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Posted: 3/12/2012 6:11:55 PM EDT
| I'm setting up a chest rig and I'm thinking of using Fastmag for my pmags. Anyone using them? Pros and cons? |
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I have never used them with PMAGs, but have seen others do so, so they must work ok.
As the name says, they are fast. I have never used the esstac kydex wedges, but the fastmags would probably be quicker by a very small margin due to the greater length of magazine exposed. |
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Having had ITW fast mags, I will say that they are very fast. They have really good retention. They have a lot of benefits such as being mounted upside down.
With that said, the tab at the bottom where the clip attaches seems easy to break (google images: ITW fastmag and there is a picture of one from the bottom that you can see the tab in). I have never used them really hard (i.e. never rolled on the ground, took a carbine class using them) so I can't say for sure they are weak but I have seen them on the EE broken. With the broken tab they sell for the half the price and I probably wouldn't want them at that point. I think they definitely have a spectrum of used depending on what that is for you. I now have HSGI tacos and they are awesome and can fit almost any type of magazine you can think of in them. |
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I have a buddy who is a ITW dealer and have been using them for about a year now on both my work as well as my personal gear. I have run them pretty hard and have rolled around on the ground with them in both training and other more serious situations. They firmly retain the mags and work just as well with PMags as they do with GI mags. I'm not as crazy about the pistol fastmags as I am the rifle version, but they do work and firmly hold a variety of mags from 1911 to Glock/Sig double stacks.
The majority of the tabs being broken are caused (per the manufacturer) by using some form of tool to latch the Fastmag's strap to the tab. If you use your fingers they don't break off has been my personal experience. There's actually a proper method to install them which I was shown, but there aren't instructions provided which explain this. |
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Quoted:
Been using them for a good while now. What type of use? I'm looking at them for my 2nd-line gear, but on a monthly usage-type basis I'll be using them for carbine classes and personal "gravel pit training". Any issues with debris getting in the mags (my biggest concern, other than the price)? |
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I have been using fastmags since they came out. I used to use four across the front of my PIG but stopped doing that as carrying at the low ready is loud and a bit painful on the hand. I use one for my primary draw mag and ESSTAC KYWI'S for the rest. In our industry section you can see my load evolution. I love the ITW FASTMAGS but not for every mag. I have never had any debris issues even when low crawling. When you do that everything gets somewhat dirty no matter what. Every once in a while I take all my mags out and dump the grass and dirt out of my mag pouches but so far it hasnt contributed to a jam.
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