Whats the story on Thermold Mags?

[crracer_712]

It's OK Grover. I keep a twenty round mag loaded in my M&P15 and a 10 round loaded in my M&P 15 300. I have two boys, they know better.

I was brought up in a house that had a loaded .308 hanging over the front door and a loaded .22 hanging over the back door. I'd love to do that, but I don't.

By todays accounts, it's amazing that A)I'm still alive and 2)I never shot anyone and C)I never tried to take one to school. Of course, somehow I managed to live through the no seat belt era as well. And I road in the bed of pickup trucks and used to lay on that flat panel in front of the back glass and ride in the bed in the camper that stuck out over the cab of the truck.

Funny thing is, sometimes I think back to my days growing up and think no way would I let my boys do that! Honestly, some things I won't. Other times I have to remind myself its ok and to quit freaking out about it.

 

[ravnb]

Well I will try them...hopefully the master mold made ones are good. It is worth giving a try, if not I can always sell them. Plus the reviews that I saw and read only talked about the 20's and 30's (and they were iffy on the 30's) but thought I would try them, my life doesnt depend on them functioning. Maybe if I hit them with a little tri-flow and keep them clean it wont be a problem. Not saying you didnt keep yours clean. But 5 mags for 20 bucks aint a bad deal if they work, if they dont I am only out 20 bucks

i bought thermold 30/45 mag and they wont lock in my m&p 150r, is there anything i can do to fix these

 

[rojodiablo]

i bought thermold 30/45 mag and they wont lock in my m&p 150r, is there anything i can do to fix these

They are plastic; melt them down and pour them into Pmag molds....... problem solved!!

While they make for lousy magazines, you can keep them loaded, and they make good paperweights, and door stops.
Refrain from using them as wheelchocks, or any other activity which might cause a primer to get struck errantly.

 

[riderrick65]

Reply to Thread

Anybody have experience with the Thermold 2.23/.556 mags.?

 

[rojodiablo]

Anybody have experience with the Thermold 2.23/.556 mags.?

Bueller??? Anyone seen Ferris Bueller??!

I now regret saying they would make a good paperweight; you need to be able to find ammo to load them, which is currently very difficult.


There is a reason why Thermold mags are the only ones available riderrick; it is because they are the least reliable and least desired magazines for the AR15 platform.

 

[riderrick65]

Bueller??? Anyone seen Ferris Bueller??!

I now regret saying they would make a good paperweight; you need to be able to find ammo to load them, which is currently very difficult.


There is a reason why Thermold mags are the only ones available riderrick; it is because they are the least reliable and least desired magazines for the AR15 platform.

Ok rojodiablo, thnx. for the info. I guess I have 5 paper weights now

 

[VMaxSplat]

Back in my 3 gun competition days, I would shoot thousands of rounds of 223 each year. My competition mags were always USGI aluminum or Thermold 30s. I have actually worn Thermolds (and USGI) mags out after many rounds, but the Thermold 30s are GTG. We rarely left the mags loaded, so I could see potential issues there.

Of all the mags available (including Pmags), I still prefer the standard USGI 20/30 round mags. Haven't tried the high $$$ HK mags and have no intention of getting any.

 

[oneyeopn]

I had a few thermold 30's they gave me no problems but I never loaded them full

 

[Smitty357]

I have 2 Thermold 30rds that are of no use to me anymore. They work fine and havent given me problems. I just have no room for them in my aresenal anymore.

 

[oneyeopn]

It is funny, when I started this thread CDNN was selling the 20's for $2.99 and the 30's were $4.99. It was a weekend special and I had just bought my Sport. I had the one Pmag, I still have just the one Pmag, but everyone was talking about USGI and Pmags and they were $12.99 to $14.99 and I thought that if the Thermolds would work I could save some money. So I spent some money and got 8 20's and 2 30's. I sold the 30's to a friend after I got a bunch of GI mags but still use my 20's more than almost any mag I have. I will bet a dollar you cannot find them for $2.99 anywhere now.

