Magpul Gen M3 Overview & Comparison With The MOE PMAG

AR-15 » Magazines

AR Sponsor:

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Magpul Gen M3 Overview & Comparison With The MOE PMAG

Posted: 11/5/2012 2:27:18 PM EDT

Well I'm still testing these mags (so far, so good) so no full review yet but here's a quick overview:

Things that are different:
-New polymer material for increased strength & durability. I can't feel a difference but Magpul says it's different
-Modified external/internal geometry so they can be used in multiple platforms to include the HK416, MR556A1, SA-80, SCAR 16/16s, M27 IAR, and possibly others
-The bolt catch cutout has been re-designed for use in the weapons above
-The slide has an overtravel stop to ensure it can't go to far into the magwell which can cause issues with the bolts on non-AR rifles
-Floorplate is slimmer to allow a better fit in dual mag pouches
-Dustcover doesn't clip on the bottom; only the top

Things that are the same:
-The proven stainless spring is the same
-The anti-tilt follower and curvature of the mag is the same. The follower is marked differently (see video) but is shaped the same
-Disassembly is the same; no tools required
-Still includes the dust/impact cover and it works on both the 'old' and new Gen M3
-Still made in the USA

Here's a video with some close ups, a bunch of additional photos at the end, and demonstrations of what I was talking about above:

Posted: 11/5/2012 4:04:08 PM EDT

[#1]

Looks good to me. I like the added texture on the front face of it. Wonder how much extra grip it will provide.

Posted: 11/5/2012 4:06:33 PM EDT

[#2]

Is it me or is the new one longer and wider? I like the smaller floor plate.

Posted: 11/5/2012 4:59:50 PM EDT

[#3]

Great review!

Thanks for posting

Posted: 11/5/2012 6:32:09 PM EDT

[#4]

That narrower base plate is a BIG improvement. It seems like such a little thing but the mags are so much easier to deal with now that they don't have such a fat ass.

Posted: 11/5/2012 8:48:18 PM EDT

[#5]

I'm happy with my Lancer's until Magpul fixes the over-insertion stop so that I can use them in my Noveske without taking a grinder to them.

Posted: 11/5/2012 9:24:30 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I'm happy with my Lancer's until Magpul fixes the over-insertion stop so that I can use them in my Noveske without taking a grinder to them.

+1
I think they would be perfect without the over insertion stop. I like my Lancer's too.

Posted: 11/6/2012 7:39:02 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Is it me or is the new one longer and wider? I like the smaller floor plate.

It does look like that in the picture I posted but it's an illusion. I just held them up side by side and they're the same length. The width is slightly different in a couple spots though.

Posted: 11/6/2012 10:37:40 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/tiffani33/Guns/IMG_1335.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/tiffani33/Guns/IMG_1341.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/tiffani33/Guns/IMG_1340.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/tiffani33/Guns/IMG_1343.jpg

Well I'm still testing these mags (so far, so good) so no full review yet but here's a quick overview:

Things that are different:
-New polymer material for increased strength & durability. I can't feel a difference but Magpul says it's different
-Modified external/internal geometry so they can be used in multiple platforms to include the HK416, MR556A1, SA-80, SCAR 16/16s, M27 IAR, and possibly others
-The bolt catch cutout has been re-designed for use in the weapons above
-The slide has an overtravel stop to ensure it can't go to far into the magwell which can cause issues with the bolts on non-AR rifles
-Floorplate is slimmer to allow a better fit in dual mag pouches
-Dustcover doesn't clip on the bottom; only the top

Things that are the same:
-The proven stainless spring is the same
-The anti-tilt follower and curvature of the mag is the same. The follower is marked differently (see video) but is shaped the same
-Disassembly is the same; no tools required
-Still includes the dust/impact cover and it works on both the 'old' and new Gen M3
-Still made in the USA

Here's a video with some close ups, a bunch of additional photos at the end, and demonstrations of what I was talking about above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHsaEGS5KhA&feature=g-upl

Thanks for the review! One clarification though, the GEN M3 Impact/Dust Cover is not backwards compatible with any of the older mags- all GEN M3 components (with the exception of the spring) are exclusive to the new generation. However, the older covers will fit the M3 but are not optimized for it as they do not fully seal the back of the mag due to its new square cutout.

Posted: 11/6/2012 12:09:15 PM EDT

[#9]

^^^ Good info there; didn't realize that.

Posted: 11/8/2012 4:19:38 PM EDT

[#10]

The followers and the part on the bottom of the spring are also different.

