Looking for a "short" 5rd AR magazine

B

BAM-BAM

Member
Silver Supporter
Joined
Oct 14, 2005
Messages
15,189
Reaction score
20,602
Location
A Burb of the Burgh
well I visited the dark side yesterday...... bought a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 5.56/223 that uses AR magazines. It came with a Magpul 10 rd AR mag.

I know there are several manufacturers that make 5 rd mags for hunting by blocking a 10 rd mag body.....

But I'd like to find a "super short" 5rd mag.that would be close to flush fit.

Any help ???????
 
I’ve never seen one. I use the Magpul 10 round mags when shooting from the bench. They are the only option I know about, but there may be something out there I’m missing.

Let us know how it goes with the new rifle. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying one in 7.62x39 but I too don’t care much for detachable magazines hanging out to bottom of a bolt-action rifle. :rolleyes:
 
I like the "cheap" AR magazine option......... I also have a Mini 14 which usually has a factory 10 round magazine in it. AR mags are about $11-15 while proprietary Ruger magazines tend to run $30 and up.

My "what size magazine" philosophy is..................

30 rd magazines are for combat or TEOTWAWKI

20 rd mags for SHTF.................................. and

flush (or close) fit magazines for 99.999% of my needs
 
Last edited:
M29since14 said:
Let us know how it goes with the new rifle. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying one in 7.62x39 but I too don’t care much for detachable magazines hanging out to bottom of a bolt-action rifle. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I am also interested in hearing "how it goes with the new rifle" as I am also interested in one (was just talking to the owner of one of my LGS yesterday about them) as I would like one in .308.

I totally understand the idea for using the AR mags, but I can't say I've ever seen a true, short 5 rd mag for them.

It's a shame they don't have one that takes the Mini-14 mags, as we know there are plenty of the short, 5 rd mags available for them. ;)

Wish you the best of luck with your new rifle!

Congrats!
 
I dropped Magpul an email...... if these rifles catch on; and the RAR seem to be hitting a sweet spot in the market.....there could be a good market for a 'Short 5 or 6rd AR magazine.

Magpul currently is making the 10 round 5.56 mags for Ruger and several other ''short" (height 3.4-3.9") 5rd mags for other bolt action calibers.
 
Oh okay. I misunderstood.

I could have sworn that at one time Colt was shipping the 6551 with 5 round aluminum mags. The upper portion was plastic but the body was USGI aluminum.

Maybe I'm thinking of the 10 rounders?
 
rwt1405 said:
I am also interested in hearing "how it goes with the new rifle" as I am also interested in one (was just talking to the owner of one of my LGS yesterday about them) as I would like one in .308.


Wish you the best of luck with your new rifle!

Congrats!
Click to expand...

Well did a quick trip to the range........ I mounted a 1-4x20 Leupold scope and added a extra flash-hider I had as a thread protector (added about an inch to the guns OAL but looks much better IMO but not to Tacticooool). My goal today was to get the gun/scope combo on paper.

FWIW with .223/5.56 I use an initial sight in/zero at 25yds. . Which in theory should keeps all the bullets within 6inch circle (+3 to-3") out to about 300 yds.

Anyway the Ruger Ranch Rifle.

First 2 shots (off a bag) were overlapping at 25yds...... walk it into a 25yd zero with the next 5 two shot groups...... of the 5 two shot groups I had 2 more one hole groups..........

I moved the target out to 50yds ( I was shooting in a "50yd pistol bay)...... first 2 shots were .36 center to center...... fired another two to shot group .... the 4 shot ''grouping" was .59 center to center.

For the record; I was using .55gr. Winchester white box and was shooting at a B-27 Target. Sighting in I had a 2" red dot over the X.

The last 4 shots were head shots on 4X with no firm/consistent point of aim on the target.

I think I'm going to like this handy little rifle.... today it made me :D


and got a couple nice compliments from other shooters.
 
