My ProMag 17 rd magazine self destructed during match.

AwfAxis

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I just got a pair of ProMag 17 rd magazines to back-up my 2 S&W mags that came with my new 9L CORE.

During a steel competition this afternoon (9th set), I fire my first 2 rounds, and the bottom drops out. The pad goes flying into my ankle, then 15 bullets and the slinky hit the ground. I thought I shot my foot.

I'm kind of new at all this, so I have no idea what happened. Rules say you cannot pick up anything, and the shell of the magazine will not drop out. My opponent is still firing on my right.

The RO behind me tells me lock the slide open, and pull the magazine shell out of the grip.

By this time, the other guy hits stop plate, and its all over.

Is this something that happens with the S&W's too? It was only the 2nd set of rounds through the ProMags. Up till this time, the S&W's ran about 7 sets no problem.
 
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My ProMag 17 rd magazine self destructed during match.

TA-DA! ProMag is junk. There's a reason why they're selling for $26.99 a piece when the real mags are going for over a C-note a copy.

Next time you see one of the many "M&P 17RD MAGAZINES AVAILABLE HURRY!" threads that pop up on here every day, IGNORE IT!
 
My ProMag 17 rd magazine self destructed during match.

TA-DA! ProMag is junk. There's a reason why they're selling for $26.99 a piece when the real mags are going for over a C-note a copy.

Next time you see one of the many "M&P 17RD MAGAZINES AVAILABLE HURRY!" threads that pop up on here every day, IGNORE IT!

One of those threads were for factory mags, so I wouldn't say ignore it.

To the OP, Can you see any defect on the base pad or locking plate? I know the S&W internals can be used in the body and have read that the plastic on the ProMags is a little thin. Speed Shooters Specialties sells the factory internals quite cheap if you want to salvage it.
 
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I found 4 S&W 17rd magazines on GB for $75 ea. Shame to have to pay so much, but I guess under the circumstances, its a good deal. Most the other vendors are wanting near $100 ea.

Dave
 
I found 4 S&W 17rd magazines on GB for $75 ea. Shame to have to pay so much, but I guess under the circumstances, its a good deal. Most the other vendors are wanting near $100 ea.

Dave

There is a member of this forum that has been selling 17 rounders for $61, not sure if he still has any but I'd feel more comfortable buying one for $14 cheaper from a member. http://smith-wessonforum.com/accessories-misc-sale-trade/321243-mp9-17-round-magazines-new.html

I still think $61 is expensive. I bought one from GB a couple of weeks ago for $50 and that was hard to swallow. But I needed 1 more for competition so I forced myself.
 
Is this something that happens with the S&W's too?

NO! The MEC GAR magazines made in Italy for S&W M&P are rock solid. MEC GAR makes the OEM magazines for several of the top pistol brands in the world.
That's also part of the reason S&W can't just double production for the shortage: MEC GAR has other contracts to meet, too.
 
I found 4 S&W 17rd magazines on GB for $75 ea. Shame to have to pay so much, but I guess under the circumstances, its a good deal. Most the other vendors are wanting near $100 ea.

Dave

Ouch! For three times the price they should come pre-loaded with high quality ammo.

I wonder when S&W will start realizing that M&Ps are flooding the shelves and they should start sending mags out instead so customers aren't scrounging for mags, over paying or going with other gun manufactures.

Seems MecGar can pump out XD/M/S, Beretta and many other manufactures mags with no problem.
 
I know everything is in short supply but Pre Sandyhook, I used to buy all the factory S&W M&P mags I wanted for less than $25 delivered. Last I checked, you can still hunt them up for under $40. FWIW, I've got 4 M&P's and 26 factory mags. All run flawless.
Save your money and buy factory mags. Leave Promags for the mall ninja's.
 
This ninja picked up a few pro mags and shot 100+rds without a hiccup. To each their own.
 
Defects happen in everything. It's unfortunate that it happened to you during a match.

This is why I try to stick with S&W mags only. I now have 8 and I paid $38 for the most expensive one. You just have to keep your nose to the grind stone to find them at decent prices. They're out there.
 
I'm kind of new at all this, so I have no idea what happened.

What happened is you violated a major rule in semi-auto pistol shooting, which is to NEVER use any mags except factory originals and MecGar, since MecGar makes many of the OEM magazines. The one exception is MDI mags for Beretta 92 pistols, since MDI is the Beretta subsidiary that makes factory Beretta magazines (it used to be MecGar).

In any event, use ProMag only for range practice and throw them away when they wear out. Better yet, throw them away now. Get real S&W mags. MecGar is not allowed, by the terms of its deals with many of the manufacturers, to sell certain mags as MecGar branded. That is why you see MecGar only offering certain SIG mags, certain Walther mags, certain S&W mags under its brand name.

To summarize, use factory mags or MecGar only.

I guess another exception is the 1911 platform. There are many good 1911 after-market magazines including, but not limited to, Wilson, McCormick, ActMag, MecGar, Metalform (Colt's and Ruger's OEM), etc.

To answer your question, this would not happen with S&W mags.
 
In a post above, there was the question as to what exactly failed. The plastic plate in the bottom (not the pad itself) basically broke along the edge. Must have been just enough deformation for the pad to dislodge, and go boink.

It reassembled ok, but I could see that the two retention posts were not seated flush into the pad any longer. The plastic plate is in the trash now.

Dave
 
MidwayUSA sells factory replacement parts cheap.... salvage the tube for range.

"...the slinky hit the ground..."

Am I allowed to post I pissed myself?

The plate failing and the ammo and spring dropping out shall henceforth be known as "Magrhea."
 
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to Shawn Mccarver,

Touche kind sir, touche...........lol
 
I would be tempted to buy these and get the arandoado conversions with the new springs and base pads. I like the 21 round on the FS and especially for a reload.
 
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