Whatever happened to "U.S.A. Magazine" company-the company notorious for terrible stamped mags?

veprdude · February 25, 2021, 05:01 PM

I've run across several New Old Stock U.S.A. Magazine mags over the last few years. Looks like they either rebranded imported magazines or produced their own terrible quality magazines. Did they turn into Pro Mag?

rc · February 26, 2021, 06:19 PM

Pro mag and USA mag ran their own companies back in the day. Pro Mag's were just good enough to survive. I have no idea what happened to USA mag but they may have just changed the name. There are no name mags that show up all the time at shows. If those old mags fit the mag well, lock in and feed you are lucky!

**JohnKSa** · February 27, 2021, 01:00 AM

I remember those! I had a Mini-14 years and years ago and had a USA mag for it. I think I eventually threw it away.

After the AWB expired, my days of buying aftermarket mags were pretty much over. I will buy MecGar mags for a few handguns, but generally speaking, these days I buy factory mags nearly exclusively.

veprdude · February 27, 2021, 01:41 AM

+1 on Mec Gar. They are the OEM manufacturer for many companies.

ojibweindian · February 27, 2021, 06:32 AM

I bought several Pro-Mags for an M&P 9 2.0 full size; they ran fine. I actually had bought them in the hope that they would choke (malfunction drill practice). So, in a way, for the intended purpose for which I bought them, they failed =D.

**4V50 Gary** · March 2, 2021, 02:37 PM

I remember USA mags. They were around in the early '90s. With any bit of luck, the free market allowed them to mercifully fold under.

Reloadron · March 14, 2021, 10:34 PM

Still have a few 30 round from the early 90s that were for a SKS. You removed the original factory fixed 10 round magazine and these were removable. Some file and fitting needed.

They did work though.

My only other experience with their stuff was when someone brought me a Colt Series 70 1911 that the magazine would not go into. Just about everything I saw from USA Magazine was junk and not even close to specification. Literally worthless junk with the exception of those SKS mags. They actually worked. When your stuff is junk word travels fast and as mentioned, they likely just folded under.

Ron

seanc · March 15, 2021, 10:39 AM

Quote:

When your stuff is junk word travels fast and as mentioned, they likely just folded under.

And yet, somehow, ProMag keeps going and going...hate those guys!

**4V50 Gary** · March 20, 2021, 03:39 PM

I'll take pro-mag over USA.

BTW, Ruger never "made" big (10, 20 and 30 rd) magazines for their Mini-14. They only made 5 rounders and subcontacted out the bigger magazines. I never learned who made them for Ruger.

**JohnKSa** · March 20, 2021, 05:50 PM

I don't know who made the mags for Ruger or if Ruger made them, but they did stock them. They listed Ruger part numbers for them in the owner's manuals.

It's just that while Bill Ruger Sr. was running the company he wouldn't allow them to be sold to anyone other than military or law enforcement.

DMK · March 20, 2021, 08:06 PM

I still have two USA Mag "Franken Mags" for my 7.62x39 AR15 and I will never sell them. They are basically the bottom of an AK mag welded to the top of an AR15 mag.

They look hideous, but the darned things have worked flawlessly for years. In fact they are the only mags that have ever been 100% reliable in that gun. Go figure.

February 25, 2021, 05:01 PM	#1
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 430	Whatever happened to "U.S.A. Magazine" company-the company notorious for terrible stamped mags? I've run across several New Old Stock U.S.A. Magazine mags over the last few years. Looks like they either rebranded imported magazines or produced their own terrible quality magazines. Did they turn into Pro Mag?

February 27, 2021, 01:00 AM	#3
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,986	I remember those! I had a Mini-14 years and years ago and had a USA mag for it. I think I eventually threw it away. After the AWB expired, my days of buying aftermarket mags were pretty much over. I will buy MecGar mags for a few handguns, but generally speaking, these days I buy factory mags nearly exclusively. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

March 2, 2021, 02:37 PM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	I remember USA mags. They were around in the early '90s. With any bit of luck, the free market allowed them to mercifully fold under. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

March 20, 2021, 03:39 PM	#9
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	I'll take pro-mag over USA. BTW, Ruger never "made" big (10, 20 and 30 rd) magazines for their Mini-14. They only made 5 rounders and subcontacted out the bigger magazines. I never learned who made them for Ruger. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

March 20, 2021, 05:50 PM	#10
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,986	I don't know who made the mags for Ruger or if Ruger made them, but they did stock them. They listed Ruger part numbers for them in the owner's manuals. It's just that while Bill Ruger Sr. was running the company he wouldn't allow them to be sold to anyone other than military or law enforcement. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

February 26, 2021, 06:19 PM	#2
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,767	Pro mag and USA mag ran their own companies back in the day. Pro Mag's were just good enough to survive. I have no idea what happened to USA mag but they may have just changed the name. There are no name mags that show up all the time at shows. If those old mags fit the mag well, lock in and feed you are lucky!

February 27, 2021, 01:41 AM	#4
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 430	+1 on Mec Gar. They are the OEM manufacturer for many companies.

February 27, 2021, 06:32 AM	#5
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,198	I bought several Pro-Mags for an M&P 9 2.0 full size; they ran fine. I actually had bought them in the hope that they would choke (malfunction drill practice). So, in a way, for the intended purpose for which I bought them, they failed =D.

March 14, 2021, 10:34 PM	#7
Reloadron Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2016 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Suburbs Posts: 1,750	Still have a few 30 round from the early 90s that were for a SKS. You removed the original factory fixed 10 round magazine and these were removable. Some file and fitting needed. They did work though. My only other experience with their stuff was when someone brought me a Colt Series 70 1911 that the magazine would not go into. Just about everything I saw from USA Magazine was junk and not even close to specification. Literally worthless junk with the exception of those SKS mags. They actually worked. When your stuff is junk word travels fast and as mentioned, they likely just folded under. Ron