Last edited:
Telecaster said:
A Mini14 that takes AR mags would sell so well Ruger wouldn’t keep up with demand.
Click to expand...


Who knows what the future holds......

What did Lesb call it in another thread .........the "American AK"

Ruger now has the .223/5.56 Ranch rifle that uses AR mags and the 9mm Patrol carbine can be set up with Glock mags!!!!

To be honest I really like my 16 inch, "NRA" Mini-14 w/ factory 10 rd magazines and a little 1-3x20 Weaver scope..... low profile .... not tacticoool and 10 rounds of soft point .223.....2 more than the M-1 Grand......backed up with a couple of 20rd mags!!!!
 
Last edited:
BAM-BAM said:
well I visited the dark side yesterday...... bought a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 5.56/223 that uses AR magazines. It came with a Magpul 10 rd AR mag.

I know there are several manufacturers that make 5 rd mags for hunting by blocking a 10 rd mag body.....

But I'd like to find a "super short" 5rd mag.that would be close to flush fit.

Any help ???????
Click to expand...

Can't get too short, with mag catch and spring
requirements.

ASC is probably as 'short' as you'll find.
 
I can try and find them later but I bought a couple of 5 round mags a couple of years ago that had a base plate that was extended to make it more or a 10 round length. I just sawed the extra off and then sanded it smooth. I made them for my Mossberg.
 
Telecaster said:
A Mini14 that takes AR mags would sell so well Ruger wouldn’t keep up with demand.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the straight insert of the AR mags compared to the rocking insert of the Mini 14 might make the concept problematical.

Here an assault rifle is called a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA) and is restricted to 7 rounds center Fire (15 rimfire). Originally the definition was a magazine that held, or appeared to hold more than 7 rounds, but with the rise in popularity of “sporting style AR’s” (no bayoneted lugs/flash suppressor, telescoping/folding stock and a non free standing pistol grip) they had to change the definition. It is now “holds no more than 7 rounds of centerfire ammunition and the magazine appears to hold no more than 10 rounds” because no-one here can find a 5 or 7 round AR mag that is not a blocked 10 rounder.

Best of luck in your search for a flush mounted mag and lots of fun with your new rifle.

My Mini 14 came with one 5 round mag. I also have two 20 round mags and a 30 round one. It is registered on my MSSA endorsement (my brother only holds a sporting rifle license so his is restricted to the 5 round mags), and I fitted it to a pistol grip stock. I also,removed the scope and just use the factory peep sight and post.

Almost as much fun as my new 15-22.
 
As I've thought about it as I've followed this/my thread.....

I do find it strange that Ruger didn't use the 5.56 Mini-14 magazines on this bolt rifle.... as they did with the 7.62x39 version which does use Mini-30 mags.

Then you would have factory 5,10 and 20 round mags .

Edit: the Ruger 10 round Mini-14 mag is 2.8 inches tall the Magpul 10 rd AR mag is 3.7 inches.
 
Last edited:
Can't believe I'm saying this but Pro Mag makes a "flush fit " 5 round AR magazine..... so I measured a mag well and it should be about 2.75 inches tall or about an inch shorter than the Magpul.


Normally I wouldn't touch a Pro Mag..... but this is a Bolt gun so I'll risk $18 +shipping.

Found one 5 star review....used his a a bench mag for his and son's DPMS,M&P and Bushmaster ARs.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

snubbyfan
AR-15 Magazine Capacity in Maryland
2
Replies
23
Views
870
SnidelyWhiplash
S
R
Mec-Gar metal magazine for Glock
Replies
12
Views
193
Puller
Puller
ralph7
Magazine preference
Replies
18
Views
645
H Richard
H Richard
SAFireman
Question for the Colt AR guys
Replies
16
Views
712
BB57
BB57
jimmyj
PI AR-10 .308 Rifle.
Replies
9
Views
601
LVSteve
LVSteve

Latest posts

Back
Top