 

[rojodiablo]

Ok rojodiablo, thnx. for the info. I guess I have 5 paper weights now

To make them last, do not keep them loaded when not being used. If they are 20 or 30 units, then back them off a few rounds, it will put less pressure on the feed lips.
You will find the followers give trouble for the feeding over time. The plastic used tends to be a little 'grabby' in nature, and a touch softer than Pmags and Troy mags. What can happen is the inside will get scored, and then the material grabs at the follower just enough to slow the springs' ability to feed the next round quickly.
When it eventually happens, you will see a consistent FTF at a certain round count: on all my thermolds that have issues, which are 10 round units, rounds 5-7 are a stick point. On all of them. If you load 10, it feeds the first 3-4 give or take, and then you will have to rack, and push the mag up. Fire a single shot, and do it again. Then, the last 3-5 rounds will usually have no issue feeding as normal. This is due to the plastics used, and is the nature of the beast. There is no way to smooth it out, and oiling it will not do the trick on a 100% basis either. In fact, the oil will hold grit, and compound the issue over time.
Just be patient, and use what you have. When the magazine drought ends, USGI mags are $10 at Brownells, and they work perfectly. Pmags run about $13-16, so that is not bad either. Just be patient, and watch for stock to increase fairly soon.

 

[sjb66coronet]

Plastic for magazines???

This is what concerns me about any wonder-plastic used to make magazines,see pic.

 

[rojodiablo]

This is what concerns me about any wonder-plastic used to make magazines,see pic.

A couple drops of super glue, and those will be good to go!!!!!

 

[RKBAGUY]

... I saw Thermold Mags (supposedly the magazine used by the Canadian Military) 30rds for 6.99 and 20 for 3.99. I know that Magpul mags are overpriced... I have learned that price is not really a gauge of what is good and what is not.

Never had a good experience with Thermold mags, though they may have been the 'cheaper' version without the glass reinforced polymer. However, I think you've answered your own question, though you seem to be somewhat contradictory. If 'expensive' doesn't necessarily equal 'better', 'cheaper' far too often does mean exactly that.

I stake my life on Magpul Pmags. I have 30-rounders which have never failed me in any way. I don't know what you consider to be "expensive", but no price is too high when my *** is on the line. Before the Newton incident, I paid about $14 for a Pmag which is about $5-$7 more than a Thermold. If you think that's too expensive, I'm at a loss for what to say. Unless you're in dire need of 'em now, I'd say to hold off and get either USGI, Pmag or Troy Battlemags.

 

[oneyeopn]

I stake my life on Magpul Pmags. I have 30-rounders which have never failed me in any way. I don't know what you consider to be "expensive", but no price is too high when my *** is on the line. Before the Newton incident, I paid about $14 for a Pmag which is about $5-$7 more than a Thermold. If you think that's too expensive, I'm at a loss for what to say. Unless you're in dire need of 'em now, I'd say to hold off and get either USGI, Pmag or Troy Battlemags.

I have 8 thermold 20's that use for varmint hunting. My Sports are not my self defense/life on the line guns. I have a bunch of USGI's 20's and 30's, Stoner 10's, TangoDown 30's. When I first bought my Sport, I stretched our budget to the limit for a couple of months and wanted more than one mag. I havent had a problem with my 20's, I read a lot of reviews, tons of them. I know they will wear out faster than my other mags. I load them to -2 without a single problem and will use them until I throw them away but at $2.99 I have more than got my money out of them, its a year later and I am still using them.
Where I live my life is not on the line, yes self defense and home security are an issue but not a problem. We havent had a break in or burglary or murder in our little town that I can remember and I am in my mid 50's. It helps to be in rural america and off the beaten path.
I have other guns that I would grab for a quick response if needed. Guns that have phenomenal close range stopping power. Inexpensive doesnt always mean unserviceable nor does expensive always mean quality. I would hate to live in a position where I am having to "stake my life." They work great for prairie dog hunting off of the bipod where 30's are a little unhandy. Also mine arent the Canadian made that used the cheaper material. But they work great for what I bought them for.

