Magpul magazines

Vandalism · 04-15-2007, 15:52

Anyone have any experience with them yet or polymer mags in general ? I was thinking of buying a few but they seem gimmicky.

- Engineered from the ground up to be made of injection molded polymer.
- Patent Pending design allows for a more aggressive constant curve of ammo stack than found on other Nylon magazines.
- Made of "new to the market" reinforced polymer which is very strong and durable.
- Can be seated on closed bolt with full 30 rounds loaded.
- Snap cover protects feed lips during long term storage.
- Optional maglevel window version that can be read from both sides.
- Floorplate lock.
- Proprietary anti tilt follower.
- Debris grooves built into mag body.
- Molded in Black, Flat Dark Earth and OD
-Estimated retail price will be $11.95 for non window and $14.95 for dual Maglevel version.

http://www.magpul.com/pics/pmag01.jpg

**The Reaper** · 04-15-2007, 15:58

Not a fan of polymer mags.

Others may vary.

TR

Vandalism · 04-15-2007, 16:04

Any particular reason? At this time my only experience is limited to GI Issued and H&K steel mags.

**The Reaper** · 04-15-2007, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandalism

Any particular reason? At this time my only experience is limited to GI Issued and H&K steel mags.

The ones I have used have been unreliable and finicky.

YMMV.

TR

RTK · 04-15-2007, 18:06

Depending on the manufacturer, they may not fit your weapon as advertised. Also, they tend to shatter when you hit the dirt hard. Had that happen in a bad spot of Ramadi.

Overall verdict: Not a fan.

Hipshot · 04-15-2007, 18:39

If you're looking for a deal on mags, try www.bravocompanyusa.com. They had a package deal on 10 30rd mags for $115. Plastic mags give me the willies. Can't load an M4 one round at a time fast enough if the mag breaks.

**Peregrino** · 04-15-2007, 21:42

Non-standard magazines usually have a hard time fitting into standard magazine pouches. YMMV. I have put Magpul followers in all of my magazines and think it was well worth the money/effort. Peregrino

Sionnach · 04-16-2007, 09:19

The following is from a Danish soldier's web site, http://www.tactical.dk/uk/tactics7.html. The magazines he mentions are not Magpul, but they are polymer.

Quote:

Another magrelated malfunction. Check the distance between the feed lips. No I don't know the correct space measurements, but I have noticed a significant larger space on some Thermolds than on alu and steel mags. This is a sure sign that the Thermold is going bad. If anyone knows the correct space between the feed lips, please let me know.

This is a common problem when using our issued crappy Zytel Thermold mags, but again it's mag related. Not really the fault of the rifle. What happens, with the Thermold mags, are that they crack at the bottom of the right feed lip, and then the rounds can freely exit the mag. Quite simply, the mags don't have a long lifespan when they are kept loaded for an extended period of time. Plus when unloading the rounds from the Thermolds, don't take them out at the top of the mags, but rather remove the bottom plate. Reason: Because it strips off small pieces of the plastic from the feed lips every time a round goes out from it. That means even when you are just out shooting, the mags are being worn out by this. And using the mags while shooting full auto eats up the mags even faster, giving them the nickname of "Thermelts". A second reason to throw the Thermolds into a campfire.

I have experienced this on numerous occasions and have started purchasing the U.S. Issued Aluminum mags, instead. Also the steel FNC/Swedish AK-5 mags with a new green follower from a U.S. alu mag is good. Since using them I have never experienced it. It's pretty embarrassing having a fountain of 5.56 mm ammo ejecting from your mag on the range, in battle it could cost lives.

Since the army is probably set on keeping the "Thermelts" Go purchase your own Alu mags, your life greatly depends on your mags ability to hold rounds until needed. (Incidentally, the Canadian Army dropped the Thermolds, for the Alu type. Hmm.....Ring a bell, anyone?)

TF Kilo · 05-24-2007, 03:27

Well, I'll necropost.

I peruse many a site and happened across what I thought was a deal on Magpul mags.. well. it wasn't, but that's another story.

What do you guys want to see in regards to stress testing for this here piece of kit?

it seems just from first glance, to be built significantly more resiliant than a standard magazine...

The video that they display about their mags, involves running them over with a truck both at low and high speed, doing a brakestand (scraping kickout of mag from under tire) and then a function check.

