Mags

I've heard that the plastic mags can't be opened/disassembled and cleaned like the metal mags. Is that true or only for certain brands?

Not being able to clean a mag would be a deal breaker for me. Plastic just doesn't seem right for a mag. They can take a lot of abuse getting knocked around and driven into the ground.

Pmags are easily taken apart and put back together. just simply push the button on the bottom and slide the plate off and pull out the spring and follower.. then just slide the plate back on after you put everything back and you're good to go
 
I have both Mission First Tactical, and HexMag polymer mags. Both have easily removeable floorplates to drop the guts and clean them.

Takes less time to take one apart than to type the 2 sentences above.
 
New shooter as well, and live in a state where our limit is 15 rounds per magazine. I went with hexmags because they are easily converted back to full capacity by replacing the spring with a full-size, and removing the plastic insert that restricts capacity. The follower and base plate are exactly the same as the full capacity magazines. I will add that they are extremely easy to take apart and clean.

This way if I go to a neighboring "free" state I can easily convert them back in a matter of seconds.

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I appreciate the feedback that everyone has given me. Sounds like everyone uses the pmags, but those who have the hexmags like them.

One of the reasons I inquired about the hexmags is for things like this
Design Hex Black & Grey Flag - The Tactical Shack

If you're into magazine decals check out patriotskinz.com, they have a decent variety to choose from for both hex and pmags.
 
If you're into magazine decals check out patriotskinz.com, they have a decent variety to choose from for both hex and pmags.

It isn't that I am "into" mag decals, I just like being a little different when I go to the range.
 
Since my other (first) 5.56 eater is an SU-16C, I use USGI or other metal mags, which allow the Kel-Tec's underfolding stock to function. I have polymers of various flavors, just because. :)
 
Not to say you will slide a mag into your rifle at a bit of an angle but, if you do, a steel mag scrapes the magwell and a polymer mag doesn't. I bought 4 brownells metal mags and when empty they rattle like crazy. Kind of like a loose adjustable stock-it doesn't actually hurt anything but is annoying as hell. I am very happy w/ p-mags.
 
WvSig wrote:
Those are good mags but pricey for what you are getting. IMHO

As everyone else - including yourself - has retorted on this site (and others) every time I mention price as a consideration, I will in this case likewise ask you question, what price do you put on your life?

The stainless steel magazines will not rust, corrode or deform under the tension of the spring. They are currently about $14 each from CDNN. CDNN sells PMags for about $10 each. Gander Mountain has PMags for $14 each (no shipping charge, of course, but you do pick up a sales tax). Are you really saying that $4 a magazine is worth betting your life on the "creep" of plastic under constant strain?
 
Not to say you will slide a mag into your rifle at a bit of an angle but, if you do, a steel mag scrapes the magwell and a polymer mag doesn't.

Actually, that's exactly what you're saying.

But what is your point? Neither the C-Products magazines I got from CDNN or the aluminum magazines I got from Palmetto State Armory rattle in the magazine well of either of my ARs.

Even if they did, I doubt they would impact reliablity. The GM-built M-16 I carried in basic training was so sloppy that the upper and lower receivers could be bent to nearly a 45 degree angle and the magazine rattled like a drum, yet I never had a failure on the rifle range.
 
New shooter as well, and live in a state where our limit is 15 rounds per magazine. I went with hexmags because they are easily converted back to full capacity by replacing the spring with a full-size, and removing the plastic insert that restricts capacity.

Okay, so you're admitting you're intentionally violating state law. That makes you a self-confessed criminal. All a zealous prosecutor needs is this post and discovery of the components in your possesion to convict you of a serious crime - a crime that may prohibit you from ever touching a gun again.

This is not joke. It should be cautionary for people who live in states with magazine capacity limits. If you have the components to convert a post-ban magazine to pre-ban capacity, the local prosecutor may allege that mere possesion of these components indicated intent to convert the magazine and thus violate the law. There is plenty of caselaw at both the state and federal level to back up such presumed intent.

Don't violate your state's gun laws.

If you do, have the good sense to not post it on a public forum for everyone to see.
 
Okay, so you're admitting you're intentionally violating state law. That makes you a self-confessed criminal. All a zealous prosecutor needs is this post and discovery of the components in your possesion to convict you of a serious crime - a crime that may prohibit you from ever touching a gun again.

This is not joke. It should be cautionary for people who live in states with magazine capacity limits. If you have the components to convert a post-ban magazine to pre-ban capacity, the local prosecutor may allege that mere possesion of these components indicated intent to convert the magazine and thus violate the law. There is plenty of caselaw at both the state and federal level to back up such presumed intent.

Don't violate your state's gun laws.

If you do, have the good sense to not post it on a public forum for everyone to see.

