P-Mags ?????

[BPowderkeg]

will someone please tell me why "P-Mags" are so great ?

"P" means Plastic right ??

what is wrong with the aluminum mags we all have been using for years ?

[ScottRiqui]

The biggest advantage I can think of is that plastics tend to "bounce back" after being deformed. In other words, if it's not broken, it's probably still the same shape it was when it left the mold. With aluminum, it doesn't take much to bend them out-of-shape, and then reliability starts to suffer.

[bpeezer]

From Magpul's website:

Features
Impact and crush resistant polymer construction
Constant-curve internal geometry for smooth feeding
Anti-tilt, self-lubricating follower for increased reliability
Multi-use Impact/Dust Cover keeps dust and dirt out of the magazine during storage and protects the feedlips from potential hard impact damage during transit
USGI-spec stainless steel spring for corrosion resistance and field compatibility
Textured gripping surface and flared floorplate for positive magazine handling and easy disassembly

If you filter out all the extraneous sales jargon, Scott pretty much said it all. I'm guessing the "P" stands for "Polymer", and I don't have any first hand experience but it seems that they would be lighter weight as well. Not too important for range visits, but I'm sure military personnel appreciate it.

[ScottRiqui]

Yes, the "P" is for "Polymer".

Aside from material considerations, the follower in the PMAG just plain works better than the one in the GI mags. In fact, several other magazine manufacturers use PMAG followers in their products, and you can buy the followers separately to upgrade magazines you already have (including the aluminum GI ones).

[Mrgunsngear]

I can tell you I oversaw logistics for a military unit I was in last year. Our combined arms guys got together with the 'loggy' types and decided our entire brigade had to switch out our followers with the P-Mag version due to some testing that had been done down at the Manuever Center of Excellence.

My guess is that they didn't want to have to go through a new contracting nut-roll in order to buy a bunch of P-mags and the followers were a cheaper, yet still effective, option. I bet the guys on the line that had to change them all out hated that decision!

[Crow Hunter]

I personally don't think they are.

Pros:

-They do have a "no tilt" follower. You can't make the follower tilt and jam like you can on aluminum mags because the follower runs on "rails" in the mag body. I think it is a gimmick myself.

An interesting fact about that. The Magpul .308 mags don't have this feature....

-You can run over them with a truck and still shoot them if that is important in your daily life.

-The little dust over can be snapped onto the base and is actually very useful for unloading magazines. (The only reason I kept 1 out of the 100 that I bought)

-They supposedly have a continuous feed curve instead of having a straight to curved transition point that aluminum mags do. I don't know this for sure, I have never cut one in half to measure it.

-They don't make a noticable rattle if you jump up and down in a chest harness like aluminum mags do.

-They look cool and can be color coordinated with your Mag-pul furniture. (There are some people that really worry about this)

Cons from my exerience:

-Some problems with colors other than black. I didn't have issues (I had OD) but I know some guys that had some crack in FDE.

-Designed to fit the M-16 magwell not a STANAG magwell. Won't fit in other guns that have a STANAG well that will run Aluminum. Like HK 416, FN SCAR, FS 2000, etc.

-Can cause damage in FN SCAR by causing the bolt stop to ride on the bottom of the carrier unless you modify them. (My brother runs a SCAR alot and we share mags when shooting)

-Won't fit in a pouch made for 2 aluminum mags easily. Too tight and when you try to pull one mag out, sometimes 2 come out instead.

-I am alway suspicious of the "next new thing" and alot of the PMAG info sounded suspiciously like the stuff that was said about the HK "High reliability" mags when they 1st came out. They didn't really live up to the hype either.

-I just didn't like them for some reason and I have never had an issue with aluminum mags, even old pre-ban black follower mags.

Of course, YMMV.

Didn't you get PMags when you bought your LWRC's? I thought they shipped with them standard.

[kalstrand]

I was on Magpul's web site just the other day and they are about to release a new revision of the pmag that supposedly addresses a couple of Crow Hunters cons. They claim they will work in most of the guns he had listed with STANAG magwell as well as fit in 2 mag pouches.

I don't think they are neccessarily better than an aluminium mag. I think the reason they have the reputation they do is that they are all good. There are so many more makers of aluminum mags some of which make junk. There are also so many aluminum mags that are worn out, have been damaged, or are still using the problematic followers.