Yes, i realize that you don't typically run magazines over with a truck.. but who here's had a jump with a crap landing and equipment damage? *raises hand*

Same concept.

USGI nuked with just a rollover, same with one brand of polymer mag.

HK took 2 runs

The magpul took multiple runovers. No damage, function check with dummy rounds, insert, release, etc showed proper operation.

The tolerances for the follower aren't TIGHT but I can't see any way that the follower could tilt.

Disassembly of the magazine is actually easier, and repeatable more times than with a GI mag (eventually you will torque that bottom plate, everyone does it at least once)

now.. I haven't shot it, but I have cycled a couple mags worth of rounds and there's no lip wear or issues with loading...

So, I pose to you, whatcha want me to do with this bad boy to perhaps change your mind?

It's about 1/8th inch taller than a stock mag, and slightly thicker. Same weight though, at least by feel.

Air.177 · 05-24-2007, 08:11

I have a P-mag also that I have been playing with. I ran 300 rounds or so through it weekend before last and had no malfunctions (hardly a torture test). I could see the ribs and the floorplate causing issues with mag pouch fitment as with many other polymer mags out there. Around here these magazines are selling for the same price as std. aluminum USGI mags. I don't see any particular advantage to the P-mags over the aluminum GIs at the same price, but perhaps they would make at least a good training mag if you could buy in bulk and get the price down. HTH,
YMMV.

Good times,
blake

**The Reaper** · 05-24-2007, 13:42

I would have to see them put through temp extremes, solvents and cleaners, dirt and dust, dropped a bunch of times loaded and unloaded, rounds up and down, and cycled several thousand rounds before I would try one.

Keep at it and let me know how they work out for you in the long run.

TR

**Peregrino** · 05-24-2007, 18:47

TF Kilo - Wait until next February when it's 60 below, temperature condition the mags (shades of DragonSkin), then run over them with the truck.

I heard somewhere that plastic doesn't like extreme cold.

Peregrino

TF Kilo · 05-25-2007, 05:54

well yah, but you can put a hole in a coleman canoe at that temperature...

5POINT56 · 05-25-2007, 09:13

The original "plastic" mags were/are Orlite & Thermold.

Neither of which I think offered squat over any of the better USGI aluminum mags....and frankly were worse in many cases (i.e., Not dropping free)

The PMags, IMO, are kind of an example of a solution looking for a problem. C-Products, D&H, among others, make very high quality aluminum and stainless mag bodies, with reliable followers that will feed reliably over and over and over again. Personally, I'm not seeing much of a market for a "new" 30 rounder....but that's just me.

Additionally (and the jury is still out in this) CMMG is introducing a line of braided mag spring magazines, with metal followers that are being advertised as having extremely long life (see: spring life) magazines. The "memory" in the springs, as advertised is vastly lengthened by using braided wire. I'm personally more interested in spring life and memory above a polymer body.

Magpul is an amazingly innovative company, that's for sure. These people started out with mag followers being their bread and butter a few years ago, to developing the Masada rifle (among a fine collection of stocks) , which STOLE THE SHOW at SHOT this year.

I love Magpul, they are as innovate as they get in the industry and have put a LOT of formerly complacent companies on their heels with what they are bringing to market. Good for them! The sunset of the AWB, apparently, wasn't just about returning bayo lugs, flash hiders and collapsible stocks to market...again.

But back to the topic here...the P-Mag just doesn't address the most important part of a mag to me, and that is its ammo feeding longevity.

I'd rather have mags that will repeatedly feed reliably, over and over, than a mag with a body that a truck can drive over.

If my magazine is in a position to be run over or crushed in any manner, its in the wrong place right from the get go....and if my best/only option is to attempt to recover a run over mag, then there are probably other areas of my game I need to address first.

Could it happen? Sure. Is it the HIGHEST area of concern in regards to how my rifles like to feed? Definately not.

KevinB · 05-27-2007, 10:18

Well as someone who really does have nightmare about plastic mags (Thermold

) I got a few of the PMags.

I have left two loaded in the Suburban to see if heat will screw with them.
I drove over one yesterday with a B6 Suburban - and while it cracked (on the spine) - only one round of Mk262 popped out -- and the mag loaded and fired fine. I reloaded it 4 more times and shot some drills with it and had no problems.

I figure it has to be possible to make a good poly mag -- since my Glock and our Sig552's work well with poly mags