M&P 15 magazines

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C-Products makes the 30 rnd magazines for S&W for the M&P15R (5.45x39 variant). I have a bunch of them, mostly bought directly from C-Products. The first group I got had some issues with dropping out of the gun, but CP replaced them without any hassle and they've been trouble free since. CP makes bazzilions of AR magazines - I've got a bunch of their 5.56 30 rounders for my Del-Ton 20" build that work just fine.
 
Personally, I'd stick with P-Mags (Magpul).

Free shipping makes the prices more competitive and they are the benchmark for non metallic mags.

AR15 Magazines
 
Personally; I have tried most magazines in question. Your best, most reliable, and least expensive route is as follows.

1. Buy real USGI 30 round magazines for about $5 each. They are available everywhere.
2. Spend $1.50-$2.00 each for Magpul Generation III followers.
3. Replace the followers in the USGI mag with the Gen III followers.
4. For $6.50 - $7.00; you now have about the best magazine you can ask for.

A magazine that is USGI mil-spec (For all you mil-spec people). That fit's properly in all mag-wells. Can drop and take a licking. Has the 3rd generation follower that is anti-tilt and will feed perfectly each time. (Same follower that's in a PMag). And, you didn't have to pay $15 each for them.

The reason I don't go with ANY metal magazines OTHER THAN USGI, isn't for the "Mil-Spec" thing. It's simply physics. The USGI magazines are thicker metal. Better, worse, same, etc... isn't important. What's important is that they FIT in the AR rifles better. They aren't as loose fitting. The thinner metal of some magazines could be stronger and better metal for all I know. But when you get away from THICKNESS, you change the way it fits, and thus the way it feeds ammo.

Not saying that any of these other magazines are a bad choice. Simply that for $5, you can get original USGI magazines. And for an extra $1.50-$2.00, you can replace the follower and have a magazine that is just as good or better than ANY other magazine you can possibly buy. Since I did that to about 20 of my USGI magazines, I haven't had one feeding issue in any AR or even in my Saiga .223 that I adapted to take AR magazines. I shoot brass and steel case in all 3 of my .223 rifles with these magazines. NOT ONE FEEDING ISSUE. And for $6.50 a piece, you can not buy anything better. In my opinion; EVEN PMags.
 
Where are you finding these (USGI) mags for 5 dollars each? Nothing that cheap comes up in a search. Love to try those.
 
$5 is kind of steep actually. I get a lot for $0 a piece whenever the arms room has too many and needs to get rid of some cases. :D

Asking if anyone has used C products magazines in an AR is like asking if anyone has ever used Bridgestone tires on a car. :D There was another thread recently about magazines with a lot of BS in it. I don't feel like rehashing that and dealing with some idiot that watched a Youtube video or heard so and so from his pimple-faced friend trying to argue. Just buy whatever you feel comfortable with, whether it's an old USGI with half the finish wore off or the latest and greatest plastic wonder. They will all feed rounds into your rifle.
 
Granted, $5 is something you have to look for. Sales, gunbroker, forums, etc... But there are some that are close; but because THEY ALREADY put in the new magpul followers, they are a little more money. e.g
$10 (already has new followers) AR-15 Magazine, USGI 30 Round, Grey Teflon D&H body with Magpul A - AR-15 Magazines

$6.95 (Still has original followers) U.S.G.I. AR15 / M16 30 Rd Aluminum Magazine Post 94 Dated Used Surplus. These are well used mags from various manufacturers like Center Industries, Labelle, and Sanchez with black or green followers (no choice).

$6.99 (Still has original followers) https://mainemilitary.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=171&idproduct=3070

These are a few, but should get you started. I've bought from WEAPONSWORLD before. (2nd link) Excellent company. Those are GUARANTEED USGI Surplus magazines. Hope this helps. But definitely keep your eye out for them locally; gun stores; gun shows; etc... There's a lot of surplus mags out there. And with a simple follower replacement, you'll have some excellent magazines.
 
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For GI Mags I like these for $9.99 from Bravo Co. (they also already have the Magpul follower):
AR-15 Magazines

I also like pMags. Those and the GI mags listed above seem to be what I collect, and I've yet to have a failure from any of them.
 
I have used C-Products mags in different AR rifles with no problems. My Department tested them and made them the issue mags for patrol. They are stainless steel and are tough as nails. I prefer these and Pmags over the USGI mags but this is a personal choice.
 
