[ARCHIVED THREAD] - School me: Gen 2 v. Gen 3 PMAG (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 12/12/2022 7:42:53 PM EDT
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So, I know the Gen 3 Pmag is an improved design over the Gen 2. Polymers, certain design features, fits a bigger variety of NATO rifles etc. Also features improved feed angle for M855A1. Gen 3 Pmag is the current USMC GI magazine. That being said, how MUCH better is the Gen 3 from the Gen 2 for civilian use? Real world durability of the Gen 2 versus Gen3? There is of course a marked difference in price gen2 to gen3, but is the extra 4-5 bucks a mag worth it? Ive got a dozen Gen 2 PMags from about 8 years ago, and have a lot of D&H and Okay Tan follower mags. Figured its time to stock up on Pmags for some variety. |
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The material is exactly the same. The M3 (gen 3) had some slight changes made so that it would drop free from a wider variety of STANAG platforms including the SA-80, FN-SCAR, HK416 and others. The most apparent difference between the M2 and M3 is that the M3 comes equipped with a dust cover. The M2 does not (you can by that separately). That is generally about the cost difference too. If you are concerned about dusty mags  you might as well buy the M3. The dust cover also relieves pressure on the feed lips from a fully loaded mag. Personally, I have kept M2 PMAGs fully loaded for YEARS and suffered no failures. |
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Quoted: I have an assortment of all generations, but I’m still pulling G1s out of the wrapper to use. No problem with any of them. THIS. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of original “gen 1” PMAGs, M2 and M3s. I load them, shoot them, drop them, kick them, step on them, pick them up and load them again. I can’t tell the difference unless I wipe away the dirt and really look at them. |
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Quoted: Gen 3 also has an overtravel stop that is AR based. They don't work on some STANAG variants, like the ARX100 for example where the stop prevents the mag from being inserted far enough. |
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Quoted: In late 07 I was issued like 16 PMags. Not sure what gen they were. But all of them had split down the front. Below the feed lips. Split was only about 1.5 inches. Didn't affect function at all. Infact I don't recall anyone having a stoppage at all. Thats actually pretty impressive. I think that's my biggest concern overall with polymer mags is cracked polymer induced failures. |
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Quoted: Thats actually pretty impressive. I think that's my biggest concern overall with polymer mags is cracked polymer induced failures. That's the reason I like them, I can look at it and see a failure, versus metal mags having the feedlips slightly bent out of alignment causing failures id never have been able to visually identify. |
| If you plan to use material pouches/panels, Gen 2 is probably better. Gen 3 over-travel stop will catch on most pouches, unless the pouch is stitched with no exposed inner lip. Of course using the newer speed style fast mag pouch will address the issue. but if you have armor with a kangaroo pouch or insert a three mag panel the gen 3 can cause snag issues when pulling from pouch. Newer gen 3s have a bevel on the over-travel stop to help it pull from pouch but its not as good a pull as the gen 2 from the same panel/pouch. Just something to consider if that is part of your gear. |
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Quoted: That's the reason I like them, I can look at it and see a failure, versus metal mags having the feedlips slightly bent out of alignment causing failures id never have been able to visually identify. Quoted: Quoted: Thats actually pretty impressive. I think that's my biggest concern overall with polymer mags is cracked polymer induced failures. That's the reason I like them, I can look at it and see a failure, versus metal mags having the feedlips slightly bent out of alignment causing failures id never have been able to visually identify. Ditto. Reminds me I think I got a box of Gen 2 I've been meaning to get rid of. I went to Gen 3 as I have a bunch of non-AR 5.56 rifles. |
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I’m a GenM3 fan, they’re a little tougher than a Gen2 and maybe a tad more reliable in some way. Maybe. Gen2 is the next best thing and in a Colt pattern AR are really close to the M3. I’ve looked at the feed angle of both and they put the put the bullet in the same spot on the ramps/lug recesses. |
| I was just starting to dip my toes into the pmag waters again since I figured they must have them figured out by now, but then I tried putting one I had loaded a few months earlier into an A2 build, had to force it in. Forced it back out, tried it in several different rifles with the same results. I'm sticking with Lancers & Okay's for now. |
I have 30 M3's in storage and many times that in M2's with PSA running all those buy a BCG and 10 M2 PMAGs for $120 shipped deals  I've had exactly one M2 split and that was an FDE one which are known to split which is why Magpul does not sell them anymore. Magpul is freaking awesome and exchanged it for me with a brand new in the package FDE M2 PMAG. I'm guessing they have a bunch of them stashed in the warehouse as the mold was dated 2016. |
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Quoted: I was just starting to dip my toes into the pmag waters again since I figured they must have them figured out by now, but then I tried putting one I had loaded a few months earlier into an A2 build, had to force it in. Forced it back out, tried it in several different rifles with the same results. I'm sticking with Lancers & Okay's for now. |
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Gen 2 will fuck up a SCAR 16 rifle unless you modify them. Easy fix I did on all of my Gen 2’s, but I usually run USGI with Magpul followers. Here’s an archived thread a member did years ago on it. https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/-/24-334942/ |
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Quoted: I must just get lucky & get all the bad ones. Quoted: Quoted: I have mags that have been loaded over 5 years that haven't spread. I must just get lucky & get all the bad ones. |
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Quoted: What version are they? Yes Magpul has had some that had issues in the past. The current gen 2 MOE and both black and MCT gen 3 mags are solid. Funny, when I had it happen with Gen 2's the magpul fanboi's said get the Gen 3 & you'll be golden. Got the Gen 3 still had problems, then it was "did you get the one with the window? If so get the non window & you'll be golden." Got the windoless Gen 3, now it's what, wait for gen 4? With Lancer I can use the translucent & opaque & don't have any of those problems. They need to change their name to trashmag. |
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Quoted: Unpopular opinion, USGI aluminum mags are better PMags aren’t bad mags, but given the choice I’d stick with aluminum Last couple years pretty much all I've been buying is Okay, Lancer & those steel G.O. GI mags. Okay is supposed to be shutting down at the end of the year, so it'll probably be Lancer & G.O. for now unless I can find someone else that makes an aluminum G.I. style mag similar to the Okay Surefeed E2's. |
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Quoted: That stop isn't hard to remove if you need it to fit in something else... Quoted: Quoted: Gen 3 also has an overtravel stop that is AR based. They don't work on some STANAG variants, like the ARX100 for example where the stop prevents the mag from being inserted far enough. 
