Praxis: Gun Test magazine rates AR/M16 magazines.
A reader forwarded me a copy of this article, which is a subscriber only site: AR-15 Magazine Testing: Price Has Little to Do with Quality
Although I believe that the whole article (and related articles) is worth the cost of subscription, and the details of the test are interesting and pertinent, I think it is a fair use to quote the results, at least:
Here’s how the magazines performed individually, moving from worst to best as they were eliminated:
Command Arms Accessories 30-Rd. Polymer, $12.34 (CheaperThanDirt.com #8-CAA-MAG) This magazine is similar to the Countdown, but without the slot for viewing cartridges. It disassembled on the third drop onto the feed lips. Gun Tests Grade: F
Cammenga AR-15 Easymag 30-Round EM3556, $21.99 (ImpactGuns.com #718122544158) This magazine features a sliding component that allows easy loading of the magazine. However, a certain amount of effort is required to operate the magazine, and most of us prefer conventionally loading a magazine. The magazine did not pass the feed-lip drop test when its sliding door opened and dumped the magazine load. Gun Tests Grade: F
IMI Defense Polymer 30-Round AR-15 Magazine, $11.97 (CheaperThanDirt.com #MAG-790) This magazine failed the drop test by losing the ammo load on the first drop. Upon examination, we found the magazine body was cracked. Gun Tests Grade: F
ProMag Industries 30-Round Blue Steel Magazine, $18.31 (PromagIndustries.com #COL-A1) During the feed-lip drop test, the feed lips were crushed and the rounds could not be unloaded without a screwdriver. Also during the feed-lip drop, the base plate was damaged and bulged by the impact. Gun Tests Grade: F
ProMag Industries 30-Round Black Polymer Magazine, $15.45 (PromagIndustries.com #COL-A18) During the first drop test this magazine lost 2, 10 and then all of the cartridges loaded. The true damning part of the evaluation was that the magazine was cracked and non functional after the test. Gun Tests Grade: F
Command Arms Accessories AR-15 Countdown Magazine, $13.52 (CheaperThanDirt.com #2-MGCAACDMAG12) We liked the countdown feature, a window in the magazine that helps keep track of cartridges. This magazine fared well early on, but it lost more rounds than the others during the drop tests and when vehicles ran over it. Even though it lost rounds in the vehicle test, we carried it over to the firing tests. During the first firing test, the magazine refused to feed properly and seemed stiff going into the magazine well, possibly because the magazine lips had spread. Gun Tests Grade: F
SIG Sauer AR-15 30-Round Polymer MAG55630BLKP, $20 (CheaperThanDirt.com #8-SIG-MAG55630BLKPLY) This magazine fared well during the early testing, but lost rounds when run over with the vehicles. However, we reloaded the rounds, and the SIG made it to the firing tests and passed. Gun Tests Grade: B
S.W.T. 30-round AR-15 Magazine, $17.99 (SportsmansGuide.com #WX2-292179) This was a well-made magazine that sailed through early testing. However, during the vehicle testing it lost a number of rounds. It passed the firing test. Gun Tests Grade: B
Thermold Master Molder Magazine 30 Round M16/AR-15 M16AR1530, $10.59 (CheaperThanDirt.com #57872) These were one of the least expensive magazines tested. To our surprise, these magazines made it to the big time. With the absence of a discernible feed lip compared to some magazines, the polymer magazines should feed well, but in the end begin to lose tension earlier, as examination of well-used versions of this magazine indicates. The Master Molder made it to the firing test and malfunctioned with steel-case ammunition. Gun Tests Grade: B
Troy Industries Battlemag Magazine AR-15 30-Round Polymer, $14.29 (MidwayUSA.com #859891) The Troy Industries Battlemag is an advanced polymer 30-round magazine. The polymers used in the magazine are chemical, biological and impact resistant. The feed lips have been reinforced and the mag uses an anti-tilt follower. The mag body features a aggressive scale texture that provides a sure grip but will also extract from magazine pouches easily. The spine of the magazine is designed to prevent over-insertion common with some polymer mags. The floor plate features a shock absorbing pull tab, or can be used with the flush locking plate. Functions with all M4, M16, AR-15, HK416, and FN SCAR rifles. The Troy magazine made it to the top of the list just below the NHMTG, PMag and OKAY magazines. This is based upon the fact that the Troy Mag lost more average rounds — a total of 9 — during drop testing. It did not crack, however and remained functional. It lost no rounds during the vehicle testing. Having passed all other testing and surviving until the firing test, the Troy Mag is a robust and reliable magazine. Gun Tests Grade: A-
OKAY Industries USGI 30-Round Mag, $8.99 (Gunsamerica.com) The OKAY magazines gave excellent results. They were tied with the NHMGT magazines, and the Brownells in practical terms was no better. The only slight mark against the OKAY was that in corrosion testing, these magazines picked up a light dusting of red rust the others did not, but function wasn’t affected. The OKAY magazines may have been older than the others tested. Gun Tests Grade: A-
