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Posted: 11/12/2009 7:31:49 PM EDT
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WTF? Three of my 6mos old "Black" BDM mags are cracked; I thought this may have been my fault because of over tightening, but now I have noticed that the other 3 “Smoked” BDM mags are also starting to show cracks. These mags are 3mos old, haven’t been disassembled, tossed around or dropped, and I haven’t gotten a reply from Kevin at BDM.
So I think I’m going to try the ProMags, there half the cost and look like they are made from a different material, wish me luck. |
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Are you talking about AR mags or 10/22's Did you get any solvent like hoppe's or oil on them? That will crack BC mags and others with the cheaper plastics. (over time) AR Mags, the GEN II ones, gun oil will casue them to Crack? Quoted:
FWIW, Kevin at BDM will stand behind them and you will get replacements. I had some clear ones start to crack and they were replaced no questions asked. I Hope so, still haven't gotten a reply to my e-mail and it's been a week. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Are you talking about AR mags or 10/22's Did you get any solvent like hoppe's or oil on them? That will crack BC mags and others with the cheaper plastics. (over time) AR Mags, the GEN II ones, gun oil will casue them to Crack? Quoted: FWIW, Kevin at BDM will stand behind them and you will get replacements. I had some clear ones start to crack and they were replaced no questions asked. I Hope so, still haven't gotten a reply to my e-mail and it's been a week. That little boxy thing in your pocket, dig it out and give them a call. I have talked to Kevin and his daughter Rachael many, many times, and had no trouble getting a hold of them.  |
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I had mags fail after 10,000 or so rounds and Kevin replaced them.
I ran them until they completely failed. He stays very busy, he's not ignoring you. He will replace the ones that fail or seriously crack. Phone BDM and it will get resolved. I Promise, or I will send you my new mags, I'm that confident. Spec |
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Are you talking about AR mags or 10/22's Did you get any solvent like hoppe's or oil on them? That will crack BC mags and others with the cheaper plastics. (over time) AR Mags, the GEN II ones, gun oil will casue them to Crack? It's typically not the gun oil itself, but usually solvents or other additives in gun oils and other gun chemicals that tend not to play well with some/all plastics. I use plain old BreakFree CLP and have not had any issues with my black or smoke BDM mags. |
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Quoted:
Are you talking about AR mags or 10/22's Did you get any solvent like hoppe's or oil on them? That will crack BC mags and others with the cheaper plastics. (over time) AR Mags, the GEN II ones, gun oil will casue them to Crack? Quoted:
FWIW, Kevin at BDM will stand behind them and you will get replacements. I had some clear ones start to crack and they were replaced no questions asked. I Hope so, still haven't gotten a reply to my e-mail and it's been a week. FYI... Kevin has not been in the office this week. He is taking his annual November hunting vacation (elk season in ID, I think). Call BDM. Racheal will get you squared away. |
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WHERE are your mags cracking? follower area (receiver area)
Yes, solvents and some oils with cleaners can crack plastic mags and if you ever clean them use soap and water or a damp rag with soap and water. I just spotted this on his site today while shopping around.. >>>>>> We use Polycarbonate PC to make our mags; this is the same material that is used for bullet proof glass. It is hard and tough and takes the heat well. It will stand up to tons of abuse. Like most plastics it does have a weakness and that is chemical cleaners like Hoppes #9 and acetone or toluene. The solution to this is simple. Remove your mags before cleaning your gun. The cleaners that attack Polycorbonate will all air dry in a few minutes. If you want to clean our mags use warm soapy water or WD40. Shoot well!
I would NOT use WD-40 on any of my mags or guns!  And have never ,,,ever,,,seen bullet proof glass crack.   Looks like that plastic need more additives. Magpul mags don't crack. 
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WHERE are your mags cracking? follower area (receiver area) Yes, solvents and some oils with cleaners can crack plastic mags and if you ever clean them use soap and water or a damp rag with soap and water. I just spotted this on his site today while shopping around.. >>>>>> We use Polycarbonate PC to make our mags; this is the same material that is used for bullet proof glass. It is hard and tough and takes the heat well. It will stand up to tons of abuse. Like most plastics it does have a weakness and that is chemical cleaners like Hoppes #9 and acetone or toluene. The solution to this is simple. Remove your mags before cleaning your gun. The cleaners that attack Polycorbonate will all air dry in a few minutes. If you want to clean our mags use warm soapy water or WD40. Shoot well!