I do not believe that is what he is saying at all. What he said was that he went with the Hexmag because the Mags are the same size regardless of the capacity. The PMags are different sized for different amount of ammo, which has its benefits just like the Hexmag benefit of being a "catch all". However, the poster was saying that he made the choice because it was easy to convert when traveling to other states. Is it possession of criminal tools...possibly, but I think that it would be a stretch since the sale of conversion kits is not illegal, just the use of the conversion kit. The same thing could be said for cars...there is track legal versus street legal. Track legal is not against the law to own or be in possession of, what is illegal is to use said items on the street. That is like saying that owning a flat head screwdriver is illegal, or those nifty hot/cold bags that you can purchase in the freezer section of your favorite grocery store. You can use a screwdriver to pry open a lock or a door, but if you are not using the item to commit a crime is it illegal to own? The hot/cold bags block the sensors at most department stores (meaning you wont beep as you pass the sensors as you walk out the door) but you can buy them without any hesitation.
 
As everyone else - including yourself - has retorted on this site (and others) every time I mention price as a consideration, I will in this case likewise ask you question, what price do you put on your life?

The stainless steel magazines will not rust, corrode or deform under the tension of the spring. They are currently about $14 each from CDNN. CDNN sells PMags for about $10 each. Gander Mountain has PMags for $14 each (no shipping charge, of course, but you do pick up a sales tax). Are you really saying that $4 a magazine is worth betting your life on the "creep" of plastic under constant strain?

You are foolish to think that the difference in stainless steel C-Mags, PMags or Alum USGI mags will make a difference in a life or death situation. Mags are disposable wear items not lifetime investments.

SS C-mags are good mags. Nothing wrong with them but paying more money for the SS body does not make sense to me because it does not equate to better performance.

Pmags are proven to work. They are proven to last and they are cheaper. I pay about $8 for Gen2s with no covers shipped to my door. I can get USGI D&H mags with Magpul followers for $6.99 shipped. I am not going to get 75% to 100% better performance out of a SS C-mag am I?

I do not believe that the added weight is worth a slight hypothetical uptick in durability. The springs and followers are much more likely to fail me than the body IMHO. This is why I shoot what I shoot and I am willing to bet my life on them. If a mag fails I will hank it out and load another as I have trained myself to do.

Part of my comment was also the fact you are overpaying for C-mags. At $14 CDNN is raping you. You can get the C-mags with the Birdsongs Black T finish for $9.99. At that price if I wants some heavier mags I might consider them.

Your what is your life worth argument is a red herring. Your claims have no foundation in objective fact only hyperbole.
 
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HEXMAG S2 30 rounders inserts, feeds, and removes flawlessly with my M&P15 Sport II. Heard Troy Battle mags ares good, too.
 
Hexmags work just fine, but I find the polymer they are made from a little 'slicker' than the textured finish of the PMAG. Not a big deal unless they get covered in something slippery, we did a drill where the instructor covered our hands in baby oil (sounds weird but a useful experience) before we ran through all of our usual reload / failure simulation drills, and I was glad I had PMAGs with me instead of Hexmag / USGI.

Mentally substitute blood for baby oil. Now it really hits home.

I have some black teflon coated 15 rd mags for bench work. No way could I ever manipulate them with bloody hands.

I have both Mission First Tactical and Hex Mags polymer mags. I think the MFT have better "grip"
 
Mentally substitute blood for baby oil. Now it really hits home.

I have some black teflon coated 15 rd mags for bench work. No way could I ever manipulate them with bloody hands.

I have both Mission First Tactical and Hex Mags polymer mags. I think the MFT have better "grip"

How do Mission First Tactical Mags with regards to insertion, feeding, and removal per the S&W M&P 15 Sport II? Thank you in advance.
 
You are foolish to think that the difference in stainless steel C-Mags, PMags or Alum USGI mags will make a difference in a life or death situation.

I disagree.

Plastic deforms under constant stress. Metal does, too; only less so.

I have 30+ year old steel magazines that were loaded with cartridges for that entire timeframe and still feed reliably. The plastic body magazines I have from the same time are now junk.
 
fyefytr wrote:
I do not believe that is what he is saying at all.

It is literally what he is saying. He said he took pre-ban componentsd and used them to create a magazine that was would be banned under current law. Any prosecutor worth his salt could characterize that as "manufacturing" and thus a violation of the law and admission of a criminal activity.
 
5.56guy wrote:
...trusted by almost everybody.

Over what time period?

If you're keeping your magazines unloaded and you're waiting for Armageddon sometine in the far future, then, yeah, the PMag may be a viable choice. If you keep your magazines loaded (with the spring and magazine body under tension) then my experience over 30+ years is that plastic body magazines are NOT the way to go and will feed less reliably than steel or aluminum magazines.
 
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