The Armorer's Report: AR-15 magazines and the P-MAG

When it comes to an AR-15/M-16 and reliability, a lot can be said for having the right magazine. Aluminum United States Government Issue 20 and 30 round magazines are pretty much the norm here in America and are extremely dependable (our troops carry the same ones in Iraq). Over the past 30 years, the U.S. military has contracted a multitude of companies to make magazines for their M-16s. Some well known USGI magazine manufacturers include Parson’s Precision Products, Okay (they make Colt’s mags), Adventureline, Center Industries, D&H (formerly Labelle), Sterling (England) and Simmonds (Universal). The only questionable USGI makers that I have heard of are (DSI)Sanchez and Cooper but the problems are associated with their earlier magazines and newer mags should be just fine. I have also heard that the majority of aftermarket magazines should be avoided at all costs (usually made of blued steel). USGI magazines are both dependable and lightweight and have continuously proven themselves on the battlefields of the 20th and 21st centuries. They can be had for between $7-$20 and I cannot recommend them enough. You should stock up on as many as you can before the Dems get into office.
As reliable as USGI mags are, I can’t help but buy into all the newest AR-15 accessory must-haves. Over the past few months, I kept seeing the name "Pmag" come up while looking at reviews of different 30 round magazines on my favorite AR-15 sites and published literature. The PMAG is a brand new, 30 round polymer magazine manufactured by Magpul Industries, makers of high quality and innovative accessories for the AR-15/M-16 style of rifles and carbines. What Magpul did was take a good product (USGI mag) and make it better. Now, I have always been skeptical of polymer magazines (Israeli Orlites get mixed reviews) especially when aluminum USGI mags are so reliable, plentiful and affordable but these new Pmags were hard to ignore. I kept seeing pictures and video of them being run over repeatedly by fully loaded Chevy Suburbans and getting dropped 15 feet onto concrete and then inserted into M-16s and performing flawlessly. Do ANY of these tests to a USGI mag (or any magazine) and you are left with an inoperable mass of metal. Magpul Industry leaders report of over 200,000 rounds run through ONE Pmag and it is still operational. Magpul also sent a number of their Pmags to our troops in Iraq/Afghanistan who report that the mags work fine in their full auto M249s and M4s and have been fielded in multiple firefights and performed flawlessly. Go to YouTube and type in Pmag if you want to see some AMAZING tests done to them to prove their durability (one Pmag works after being shot clean through by an AK-47, another gets run over by a 30,000 lb bus multiple times and although cracked, still inserts into an AR-15 and functions). Keep in mind that aluminum USGI mags are plenty reliable and should not be overlooked. PMAGs are a relatively new product (they've been out for a year) but so far feedback has been phenomenal. Magpul is also playing it smart and keeping the price of the Pmag on par with USGI mags. I got mine for $14.20 each with free shipping from AIM surplus. Magpul also makes a version with clear viewing windows on both sides of the mag ($17) so you can visually confirm how many rounds remain. I got my two Pmags in the mail last week and so far have been very impressed with their quality/funtioning. I know I’ll buy more. Saheim out.

Black Pmag with snap on dust cover (for storage/transport)