Just like anything else you see the people who complain not the ones who don't so it skews the results and makes the aluminum mags reputation look worse than it really is.

[Ridge_Runner_5]

They are also a bit longer, which allows to have a fully loaded 30rd mag locked in place on a closed bolt easier, as opposed to having to jam it in with aluminum mags.

[Achilles11B]

I find that they seat better in the mag well than aluminum GI mags. The anti-tilt follower is nice as well. That they are a tight fit in mag pouches is the one con I can agree on.

[Jo6pak]

I use them because they work, and they are pretty cheap.

Some use them just becuase they say "MagPul"

[CTS]

I keep hearing people say that the Pmags are fairly cheap. Compared to what? Can anyone tell me what are the most expensive AR15 mags? I personally don't see them as cheap compared to the D&H Industries mags with magpul followers for about $9 each.

[ritepath]

For me it's nice not to be sliding against metal into my lowers...the fact they're cheap and reliable is also a nice plus.

[insomni]

They're affordable, light, durable as hell, and reliable. Yah yah, cant trust plastic, etc etc. number of magazine failures i've encountered in harsh conditions with my pmags:1 (straight up broke. Split down the spine from a HARD impact, it dropped 5 rounds, and then fed the remaining 25 no problems). The other 12 ive owned have been flawless. Magazine failures experienced with aluminum mags on ranges AND harsh conditions: stopped counting years ago.

Probably one of the biggest things I like about the pmags is,they're REALLY easy to take apart, maintain, and reassemble. Mag maintenence is a snap with them. Springs are easy to inspect and return to appropriate length, floorplate is easy to remove. That right there helps immensely with reducing magazine caused stoppages, simply because it's not a complete pain in the can to keep them in working order.

I prefer them.

If you're really hellbent on the aluminum mags, I.d say toss some selfleveling followers into em, they'll greatly reduce the number of problems with the mags

[ScottRiqui]

I keep hearing people say that the Pmags are fairly cheap. Compared to what? Can anyone tell me what are the most expensive AR15 mags? I personally don't see them as cheap compared to the D&H Industries mags with magpul followers for about $9 each.

I've seen National-brand 30-rounders for about $40, which makes PMAGs look really inexpensive. While there are cheaper brands, I can't get too concerned about $13 for a PMAG. Load one with factory ammo twice, and you've already spent significantly more on the ammo than you did on the magazine.

[Hansam]

PMags are NOT cheap compared to other options such as standard GI mags.

That said I ONLY use PMags in my ARs. Here's why:

1. No-tilt follower - this is NOT a gimmick and actually works. I have had 100% feed functionality with my PMags over the course of 40k rounds.

2. Its true that PMags are designed to fit into an M16 magwell and not a STANAG magwell but just a bit of going over with a fine grit sandpaper will fix that and does NOT in any way negatively impact performance or durability.

3. I've NEVER had to "tap" a PMag to seat the ammo back in the mag so it would feed properly like many GI mags and other designs again over the course of 40k rounds.

4. The snap on dust covers are a nicety that helps keep your mags clean when awaiting emptying via your trigger finger.

5. Their durability is unmatched by standard GI mags and for that matter many other mags.

6. While the cost of the PMag is greater than a standard GI mag the additional cost is worthwhile in my mind to know that if I have to grab a mag and slap it into my carbine it'll feed properly without having to tap it or futz with it in order to make it work.

7. PMags are NOT a new gimmick. They've been around for some time and the military seems to think quite highly of them.

Now about the 308 PMags not having the anti-tilt followers - that is untrue. I have a DPMS LR-308 and a dozen 20rd PMags for it and every one of them has an anti-tilt follower.

Now all that said are they cheaper than a GI mag? No. Are they cheaper than many other polymer mags out there? No. Are they simply more reliable and durable than most other mags out there? In my experience yes. Is it worth the extra cost? Well that's up for you to decide. I decided yes but YMMV.

Oh and I could care less if it was a Magpul, Colt, Tapco etc. If it does everything the PMags did I'd use them if they cost less. In my humble opinion a cheaper option that fulfills all that the PMag does doesn't exist.