I would NOT use WD-40 on any of my mags or guns! And have never ,,,ever,,,seen bullet proof glass crack. Looks like that plastic need more additives. Magpul mags don't crack. mostly the cracks are near the Brass inserts (this is on 3 mags that have never had the screws touched), I have one where, one complete side of the feed lip is broken off. yea I wonder about the material, I had the same thought about magpul, I wish they made a 22LR conversion Mag, I'd buy a dozen. |
Well I got BDM on the phone, guess I'll send my mags back and just hope I don't get this prob again. They did say they are planning on changing the composition of the materiel they use to make the mags to include some “fibers” to give the mags some additional strength, makes me wonder if this issue is more widespread than we know. I will say the customer service is impeccable, and the guy I talked to was VERY understanding; “send em back and I’ll send you brand new ones, and if you ever have another problem just call us and we WILL make it good” . They definitely stand behind their product. I post back when I get the Promag mags and have a chance to test with them.
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Quoted:
I would NOT use WD-40 on any of my mags or guns! And have never ,,,ever,,,seen bullet proof glass crack. Looks like that plastic need more additives. Magpul mags don't crack. Do you live in a cave?
If you ever get a chance to go into a "seedier" part of town where all the gas stations, package liquor stores, post offices and the like have bullet proof glass, you will quickly see how it "crazes", cracks, and otherwise can go to shit real quick when certain chemicals are used to clean it or it if was assembled incorrectly. Plastics are always a compromise when you factor in all the variables, such as resistance to chemical attack, resistance to UV attack, resistance to shrinkage/swelling, resistance to stress cracking, and so on and so forth. It isn't just a matter of saying it "looks like it needs more additives."
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I would NOT use WD-40 on any of my mags or guns! And have never ,,,ever,,,seen bullet proof glass crack. Looks like that plastic need more additives. Magpul mags don't crack. Do you live in a cave?
If you ever get a chance to go into a "seedier" part of town where all the gas stations, package liquor stores, post offices and the like have bullet proof glass, you will quickly see how it "crazes", cracks, and otherwise can go to shit real quick when certain chemicals are used to clean it or it if was assembled incorrectly. Plastics are always a compromise when you factor in all the variables, such as resistance to chemical attack, resistance to UV attack, resistance to shrinkage/swelling, resistance to stress cracking, and so on and so forth. It isn't just a matter of saying it "looks like it needs more additives." Live in a cave? You don't know what you're missing. 
And I'd also like to "add" My Glocks or magpul mags haven't cracked, peeled or faded! >>>>> (additives)
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Live in a cave? You don't know what you're missing.
And I'd also like to "add" My Glocks or magpul mags haven't cracked, peeled or faded! >>>>> (additives) If I had to live in a cave, I'd definitely consider that one. Glock and Magpul mags are not made of polycarb - the difference in the polymers used in each mag is more than just additives.
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I have 50 or so BDM's, most of them are in a box on the shelf. Some of them
have been that way for almost 2 years. I looked at them again last night and there are no cracks from just setting. I've had mags crack after 10,000 rounds but, CMMG has admitted to appx the same life cycle. ProMag's not an option, I saw one of their mags last year at Shot Show and it was definitely as cheap looking as it's price. Kevin is extremely good about standing behind his products. I've been dealing with BDM for several years and will continue to do so. There are 10's of thousands of BDM Mags out there, Kevin and I have talked about the cracking issue and he's told me that it's a fraction of a % that do so. If it were a major problem, he would be addressing it. He wouldn't continue to replace them out of his own pocket, as he does and will continue to do. The drum is a different design totally. it's individual parts can be replaced if the need should ever arise. I plan to buy some more drums when everyone else has their fill of them, Buy BDM Magazines with confidence, I am nearing 85,000 rounds through them. Kevin has replaced 4 that have cracked. How many of you will actually fire that many 22's in the rest of your lives? Spec |
LOL! BTW, desperately waiting for 10/22 towers ! Get on it solder! |
UGASeven: what did the material look like? what made the mags look "Cheap"? Just Curious...
Like this: Extremely lightweight with no screws for disassembly "Snap Together" like the 1/32nd scale model kits I used to avoid when I was a lot younger.. Actually the one I saw looked more like it was from a BDM Mold without screws.... 
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Like this: Extremely lightweight with no screws for disassembly "Snap Together" like the 1/32nd scale model kits I used to avoid when I was a lot younger.. Actually the one I saw looked more like it was from a BDM Mold without screws....
Went to the range yesterday and I got to test the ProMag Ciener, Spike's, Tactical Solutions Conversion Mags. I don’t get all the negativity about ProMag  , granted this is the first Magazine I’ve used from them, but too me it seems put together very much like a Pmag. The “parting” line that runs the length of the magazine looks like its “Glued” together; like a Pmag.