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Quoted: Last couple years pretty much all I've been buying is Okay, Lancer & those steel G.O. GI mags. Okay is supposed to be shutting down at the end of the year, so it'll probably be Lancer & G.O. for now unless I can find someone else that makes an aluminum G.I. style mag similar to the Okay Surefeed E2's. Quoted: Quoted: Unpopular opinion, USGI aluminum mags are better PMags aren’t bad mags, but given the choice I’d stick with aluminum Last couple years pretty much all I've been buying is Okay, Lancer & those steel G.O. GI mags. Okay is supposed to be shutting down at the end of the year, so it'll probably be Lancer & G.O. for now unless I can find someone else that makes an aluminum G.I. style mag similar to the Okay Surefeed E2's. Rumor is PSA is taking over Okay. Per an Okay insider there should be new production Okay mags Q1 of 2023. I suspect that PSA would announce this during SHOT show if that's really the case. Could also be why there has been much in the way of any D&H mag deals through PSA in a bit. |
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Quoted: Rumor is PSA is taking over Okay. Per an Okay insider there should be new production Okay mags Q1 of 2023. I suspect that PSA would announce this during SHOT show if that's really the case. Could also be why there has been much in the way of any D&H mag deals through PSA in a bit. I heard the rumor too, but who knows? Also will they keep making all the same Okay stuff, get rid of a couple, or maybe add a few more? If they don't do the E2's I'll be bummed.  |
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Quoted: Unpopular opinion, USGI aluminum mags are better PMags aren’t bad mags, but given the choice I’d stick with aluminum They're better until they aren't. The huge problem is aluminum doesn't show that it's not alright when it happens. Plastic fails in a clear and obvious manner. It's a trade-off. The dirty little secret is most of the popular magazines are excellent... |
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Quoted: They're better until they aren't. The huge problem is aluminum doesn't show that it's not alright when it happens. Plastic fails in a clear and obvious manner. It's a trade-off. The dirty little secret is most of the popular magazines are excellent... My pmags all looked fine, but they weren't. |
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Quoted: My pmags all looked fine, but they weren't. Quoted: Quoted: They're better until they aren't. The huge problem is aluminum doesn't show that it's not alright when it happens. Plastic fails in a clear and obvious manner. It's a trade-off. The dirty little secret is most of the popular magazines are excellent... My pmags all looked fine, but they weren't. With both the USGI aluminum and the PMAG, WHICH model exactly matters too. It's not just "PMAG" It's four or five distinct generations and some colors have issues that others don't. There's even the question of if you used the dust cover to take the load off the feed lips or not. Even a black-follower USGI mag works just fine just out of the wrap, it's that the black follower is very intolerant of the spring losing its power. Improvements to the follower has led to discovering the limits of the feed lips that we didn't notice because because the weakened spring DX'd the mag from the follower tilting too much. Then there's the internet and everyone's anecdotal experience with one or the other or both or all of them. Every brand and model will be both the absolute best and undeniably the worst. Mags are wear items. The AWB made us hoard them beyond sane limits in a lot of cases. Chucking a magazine takes real effort when the scars of 94-04 are on your back. |
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Another difference between Gen 2 and Gen 3 is the rear notch on the magazine for the bolt catch mechanism. On the Gen 2, it looks like a 'U' shaped cut. On the Gen 3, it is a squared cut (same as on the aluminum USGI). The shape of the cut on the Gen 2 may result in failures to lock the bolt to the rear on some lowers. Myself and others I know have experienced this. However, it is an easy fix to remedy. Here is a side by side photo showing the difference:  Another:  |