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Posted: 6/24/2007 8:40:54 AM EDT
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I have seen lots of posts regarding malfunctions related to bad magazines. As a newbie, I have also gotten lots of advice to stock up on mags and ammo. So can anyone tell me what brand of magazines are best? I believe in buying quality but I don't want to waste money either. Thanks in advance for the help. -huskAR |
Best I've used are good old plain USGIs.
I'm pretty new to the civilian AR scene myself. I bought GI mags (Defense Solutions Group) with grey Magpul anti-tilt followers, for about $12 ea. You can find them easily in the $10 to $14 range. I bought some Ranger Plates to try, thinking that yes, there is a potential to damage your mags dropping them on hard surfaces when reloading. The result? The 30th round was a bitch to put in, and the mags would not seat in the rifle with the bolt closed  Not worth the trade off IMO. I sold them. I may try some of the standard Magpuls, since they go on the outside of the mags. My $0.02.
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USGI mags are govt contract mags, the same mags our boys overseas are using to defend freedom. These include OKay, which also make NHMTG, Colt. D&H, which was previously General Stamping, and before that Labelle. Labelle made mags for Bushmaster aka BFI aka Quality Parts, and DPMS aka Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services aka Panther Arms. They also made mags with blank floorplates. Most famous for their teflon finish mags, in gray or black, made for all of those companies above. Older USGI mags include Center, which was previously Adventure Line, and before that Parsons. D.L.Sanchez. These are fine, but put in new green or Magpul followers. Do not buy ones from "USA". They are cheap crap. Do not buy Cooper Industries. Cooper was the only mfg to LOSE THEIR CONTRACT they were so bad. Faults include bad welds on the seams. Some had only 3 spot welds on each seam instead of 6 or 9. Also, EVERY Cooper I have seen, even the ones with good welds, had bad (very weak) springs. Just avoid. Buy 30 rnd mags, and perhaps pick up a few 20's for prone/bench shooting. But for general use and defensive work, 30 rounds. NO, the 20's are NOT more reliable, that is BS. OK, here's where Yours Truly buys his mags: www.buylci.com/ Click the red "Preview/View as Guest" Now, in the search box enter 1005009215004 which is the stock number, or just type in M16 Magazine. The price is under $12 each, and the price INCLUDES shipping. No additional shipping. Or CMMG. www.cmmginc.com Clickl to Enter and click Mags on the left. The ONLY option I get is perhaps better springs (chrome silicone). I don't find the need for magpul followers. If you have good springs, the mag will work. "AR15/M16 New Production 30rd Black Teflon Coated Magazine" or "AR15/M16 New Production 30rd Mil-Spec Magazine" Those are good mags. Or DSG Arms www.dsgarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=25 The teflon coated mags are by D&H. www.dsgarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=808 And there is nothing wrong with C Products. cproductsllc.com/ Note on this page, the first one is the body only. The second one is a whole mag: www.cproductsllc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=cp&Category_Code=30rnd Click the drop down... for the very low cost, you might want their Gen II follower option. Get the CS spring (chrome silicone) which is resistant to "taking a set". You might want the black marlube, too. Good mags. Bravo Co. www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR15-magazines-beta-s/21.htm These are D&H gray teflon coated mags. Great price. 44Mag www.44mag.com/ www.44mag.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DH30B Black teflon D&H www.44mag.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NH30 NHMTG (Okay) gray dry lube finish. These are the same as the mags from LC Ind. I think these above (all) are the best values in mags today. |
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I have lots(relative compared to some) of USGI mags with green followers. All are OKay and Center. They all work great. I can't bring myself to by anything else because I don't see spending more on mags that work the same as my USGIs. ETA: I forgot. I do have a few Bushmaster mags that I aquired on sale here and there. They all work flawlessly as well. They look a tad prettier but I wouldn't say I think they are "better". |
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