NHMTG AR-15/M16 30-Round Magazine MA02L, $19.99 (Brownells.com, #100-012-166WB) We tested both 20-round and 30-round NHMTG magazines, both of which made it to the end of the test. However, by the time this issue came out, the 20-round versions were no longer available from Brownells. Function was good and so was durability. These magazines, the OKAY magazine, and the PMag tied for second place by a narrow margin, based on the aggregate number of rounds they lost during various phases of testing. Gun Tests Grade: A
Magpul AR-15/M16 PMag Gen M3 MAG557BLK, $14.20 (Brownells.com #100-011-220WB) The PMag was the top performer among the polymer magazines. Ease of disassembly and general handling were a big plus. Gun Tests Grade: A
Magpul PMag 30 AR/M4 Window Gen M3 MAG556BLK, $17.05 (Brownells.com #100-011-219WB) Despite the use of a slide window, which theoretically weakens the magazine body according to some opinions, the PMag with window actually performed slightly better than the standard PMag, losing fewer total rounds during the test program. When run over by vehicles, this unit and the window did not crack. Gun Tests Grade: A
Brownells 30-Round Gray AR-15/M16 Magazine w/SS Spring 200200, $9.99(Brownells.com #078-000-113WB) These magazines are very similar to the models that Brownells supplies to the US Military. All components are made of mil-spec materials and are manufactured under strict, ISO quality control standards. The heat-treated, welded aluminum body is hard-anodized for superior corrosion resistance, then given a tough, dry-lube coating to eliminate the need for additional lubricants that would attract dust, sand, or dirt. The latest military-type, glass-fiber reinforced composite follower further guarantees flawless feeding in the harshest tactical conditions. We tested the mil-spec stainless-steel spring, but a version with a high lubricity dry-lube-coated chrome silicon spring is also available. They are affordable, well made, and reliable. Gun Tests Grade: A
13 comments:
Because we all want to trust our lives to magazines that have been driven over by vehicle traffic?
That said, I guess they needed some way of torture testing the mags. I just hope their vehicle test was repeatable and all mags were subjected to the same stress.
Wow, did you ask them if you should post this? I'd advise you to take it down...
Am I missing something?
Brownells wants $13.99 for a 078-000-113WB mag, or $126.99 for ten. If I bought 1000 of them, do you think they'd let me have them for $9.99ea?
Good info, Mike. Thank you.
I wish they would have tested Tapco GenII. Tapco is so good to people that they traded my Gen I mags in for no cost. 10 for 10. They work great & don't spit out any rounds at all. Great Company.
Paul X, why would it not be okay? Yes, articles can be posted with the appropriate citation and or link.
I've been using the Brownell's mags and P mags for several years without a failure of any kind.
The only criticism I might have is that the P mags occasionally do not fall freely out of my rifle's magwell.
The NHMTG mags are literally made in the same plant as the Colt mags, but are much cheaper. Prob has to do with a union contract or some other nonsense like that, but the NHMTG mags are awesome. 20 dollars is also way too steep:
http://www.44mag.com/product/nhmtg_magazine_magpul_follower/223_ar15_magazines
Over at 44mag.com they are 12 dollars each.
The pmags are great, too. I don't have experience with any others, but would recommend pmags and NHMTG mags as being good to go.
I used to have a subscription to "Gun Tests" and those guys are the bomb, not showing favoritism to any one, and they speak their mind. If they think it's a POS they say so. It does concern me that the roll over with vehicle is perhaps an extreme test and that sort of abuse is unlikely to be encountered in normal usage, and that mags that would otherwise be acceptable were failed or down graded because of it.
For the Republic
Dr.D
On the subject of copyright:
You can reproduce with permission, or you can quote excerpts for fair use, especially if you are publishing a review of the copyrighted work.
I think PaulX is saying that he believes this blog post goes beyond fair use and into reproduction. Not having the entire article in front of me, I wouldn't claim to know if the part quoted here is excessive or not.
What? No Lancer mags or stainless HK mags?
My experience with Tapco has been awful. On a Mini 14, not one out of six 30 rd mags worked with any consistency. Their 9mm mags for the 92FS are equally crappy. To be fair, Rugers' own magazines for it's mini 14 are garbage also. I had one of those abominations, thinking it would be a good round out gun in 5.56mm. In four years, I was never able to get the thing to fire consistently. The five round magazine worked well, but any more than that, and it's a wash.
I note that Midway USA sells the highly-rated AR mags made by Troy. I also know that Larry Potterfield, CEO and owner of Midway USA, is an outstanding patriot whose company gives about a million dollars a year to The NRA. Thanks from us all, Larry. Midway USA deserves our support.
= Old Greybeard
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