Gen 3 on left old on right

Posted: 11/8/2012 5:54:31 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
The followers and the part on the bottom of the spring are also different.

Gen 3 on left old on right
http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/15359E9goP/11578856.jpg

That's interesting, wonder why the back leg is shorter on the gen3 follower?

Posted: 11/8/2012 6:16:03 PM EDT

[#12]

The old pmags work just a good as they ever did, so I like the price drop on the old ones.

Posted: 11/9/2012 4:20:57 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
The old pmags work just a good as they ever did, so I like the price drop on the old ones.

I ordered 30 of the "old" ones the other day.

Posted: 11/9/2012 9:26:55 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
The old pmags work just a good as they ever did, so I like the price drop on the old ones.

Same here. The old ones work just fine for me. I don't run them in double stack pouches, so the wider base isn't an issue for me. And if they get cheaper as a result of the newer mags entering the market, that will just be icing on the cake.

Posted: 11/9/2012 10:24:42 PM EDT

[#15]

Nice report! One day I'll probably pick up some of these. Right now I'm content w/ my gen2 PMAGs. I'm not a mag-whore so I've only got 5 regular and 5 windowed PMAGs.

Posted: 11/10/2012 6:08:54 AM EDT

[#16]

I can't wait to get my hands on a M3 mag. I want to see if it will work with my FNC and a billet lower that I have.

Posted: 11/10/2012 6:44:52 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
The followers and the part on the bottom of the spring are also different.

Gen 3 on left old on right
http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/15359E9goP/11578856.jpg

That's interesting, wonder why the back leg is shorter on the gen3 follower?

The shorter follower is to make room for what looks like an anti-tilt on the bottom plate of the mag. Why? Great question. It seems odd to design an anti-tilt on a non moving part. Maybe Magpul can chime in. I just got my magazine in yesterday and it reminds me of the gen 1 mags (looks and feel wise). They seems a hair beefier too.

Posted: 11/10/2012 11:17:08 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I can't wait to get my hands on a M3 mag. I want to see if it will work with my FNC and a billet lower that I have.

FWIW, they fit in my POF lower.

Mike

Posted: 11/10/2012 3:13:53 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:
The followers and the part on the bottom of the spring are also different.

Gen 3 on left old on right
http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/15359E9goP/11578856.jpg

That's interesting, wonder why the back leg is shorter on the gen3 follower?

The shorter follower is to make room for what looks like an anti-tilt on the bottom plate of the mag. Why? Great question. It seems odd to design an anti-tilt on a non moving part. Maybe Magpul can chime in. I just got my magazine in yesterday and it reminds me of the gen 1 mags (looks and feel wise). They seems a hair beefier too.

We cannot comment on technical design changes in a public forum but it was made for performance reasons that came about during the M3 testing and development.

Posted: 11/10/2012 4:47:52 PM EDT

[#20]

thanks for the photo comparison,really like the narrower floorplate and Im going to have to try these but for $9.99 im still buying the gen2

Posted: 11/10/2012 7:18:37 PM EDT

[#21]

I have some of these new M3's. I like them alot. My only Complaint is the dust cover wont go on the bottom. I like the added protection to the bottom. I run a lot of drills and my mags are thrown around and hit rocks and things. I dont want my mags to break.

Posted: 11/12/2012 11:51:58 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
I have some of these new M3's. I like them alot. My only Complaint is the dust cover wont go on the bottom. I like the added protection to the bottom. I run a lot of drills and my mags are thrown around and hit rocks and things. I dont want my mags to break.

I think you will be fine as demonstrated in this video showing the M3 taking the violent abuse of the 5 foot, full weapon drop, directly onto the floorplate.

Something it can do multiple times without failure.

Posted: 11/12/2012 3:06:49 PM EDT

[#23]

I just shot my 'test' video this weekend. I dropped a fully loaded mag on its' feed lips onto concrete several times... picked it up, inserted it and shot the crap out of it. I then fired another 90 rounds through that mag the same day––-0 issues.

I'll post it here once I edit/upload it.

Posted: 11/12/2012 4:16:21 PM EDT

[#24]

Took the 4 new mags out yesterday and all four are good to go so far.

60 rounds each of 262 through my suppressed Mk12 with no issues.

90 rounds each of 855 through my carbine with no issues.

They seem to be fine in both of these guns. More testing will need to be done before they are trusted 100% though. I have not yet found a p mag I do not trust and doubt these will change that.