The floor plate actually looks like the floor plate from a pmag, only with a different shape and size retaining pin hole in the center of the floor plate. The follower doesn’t have a “tang” like the BDM mags to hold the bolt open on the last ejected round, and the overall length of the ProMags is a good 2” longer than the BDM mags. I like these mags, and they seem to work for me, I put nearly 300 rounds thru them; CCI std & Stingers, Winchester Super-X & Remington subsonics, all cycled and feed just fine. YMMV. btw, I sent my mags back to BDM, hopefully I'll have the replacements in hand in a few days. thanks BDM, Kevin. |
| I have 4 BDM mags, three smoke and one black. I have had them about 2 months. All of them have cracks beside the brass inserts. Every brass insert on every mag has a tiny hairline crack by it. I'll keep using them until they fall apart or BDM issues a recall, whatever comes first. |
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I don’t get all the negativity about ProMag. I know. It's like all the negativity about Hitler and the Nazi's, Socialism, and even Marxism? Learn your history. ProMag has a history and once you learn it, you should have a better understanding of why some/many have negative attitudes towards them. Many will tell you that they are very much the equivalent of a company like Vulcan/Hesse. Does that mean everything they make is junk? Well, they say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again. The question is, do you want to be that blind squirrel? |
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I don’t get all the negativity about ProMag. I know. It's like all the negativity about Hitler and the Nazi's, Socialism, and even Marxism? Learn your history. ProMag has a history and once you learn it, you should have a better understanding of why some/many have negative attitudes towards them. Many will tell you that they are very much the equivalent of a company like Vulcan/Hesse. Does that mean everything they make is junk? Well, they say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again. The question is, do you want to be that blind squirrel? lol, NUT FOUND!
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| I recently picked up my first .22 conversion, and it came with 2x of the BDM smoke mags. So far, no cracks, but I have to admit the mags haven't even been loaded (much less used). As far as the ProMags are concerned, I haven't had the opportunity to even handle one, much less actually try one in a rifle. I do, however, have around 6-8x of their 32rd 9mm mags for my AR. So far, they have been just as reliable as my Colt and UZI converted mags, and more reliable than the CProducts 20 and 32rd I've had (6 mags total). I haven't had any issue with these mags in my 9mm, and wouldn't hesitate buying some for a .22 system. |
| i have to say a big +1 for kevin at bdm i had the same problem with 3 of my mags i called and talked to racheal she told me to send in my mags and they would take care of to problem for me they sent me 3 new mags i never got a responce from email but everything was taken care of with one phone call to 208-585-6581 |
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I've had two 15rd mags and one 10rd mag crack, I think all on the left side (maybe one on the right), all from the cut in the feedlips to clear the case rim down to the rear screw, just havent gotten around to sending them back to BDM. I have two other 15rd and one 10rd mag that seem to be doing ok. I leave the mags unloaded except when shooting due to an uncertainty in MD law regarding transportation of loaded mags.
I'm usually pretty liberal with the Breakfree CLP while shooting my Ciener kit, could that be the cause of the problem? Kharn |
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I don’t get all the negativity about ProMag. I know. It's like all the negativity about Hitler and the Nazi's, Socialism, and even Marxism? Learn your history. ProMag has a history and once you learn it, you should have a better understanding of why some/many have negative attitudes towards them. Many will tell you that they are very much the equivalent of a company like Vulcan/Hesse. Does that mean everything they make is junk? Well, they say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again. The question is, do you want to be that blind squirrel? lol, NUT FOUND! It was just a way to get peoples attention and try to get them to do their own homework and develop their own critical thinking skills. Everything in life is based on history - those that don't take the time to learn it, are doomed to repeat it. For me personally, I can't stand CMMG, but if my only 2 choices for .22 mags were ProMag and CMMG, I'd buy CMMG over ProMag. 
ProMags history of success with mags and accessories is very much like the blind squirrel analogy. The vast majority of their product is less than stellar. Their current production 9mm mags seem decent, but they weren't always that way and people still report issues when leaving them loaded - feedlips spread, mags crack along mold lines, and so on. Their .22 mags may be okay, but there's no telling how long they will last or how warranty will be handled when they fail. Caveat emptor. 
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It was just a way to get peoples attention and try to get them to do their own homework and develop their own critical thinking skills. Everything in life is based on history - those that don't take the time to learn it, are doomed to repeat it. For me personally, I can't stand CMMG, but if my only 2 choices for .22 mags were ProMag and CMMG, I'd buy CMMG over ProMag.
ProMags history of success with mags and accessories is very much like the blind squirrel analogy. The vast majority of their product is less than stellar. Their current production 9mm mags seem decent, but they weren't always that way and people still report issues when leaving them loaded - feedlips spread, mags crack along mold lines, and so on. Their .22 mags may be okay, but there's no telling how long they will last or how warranty will be handled when they fail. Caveat emptor. Who are you trying to convince ? My experience with ProMag (this one experience) is pretty darn good, and if I find something that works at a better value; regardless of the luck you or others have had, I’ll stick with it.
And BTW; if you think “Everything in life is based on history”, you must never experience anything new  …
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