I got a few Brownells 30 rounders... Been usin them the last couple days with no problems.
182711_10150402286620307_528850306_16867241_359795_n.jpg
 
christcorp said:
Your best, most reliable, and least expensive route is as follows.

1. Buy real USGI 30 round magazines for about $5 each. They are available everywhere.
2. Spend $1.50-$2.00 each for Magpul Generation III followers.
3. Replace the followers in the USGI mag with the Gen III followers.
4. For $6.50 - $7.00; you now have about the best magazine you can ask for.
Click to expand...
I have been meaning to try Magpul followers for a long time now, and seeing this thread a while back reminded me of it. I needed a project yesterday so I stopped by a LGS and bought a pack of Gen 3 followers. I pulled out the magazines I keep on my body armor, all are standard aluminum GI. They have untold number of rounds through them and have been banged up, hit, dropped, and smashed through two deployments to Iraq with no maintenance.

I stripped and cleaned each one. Some were very, very dirty inside and had obviously been used for blanks a time or ten. All had green followers with the exception of one black follower. Probably each magazine has given me at least one bolt-over-base malfunction at some point from the followers tilting and sticking during feeding. I replaced all the followers with Magpul ones, loaded them up, and took them to the range to shoot.

Each magazine performed without a hitch. Of course I am somewhat limited in the amount of ammo I have to test, since I'm paying the bill not Uncle Sam. But I have confidence in each magazine and they will be tested some more soon on another deployment. I have more followers on the way from Midway so that I can do all of my magazines.

I think the USGI mag with a Magpul Gen 3 follower is near the top of the list for best AR mag.
 
I do have a few magazines however which I hold in higher regard than any of my other magazines, only because of the name. The old Rampant Colt is second to none in coolness factor, even though AR technology has moved on somewhat from 20 round issue magazines and non-leveling aluminum followers. These are no longer in my rotation and have been moved to a bin for safe keeping.

coltmagazines_small.jpg
 
gsxunv04 said:
Where do you get them for $5/each? Got a link?
Click to expand...

Read the entire thread

EDIT: 2 of the links are out of stock. I haven't had to buy any now for a few months. If I find more links, I'll post them. They really are out there. Just have to know how to use google properly.
 
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I've got about 200 of the old GI 30 rounders also, they have always worked for me.

Something else though for mags that I ran into was the SigArms 5.56 mags. Didn't realize the SigArms used the plactic mags. I picked up 25 of these 30 rounders used at a local gun shop "bargan" table for $3.00 each. They are similiar to the P-Mags. I also have some P-Mags.

Oh, a little trick for the GI mags to make them reliable :) - disassemble mag, let all parts soak in the weapon shield for about two minutes, wipe down, re-assemble and your good to go > http://www.steelshieldtech.com/mainpage/retail-product-weapon-shield.html - I have fired thousands of rounds using the GI mags after the weapon shield treatment and not had a single malfunction due to a mag.
 
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For 20 round magazines; which I find very convenient at the range for leaning across a table; as well as for home defense; I have absolutely no problems or issues using "Thermold 20 round, Law/Govt use only, 1995-2004" magazines. And online, they can be bought for $3.99-$4.99. I even saw them at Sportsman's Warehouse for $4.99. They are new; old overstock. Made back when the federal automatic weapons ban was in place starting 1994.

I'm not here to debate this. I'm simply saying, that I've yet to find anyone who had a problem using them. Again; as long as they are the 20 rounder; NOT the 30 rounder; and they are the ones made for Law/Govt use only and dated 95-04. Here's a link to 2 very reputable online places. I'm not the biggest fan of plastic mags. NOT EVEN PMAGS. But I've been using these for almost 10 years now. And I've never had 1 issue with them. And 20 rounders are straight body, so I've never had issues with feeding because of tilt. I bought them originally as simply range magazines; for the price. But after many thousands of rounds, and no issues, I feel just as comfortable using them for home defense. Again; the 20 rounders marked LAW/Govt Use Only. 95-2004. And I've never found anyone who had issues with these.

AR-15 .223 20rd Thermold Master Molder Military LE Mag New $3.99
AR-15 Thermold 20rd .223 Mag #MAGAR-THER-20 $4.99
 
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