[ScottRiqui]

4. The snap on dust covers are a nicety that helps keep your mags clean when awaiting emptying via your trigger finger.

Also, those "dust covers" press the loaded rounds down into the magazine slightly, so that the column of ammo isn't pressing upward on the feed lips the whole time the magazine's sitting there waiting to be used. Leaving some mags fully-loaded for long periods of time can spread the feed lips slightly, causing double-feeding issues.

[CDW4ME]

If a Pmag is kept loaded but inserted into rifle would this alleviate the possibility of feed lips spreading? (I think it would)

[madcratebuilder]

Originally Posted by slappy

I keep hearing people say that the Pmags are fairly cheap. Compared to what? Can anyone tell me what are the most expensive AR15 mags? I personally don't see them as cheap compared to the D&H Industries mags with magpul followers for about $9 each.

+1

Pmags are fine and I think most AR guys own at least a few. The ones I have are OK but I prefer a GI mag. The D&H from 44mag.com is a bargain. Cheap enough to use just for ammo storage.

[ScottRiqui]

If a Pmag is kept loaded but inserted into rifle would this alleviate the possibility of feed lips spreading? (I think it would)

Yes, as long as the rifle's bolt is forward when you insert the magazine.

[Palmetto-Pride]

I shoot my AR pretty regularly and I have never had a jam with P-Mags I can't say that for some aluminum mags I have. I think for some reason its becoming uncool to like Magpul nowadays, if you have any thing on your AR that says Magpul on it you are a "Mall Ninja" to some.....lol Whatever I guess I am a "Mall Ninja" with a gun that doesn't jam and dam proud of it.

[BPowderkeg]

Polymer/Plastic.., all the same to me, i bought 6 of them in a special offer shortly after they were released for sale, the dust cover on one of them broke, another one got a chip sheared off the right feed lip upon first firing, i "Super Glued" it back on, it survived it's first firing after repair. 5 of them are now fully loaded with Lake City 5.56mm NATO rounds, for "emergency only", the sixth one is waiting for a dust cover.

i rarely ever use 30 round mags, aluminum or plastic, i would gladly trade every one of them (28, 12 of which are new in the box Colt 30's) for 20 round Colt AR-15 mags, my favorite mags are 20 round Colt mags, which i only have 150 !! want more !!

i do want to thank all of you for your replies in defense of "P"lastic mags, you all make a good argument for them..., i am just an old school aluminum mags aficionado

[CTS]

I think for some reason its becoming uncool to like Magpul nowadays, if you have any thing on your AR that says Magpul on it you are a "Mall Ninja" to some....

That may be true for some, I don't feel that way at all. I have Magpul hand guards and pistol grip on my carbine. I have been using GI mags since I was 17 years old (35 years) and that is what I am used to. I don't recall ever having any major problems caused by a GI mag. Now that they have the anti tilt followers they are even better. If someone prefers the plastic mags that is entirely up to them. If I try one out I may feel the same way, might fall in love with them and toss all my GI mags, who knows.

[Ridge_Runner_5]

They're good enough for the Brits.

[Jo6pak]

The biggest improvement for me is the texture of the plastic gives a better grip when reloading. This is especially noticable in cold, wet conditions when your gloves are soaked adn your fingers are going numb.

I have 5 Pmags, and a dozen or so GI aluminum mags. I'm not gonna run out and buy MagPul underoos, but the fact remains that, for the most part, they make good products.

[Crow Hunter]

Now about the 308 PMags not having the anti-tilt followers - that is untrue. I have a DPMS LR-308 and a dozen 20rd PMags for it and every one of them has an anti-tilt follower.

Maybe they have changed something in the last 12 months but the 20 that I bought in preparation for the LMT MWS that I never bought did NOT have them.

If you pushed down on the front or back of the follower, it would lock the follower in place.

From Justin Beard, Magpul Employee.

The geometries of the 7.62x51 cartridge and of this magazine pattern (SR25/M110) are different from the 5.56x45 M16 pattern, and don't require an anti-tilt follower. While in theory we could build one, the internal dimensions of the PMAG 20LR are large enough that the length of the mag would have to be increased dramatically to fit the necessarily longer legs of an anti-tilt follower (as noted by Brahmzy above).

I have never seen it happen on an in spec aluminum mag with even just the green follower, unless I tested it exactly as I did above with the LR-20.

I still think it is a gimmick.