Magpul Gen2 or Gen 3?

[Chris623]

I'm looking to purchase my first AR. I've just been made aware there are both Gen 2 and Gen 3 mags for sale. Is the Gen 3 all that much better than the Gen 2? There are some pretty good deals on Gen 2's in 10 quantities.

Newbie needs to know!

 

[OGDOUBLEJ]

I'm looking to purchase my first AR. I've just been made aware there are both Gen 2 and Gen 3 mags for sale. Is the Gen 3 all that much better than the Gen 2? There are some pretty good deals on Gen 2's in 10 quantities.



Newbie needs to know!

I could be wrong, but I believe the difference is the 3 has the witness window, so you can see how many rounds are loaded/left.


Edit: they’re all good god mags though. I do know that.
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[cyphertext]

I could be wrong, but I believe the difference is the 3 has the witness window, so you can see how many rounds are loaded/left.

Good guess, but nope! Both Gen 2 and Gen 3 are available with windows.

The Gen 3 are stronger, come with the dust cap, have an over-insertion tab, the floorplate is a little narrower, the follower is different, and they have the dot matrix area for marking magazines. The Gen 3 are also made to be compatible with all AR-Patterned rifles, where the Gen 2 had issues with the HK rifles.

If you can get the Gen 2 magazines for under $10 each, they are a bargain. I don't have any Gen 3, and I don't feel that I am missing out on a thing.

 

[Mack]

The Gen 3 follower feeds M855A1 better and come in the cool MCB color and are the only mags approved by the USMC for combat use.

 

[hdrolling]

All gen II's for my 5.56 rifles, never had an issue or need to buy the more expensive gen III's.

 

[67whaler]

Good guess, but nope! Both Gen 2 and Gen 3 are available with windows.

The Gen 3 are stronger, come with the dust cap, have an over-insertion tab, the floorplate is a little narrower, the follower is different, and they have the dot matrix area for marking magazines. The Gen 3 are also made to be compatible with all AR-Patterned rifles, where the Gen 2 had issues with the HK rifles.

If you can get the Gen 2 magazines for under $10 each, they are a bargain. I don't have any Gen 3, and I don't feel that I am missing out on a thing.

^^^^
This. Gen 3 is all about the HK rifles. If you own a common AR gen 2 is reliable and generally cheaper. I have many and they are extremely reliable. Buy a bunch of them!!!

 

[nocents]

the "over insertion tab" on the gen 3's made them uncompatible with some mag wells....mine is one of them...but a rotary tool can make quick work of the tab

 

[hdwhit]

Chris 623 wrote:
I've just been made aware there are both Gen 2 and Gen 3 mags for sale.

Just to make sure we're all on the same page here; S&W supplies the M&P 15 with a polymer magazine made by a company called MagPul that is known as a "P-Mag". There are indeed Generation 2 and 3 P-Mags and both will work well.

But Mag-Pul magazines don't have to be used in S&W rifles and pretty much any other magazine will work equally well.

P-Mags are a quality product and have a loyal following.

I personally do not use polymer magazines. If you want to know why, PM me. I use aluminum magazines as well as blackened stainless steel. I have yet to find a magazine that does not function well in my M&P-15.

 

[Moe Mentum]

All of my mags are Gen II , never had an issue with any of them.

 

[apollo99]

Like Mack said the gen3 mags have a different follower that allows them to feed the M855a1 rounds better, it has a different angle so the exposed sharp tip of the bullet doesn't destroy the M-4 feed ramp. I only use my gen3 mags with the newer M855a1 bullets

 

[Telecaster]

I bought some with the window, whatever generation that is. I never even look at the window. They all work.

 

[blues7]

My M&P15 TS came with Gen 2's so that is what I've always purchased.
I've never had any cause to regret that choice.

 

[just plain joe]

If you look up "quality" in the dictionary, there is a picture of a Magpul magazine there. It is synonymous with quality. My fellow officers and myself have many thousands of rounds down-range with the Magpul mags. No problems with ANY of the generations of their mags. Most of the malfunctions we did encounter with the AR-15 platform were magazine related. This occurred with officers purchased magazines that were "just as good as" P-Mags or Tango Down ARC mags. When we went to Magpul & TangoDown, we experienced none. In LE we call that a "clue". There may be other makers of quality magazines, but I can only speak for the aforementioned two as I have experience with them.

I prefer the plastic mags as opposed to the metal mags. The reason for this is that it is easy to determine when a plastic mag is no longer serviceable. It is when you observe a "crack" on or near the feed lips. It is then that you know it is time for "hammer-therapy". With metal mags, the lips may spread resulting in a "double-feed". This gradual widening of the lips may not always be apparent to the naked eye.

I'm not a SME in this area, but am speaking from experience and trying to stay in my lane and off the sidewalk.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[KSDeputy]

All of mine are Generation 3, no window. I have 30 and 20 round, and have had no problems at all.