Any real difference in Plastic mag's?

flw · 02-27-2013, 00:33

Im now to the back gun world and wanted to by some mags now and need to know if a plastic mag (p mag) will work in most AR's?

If yes, what are some of the top band names for quality?

**MrMurphy** · 02-27-2013, 01:37

MagPul PMag is the gold standard for AR mag reliability.

Lancer mags and TangoDown ARCs also reputedly work well from reliable sources but I have not used them myself.

AVOID Thermolds and Orlites.

Roger1079 · 02-27-2013, 04:20

Magpul is the only one I have experience with besides a few see through mags that were absolute trash. Can't remember the brand so what happened to me was irrelevant, but the first time I used it, I loaded it at home and put it in my range bag. Pulled it out and every last round hit the floor. The follower got stuck at the bottom. Left it on the bench when I left for someone else. I figure if they want to take the time to fix it, be my guest. (Got it for free, so it really didn't bother me much to let it go for nothing)

boomhower · 02-27-2013, 04:22

PMAGs are the best mags out there. Troy Battlemags are also good but overpriced since they jacked the pricing on them. I'd avoid all other plastic mags.

K. Foster · 02-27-2013, 07:24

PMAG and Lancer.
If you just need mags, there’s nothing wrong with USGI aluminum. Especially with MagPul followers.

DrtyHarry · 02-27-2013, 18:57

What about CAA mags?

DH

**MrMurphy** · 02-27-2013, 19:03

I wouldn't give those to a kid as sandbox toys.

collim1 · 02-28-2013, 21:40

P mags are great mags. I have a few of them and they work well. I have about 30 GI style mags I bought used and replaced the followers with Magpuls. They all work well and cost me about $7 each including the follower upgrade. The Lancers are good also but I prefer the Pmags to them.

Warp · 02-28-2013, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by flw

Im now to the back gun world and wanted to by some mags now and need to know if a plastic mag (p mag) will work in most AR's?

If yes, what are some of the top band names for quality?

Just to make sure we are 100% clear, "pmag" refers to the Magpul PMAG. Magpul as the manfacturer, PMAG as the magazine name. p mag or pmag does not simply mean "a plstic magazine". A lot of people are calling every plastic AR mag a pmag or p mag. That's kind of like calling every black polymer frame handgun a Glock. It's just plain wrong.

Magoul PMAGs, as stated above, are pretty much the gold standard of AR magazines.

Personally, based both on lots of reading and some experience, I think the best AR magazines are:'

PMAG (30 round, probably Gen3 20 round, but not really out yet)
NHMTG/Colt aluminum mags, 20 and 30 round, slight nod to the 20 perhaps, actually(Hardford, CT, manufacture)
Lancer L5 AWM
Troy Battlemags

Probably in that order.

triggerjerk · 02-28-2013, 22:08

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_17/58...ot_click_.html

Big Bird · 03-02-2013, 14:19

PMAGs are fine but my go-to magazines are the Lancer L5 AWM.

I've got 20 of the Lancers and they have been flawless and the metal lip means they will not deform if kept loaded over time.

Warp · 03-02-2013, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerjerk

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_17/58...ot_click_.html

I hadn't seen that before. Thanks for the link. I read everything OP posted through the intentional destruction of the magazines. While I do wish he had done more actual usage tests instead of just beating the magazines up and seeing if they fell apart, it's still useful information.

I really wish I hadn't sold my last Lancer L5 AWM.

Speaking of which...I don't suppose the smoke/translucent AWM's are as durable as the black ones?

triggerjerk · 03-02-2013, 16:27

Dunno Warp but that test does make me want to snatch up some Lancer AW5 mags.
Also shows that GI mags with good components aren't too shabby either.

Warp · 03-02-2013, 17:34

Eh, those GI mags were definitely the first to fall apart. Modern polymers just hold up to hard use better than aluminum. But I think we already knew that.

Don't get me wrong, a good aluminum mag (I like NHMTG/Colt) is a good mag. 2/3 of my AR mags are them right now, even. They work. But they don't hold up to hard use/abuse as well, I don't think.

***BuckyP*** · 03-02-2013, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMurphy

AVOID Thermolds and Orlites.

I got some Thermolds during the AWB. While they are not as good as PMags, they worked just fine.

***RMTactical*** · 03-02-2013, 18:30

I prefer the PMAG's but the Troy mags seem decent. I have mostly PMAG's, USGI mags, and a handful of Troy Battle mags and a few other random kinds.

Chronos · 03-06-2013, 23:33

Any opinions on Tapco?

**MrMurphy** · 03-07-2013, 00:34

Tapco=junk.

Only useful thing they make is a good AK trigger drop-in IIRC, and a grip.

And Thermolds come in two varieties, those that will self destruct, and those which already have. There's a reason both Canada and Israel adopted them and then unadopted them, even with them considering them as single-use items they cracked, shattered or warped far too much across a selection of hundreds at a time. Good idea, but it took another 10 years and the PMag to really make reliable plastic M16 mags a reality.

boomhower · 03-07-2013, 02:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronos

Any opinions on Tapco?

They didn't get the crapco rep for nothing...

PMAGs, Troy mags, and GI mags are what I use.

DrtyHarry · 03-07-2013, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMurphy

I wouldn't give those to a kid as sandbox toys.

I have a few CAA mags with windows, and they held up just fine. I only have three, but never had any problems with them. Read a few reviews on some other boards, and saw that other people were happy with them....and others not.

Did you have any issues with them? Just currios....I have 5 NIW and found someone willing to trade me for PMAGS (M3 w/windows). Going to trade them because the new couplers for PMAGS only work with the new M3 mags. I love the new design of the new PMAGS.

DH

RyanNREMTP · 03-07-2013, 15:20

I have two Sig mags that had done fine. Granted they have been ran hard like the Pmags but they are alright.

KevinFACE · 03-07-2013, 15:57

My Tapco forward grip for my AR is pretty solid. Not all their products are lame :P

WoodenPlank · 03-07-2013, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrtyHarry

I have a few CAA mags with windows, and they held up just fine. I only have three, but never had any problems with them. Read a few reviews on some other boards, and saw that other people were happy with them....and others not.

Did you have any issues with them? Just currios....I have 5 NIW and found someone willing to trade me for PMAGS (M3 w/windows). Going to trade them because the new couplers for PMAGS only work with the new M3 mags. I love the new design of the new PMAGS.

DH

The Magpul couplers work jut fine on M2 PMAGs, or I wouldn't own one.

WinterWizard · 03-07-2013, 17:31

Most off-brand plastic AR mags are heavy. I wouldn't buy them for that reason alone. And I am talking heavy, like twice the weight of a PMAG.

DrtyHarry · 03-07-2013, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodenPlank

The Magpul couplers work jut fine on M2 PMAGs, or I wouldn't own one.

Oh nice, I have a few M2s as well. I read the following:

The clamp is a 2-piece, bolt-on unit that is designed for use with Standard and MagLevel versions of the Pmag and Pmag M3 30-Round magazines. The MagLink Coupler is NOT compatible with Gen 1 Pmags, 20-Round Pmags, Emags, Pmag 30G's, or Pmag 20LR magazines.

I misread. Sweet, so the couplers will work with my M2s. Thanks again for having your guy contact me about these, he gave them to me a MSRP. I owe ya my friend!!

DH