 

[riderrick65]

Reply to Thread

OK I happened upon Thermolds home page;
Thermold Magazines — Welcome
This may be weird but watch Shotgun Sherri Jiggle!! LOL

And here is the history according to thermold;

Thermold Magazines started in the 1960's as a molded plastics injection manufacturer that served the automotive industry. It's founder, William Howard, was well known in his hometown of Wilson, N.C. as an innovative thinker who held many patents. Mr. Howard was also a big game hunter for whom making firearms more reliable was both a passion and a necessity.

Using a nylon resin called Zytel, developed by DuPont after World War II to replace metal in large-scale manufacturing, Thermold began producing weapons magazines that resisted heat and corrosion, and functioned with extreme reliability. Thermold magazines rapidly became the product of choice among military personnel, law enforcement officers and sport shooters around the world.

All of our products are proudly made in the United States in North carolina. Today, many of the firearm industry's largest and most prestigious distributors are once again able to sell the trusted line of Thermold magazines and weapons products.

"Time-tested quality and reliability. That's Thermold."

Now the funny part, you can buy them cheaper from CDNN than Thermold!!

I must say that statement "Time-tested quality and reliability. That's Thermold" is a bunch of ****! I purchased five 20 rounders back at the beginning of the year (2013) and wasn't able to try them until the beginning of Mar. due to the fact that I was waiting on my upper & lower to come in. The day for testing finally arrived I loaded all 5 mags. with 5 rds. of assorted ammo .223 & 5.56 and as I placed the mags. upon the carpeted ledge of the shooting lane, the one mag. just decided to spit out 4 rds. all over the floor of the shooting lane! ...
As I proceeded to recover all loose rds. I set that mag. aside to try another one, this time as I inserted the mag into the mag well 2 rds. decided to dislodge from the mag.! I tried another mag. and this one seemed to be okay until I tried to chamber a rd., as I pulled the charging handle the bolt stripped not 1 but 2 rds. causing a jam! Needless to say at this point in time I was highly aggravated so as not to loose any more precious range time I loaded up some of my 30 rounders (NHMTG Aluminum) and proceeded to zero in my red-dot. So as far as I'm concerned these Thermold mags. are JUNK! Yes I did return them for replacement (they would do a refund) so I'll see how this next batch doe's!
Will post updated info. after I receive the replacement mags. and field test them.

 

[Capt Crunch]

I have 3 as they were the only pre-ban poly mag out there, however now that may not make a difference as NY has gone to 7 round max.

 

[67tempest]

I use nothing but GI 30rd mag's with my AR. Have been using the same 6 mags for close to 30 years! Can't get much more reliable than that. Have no opinion on Thermold mags, never used one.

 

[oneyeopn]

I have 6 thermold 20's that I bought right after I started this thread. I got them for $2.99 each with free shipping. I figured if they were junk they were junk. I also ordered 4 30 round Thermolds at the same time. All American made. The 30's never failed me but basically I kept them loaded and didnt use them other than the original operation check. I sold them relatively quickly for more than I paid. I use the fool out of the 20's. There for awhile I was switching them back and forth between 2 MSR's both Sports. Still (knock on wood) are going strong and perfectly serviceable. The bulk of my Mags are aluminum or steel and they work great but in my case I cannot really bad mouth Thermolds, mine have done very well!

 

[Smitty357]

I have one of the older 20rd Thermolds that I use for my .300 BLK. As for the few 30rd ones i did have. I sold them to the l33t guys who thought spending $40 a piece for a Thermold 30rd was worth it.

My 20 has never let me down, but I personally wouldnt own any more Thermold 30rd mags......You just cant beat a 30rd Pmag.