AR10 Magazines - Waffle v. Standard?

[Skans]

Is there any practical difference between AR10 waffle magazines and Standard AR10 magazines? In other words, are they interchangeable, or will the waffle magazines only work in certain guns?

[bacardisteve]

By waffle design are you talking about the plastic pmags? If so they are sr25 pattern and will fit dpms, cmmg, pof, knights, s&w and some of the newer armalites and rock rivers. Older armalites used proprietary magazines based on the m14 mags and some of the rock river rifles use fal mags. I'm missing a few manufactures but that gives you an idea.

[allaroundhunter]

.308 ARs do not have a standardized magazine like the AR-15 does. As bacardisteve said, some use the SR-25 pattern (which is becoming the 'standard'), and some use modified, proprietary mags.

So to answer your question, no, there isn't a difference between the "waffle" (pmag) and the "standard" because there isn't actually a "standard"

[Skans]

By waffle design are you talking about the plastic pmags?

No, the waffle magazines I'm referring to are the older aluminum magazines. These magazines sell for about $100 and are not all that easy to find (although there are usually some on gunbroker). I'd like to find comparable magazines that are similar enough to work.

[5.56RifleGuy]

They look better, but Im not sure what mag pattern they follow.

[sailskidrive]

Maybe these are for the original AR-10s made back in the 60s and 70s. From what I've read in the past the current re-incarnated Armalite Company produces a slightly different gun.

[Skans]

Maybe these are for the original AR-10s made back in the 60s and 70s.

Yes, that is the waffle magazine I'm talking about. Are there any non-waffle magazines that are comparable to these?

[blfuller]

The original Armalite of Fairchild Aircraft Corp AR10 waffle mag developed by Eugene Stoner in the 1960's is the same functionally as used by Knights Armament in their SR-25, DPMS LR-308, and is interchangeable with the .308 PMAG.

The current Armalite of Geneseo, IL has two lower receiver variants, one takes a modified M14 magazine and the newest accepts the original AR10 waffle type that works in Knights, DPMS LR-308 and others.

The reason Armalite of Geneseo, IL went with the modified M14 mag was due to the ban and they took existing mags and modified them to be used in their AR-10 as no new high cap mags could be manufactured for civilian use and it was also a proven design.

[Skans]

Thanks, blfuller, that is the information I was looking for.

FYI, this is for one of the odd rifles in my collection, a Holloway Arms HAC-7. It came with one waffle magazine and I am considering purchasing a few other magazines (even if they have to be modified) that would work with this rifle without paying for high-dollar original waffle magazines.

[Dr Big Bird PhD]

The reason Armalite of Geneseo, IL went with the modified M14 mag was due to the ban and they took existing mags and modified them to be used in their AR-10 as no new high cap mags could be manufactured for civilian use and it was also a proven design.

I've always wondered why there were two AR10 patterns...

[blfuller]

I've always wondered why there were two AR10 patterns...

Actually, there are 4 patterns if you take into consideration the Bushmaster/Rock River which uses FN FAL mags and the less common CMMG lower that uses G3 mags.

[5.56RifleGuy]

How is that Holloway Arms rifle? Seems neat, but since there are not a lot of them, you dont hear a lot about them.

[blfuller]

Here's an interesting link on the HAC-7. According to the link it uses a modified AR-10 mag. I was curious what the modification was to the magazine?

[Skans]

How is that Holloway Arms rifle? Seems neat, but since there are not a lot of them, you dont hear a lot about them.

I hate to admit this, but I've never fired this safe queen. It's still new in box, and still haven't brought myself to put a few rounds through it. However, lately, I've been considering using it a little. I'd prefer not to use the original magazine if I do shoot it, that's why I asked about cheaper versions of the waffle mag. I'm getting the itch to shoot it.......must resist!

[5.56RifleGuy]

I can't say I blame you. I wouldn't shoot it ether. I have a Norinco M14 Ive decided not to shoot, as it is new in box with all the doodads and stuff.

People seem to say about their Holloway rifles it was a jamomatic piece of junk, or its their most reliable favorite rifle. According to the internet anyways. You may be better off not finding out what you got haha.

[navajo]

I had forgotten about the Holloway. If memory serves it was proposed as a standard weapon for the Texas State Guard, not to be confused with the National Guard. Some politico got mad about it and made Holloway stop.
But it could be a faulty memory.

[mwmjones]

I like the standard straight wall mags like the M1A mags

[HHollow]

Modern DPMS LR308 steel magazines can often be modified to fit into an old AR10. The mag catch area must be flattened. However, I have notice that some of the DPMs mags give a pretty tight fit to the old AR10 mag well.

So maybe the same trick can be used to make the DPMS mags fit the HAC-7 ?!

Also, in the past 3 years there have been no fewer than two dozen HAC-7 mags sold on gunbroker. [these are just the ones noticed] These were scooped up by folks who wanted to use those mags with the old AR10's and they sold cheap.

[Skans]

Also, in the past 3 years there have been no fewer than two dozen HAC-7 mags sold on gunbroker.

I'm constantly scouring gunbroker for Hac-7 prices and related items. Although I occasionally see some AR10 waffle magazines for sale, I have never seen any Hac-7 magazines listed for sale. I believe the Hac-7 mags are just slightly modified AR10 Waffle magazines, but I'm not exactly sure what the modification is. Well, I could have missed some big lots of Hac-7 magazines for sale.