for tabletop shooting.

The BD drum is surprisingly reliable although I stick to mini mags with that.
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